How to Clean a Smelly Washing Machine in Ramsgate

Published August 2026 | washing machine smells bad how to clean it

This guide walks you through exactly how to clean a washing machine that has developed a bad smell, covering the drum, door seal, filter, and detergent drawer in a logical order that gets results. It's written for homeowners in Ramsgate and across Kent who want to tackle the problem themselves before deciding whether to book a repair engineer.

Before You Start - Safety First

Before you touch anything on your washing machine, disconnect it from the mains. Pull the plug out of the socket - do not just switch it off at the wall. A washing machine is a large appliance that combines water and electricity, and even a routine cleaning job can turn dangerous if the machine powers on unexpectedly while you're working inside the drum or near the door seal.

A few more things to check before you begin:

• Make sure the drum is empty and there's no standing water pooled at the bottom. If there is water in the drum, run a spin-only cycle to drain it first.
• Never mix bleach with vinegar or bicarbonate of soda. Used separately they're effective cleaning agents; combined, they can produce harmful fumes. Stick to one method at a time.
• If you smell burning rather than mildew or damp, do not attempt to clean the machine yourself. A burning smell points to an electrical or motor fault, and that needs a qualified engineer, not a bottle of white vinegar.
• Wear rubber gloves throughout. Washing machine filters and door seals can harbour surprisingly unpleasant bacteria and mould.

What You Will Need

You won't need any specialist equipment for this job. Most of what's required is either already in your kitchen cupboards or available cheaply from any supermarket or hardware shop in Ramsgate.

Cleaning agents:

• White distilled vinegar (a large bottle, typically around 1 litre)
• Bicarbonate of soda (standard baking variety works fine)
• A dedicated washing machine cleaning tablet or sachet - brands like Dr Beckmann, Dettol Washing Machine Cleaner, or Calgon are all widely available and typically cost between 3 and 8 pounds per treatment

Tools and materials:

• An old toothbrush or small scrubbing brush
• Several microfibre cloths or old towels
• A shallow tray or dish (for catching water from the filter)
• A bucket
• Washing-up liquid

Time estimate: Allow around 90 minutes to 2 hours to do this properly, including the time for the machine to run a hot wash cycle. Don't rush the process - a quick wipe down won't fix a machine that's been building up mould and residue for months.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Empty and inspect the drum

Start by checking the drum thoroughly. Remove any items left inside and shine a torch around the interior walls and the back of the drum. Look for dark patches, slimy residue, or visible mould. On machines from brands like Hotpoint, Beko, and Samsung, this residue commonly forms along the drum paddle holes - those small perforations in the paddles that tumble your clothes. Use a damp cloth to wipe down any surface grime you can reach at this stage, but don't worry about getting it perfect yet. You're doing an initial inspection more than a deep clean at this point.

Step 2: Clean the door seal thoroughly

The rubber gasket around the door opening is, in our engineers' experience, the single most common source of washing machine odours. It's designed to create a watertight seal, but that same tight fold traps water, hair, soap residue, and lint after every wash. Over time, black mould grows in the fold.

Pull back the rubber seal all the way around the door opening and look inside the fold. Use a cloth dampened with a solution of one part white vinegar to one part warm water to wipe out the entire fold, working all the way around. For stubborn mould patches, apply a paste made from bicarbonate of soda mixed with a little water, leave it for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub gently with an old toothbrush. Wipe clean with a fresh damp cloth. This step alone can make a significant difference to the smell coming from machines of any brand, including Bosch, LG, and Samsung front-loaders, which tend to have deeper seal folds than older top-loaders.

Step 3: Remove and clean the detergent drawer

Pull the detergent drawer out completely. On most machines there's a small tab or button you press while pulling - check your manual if it doesn't come out easily. Once removed, take it to the sink. Rinse it under warm running water, then use the old toothbrush and some washing-up liquid to scrub out every compartment, including the fabric conditioner section and the prewash section if your machine has one. Black mould and old conditioner residue build up inside the drawer housing too, so shine a torch into the cavity in the machine and wipe it down with a cloth and your vinegar solution. Leave the drawer to dry before replacing it.

Step 4: Check and clean the pump filter

The pump filter catches fluff, coins, hair grips, and other debris before it reaches the pump. A partially blocked filter creates stagnant water, which is a major cause of bad smells. Not everyone knows this filter exists, but it's typically found behind a small flap or panel at the bottom front of the machine.

Place your shallow tray underneath the filter cap before you open it - there will be water. Unscrew the cap slowly, letting the water drain into the tray. Once the water has drained, remove the filter completely and rinse it under the tap. Use the toothbrush to clear away any debris, then check inside the filter housing for any blockage you can reach. Screw the filter back in firmly - a loose filter will leak during the next wash. This step is particularly important for Beko and Hotpoint machines, which our engineers in Kent find are commonly brought in for smell complaints where the filter hasn't been cleaned in years.

Step 5: Run a hot maintenance wash

With the drum empty, set the machine to its hottest wash programme - typically 90 degrees Celsius. Add 500ml of white vinegar directly into the drum (not the drawer) and half a cup of bicarbonate of soda into the detergent drawer. Let the full cycle run without interrupting it. The hot water and the cleaning agents will work through the drum, the pipes, and the internal components, breaking down the soap scum, limescale, and bacteria that cause the smell.

In Kent, hard water is less of an issue than in some parts of the country, but Ramsgate does sit in a moderately hard water area, which means limescale can still build up inside the drum and on the heating element over time. The hot wash with vinegar addresses this directly.

Step 6: Run a second cycle with a proprietary cleaner

Once the vinegar cycle has finished, run a second empty hot wash using a dedicated washing machine cleaning tablet. Follow the product instructions - most go directly into the drum. This second cycle helps to neutralise any vinegar residue and tackles bacteria that the first wash may have loosened but not fully removed. It also deals with any odour coming from internal components that the first cycle reached but did not fully clean. This two-cycle approach is what our engineers recommend as standard, and it's far more effective than a single wash alone.

Step 7: Leave the door open between washes

This is the step most people skip, and it's the reason the smell comes back within a few weeks. After every wash, leave the machine door and the detergent drawer open for at least an hour to allow the drum and seal to dry out. Bacteria and mould need moisture to thrive - remove the moisture, and you remove the conditions that cause the smell. It's a small habit change that makes a significant long-term difference. Many modern machines from LG and Bosch now have a drum drying function built into their programmes for exactly this reason.

What to Do If This Does Not Fix It

If you've worked through every step above and the smell persists after a day or two of normal use, the problem is likely deeper in the machine than surface cleaning can reach. There are a few common culprits worth investigating.

A blocked or partially collapsed drain hose can cause water to sit in the system between washes, producing a persistent musty or sewage-like smell. Check that the drain hose at the back of the machine isn't kinked or pushed too far into the standpipe - it should sit at a height of between 60 and 100cm from the floor and should not be sealed into the drain completely, as this prevents proper airflow.

Mould inside the outer drum casing - the part you can't see or reach - is another possibility. This typically develops in machines that have been used primarily on low-temperature washes (30 or 40 degrees) for long periods without a regular hot maintenance wash. It's common across Ramsgate and the wider Kent area as energy-saving wash habits have become more popular. At this point, a professional clean using specialist equipment may be the most effective solution.

If you're unsure what's causing the smell, the Voltrade GoFIX diagnostic tool is worth using before you book a call-out. It walks you through a series of questions about your machine's behaviour and symptoms and helps identify whether the problem is likely to be something you can address yourself or whether it points to a component fault that needs hands-on attention.

When to Stop and Call a Professional

There are certain situations where cleaning is not the answer and where continuing to use the machine yourself could be unsafe or make an underlying fault worse.

Call an engineer if you notice any of the following:

• A burning smell - this suggests an electrical fault, a seized drum bearing, or a failing motor. Do not use the machine.
• Water leaking from the bottom of the machine - a small amount of water when you drain the filter is normal, but ongoing leaking during a wash cycle points to a failed pump, a cracked drum, or a deteriorated hose.
• Error codes on the display - if your Bosch, Samsung, or LG machine is showing fault codes alongside the smell, the two issues may be connected. A diagnostic visit will establish whether the smell and the error code share a root cause.
• The smell is chemical rather than musty - a chemical or plastic smell can indicate overheating components inside the machine.
• The machine is more than 10 years old and the smell returns quickly after cleaning - at this point, the machine may have deteriorated internally to a degree that cleaning only provides short-term relief. An engineer can assess whether repair or replacement is the more cost-effective path.

A diagnostic visit from a qualified appliance engineer in the Ramsgate area typically costs between 50 and 90 pounds, which often includes a minor repair if the fault is identified during the visit. A more involved repair - replacing a drum bearing or a pump, for example - commonly runs between 100 and 200 pounds depending on the machine's age and parts availability. For newer machines still under manufacturer warranty, always check the warranty terms before booking an independent engineer, as some repairs may be covered.

Questions About This Process

How often should I clean my washing machine to prevent bad smells?

Most appliance engineers recommend running a hot maintenance wash at 90 degrees once a month, particularly if you regularly use the machine on 30 or 40-degree cycles. Cleaning the door seal and wiping out the detergent drawer every two to three weeks will also help significantly. In households with young children where the machine runs daily, a fortnightly maintenance routine is more appropriate.

Can I use bleach to clean the inside of my washing machine?

You can use a diluted bleach solution on the drum and the interior surfaces, but it needs to be handled carefully. Never use bleach on the rubber door seal as it degrades the material over time, leading to leaks. Bleach should not be mixed with vinegar or any other cleaning agent. If you choose to use bleach, add a small amount to the drum and run a full hot cycle, then run a second empty rinse cycle to clear any residue before using the machine for laundry again.

Why does my brand new washing machine already smell bad?

A smell from a new machine is more common than people expect and is typically not a fault. New machines are commonly transported and stored with the drum sealed, which can cause a mild plastic or factory smell during the first few washes. Run two or three empty cycles on a warm programme before doing your first load of laundry. If the smell persists beyond the first week of use, it is worth contacting the retailer or manufacturer, particularly with brands like Hotpoint and Beko where warranty support in Kent and the Ramsgate area is generally accessible through the manufacturer's service network.