Washing machine makes clothes smell

[sotal]

We've got an LG washing machine, probably about 2-3 years old now.

It has started to smell and leaves clothes smelling.

I've searched on the internet and tried everything I can find to no avail.

The clothes are left with a bit of a fusty smell, the smell is made worse by heating the clothes (if we put them on the heated airer or on radiators them they make the room smell).

We leave the door and drawer open between uses.

I've tried a deep clean with bleach.

I've ensured that the filter isn't blocked.

The outlet pipe currently goes up the back of the washing machine, then drops down again, goes through a hole in the cupboard and then up to the under sink trap.

Once the clothes are fully dry the smell seems to fade away.

It is worse on towels.

Any ideas? It is driving us mad!

 

[JohnD]

There are two common causes.

1) resident sludge of washing powder and fabsoft in the drum due to excessive product use and low temperature washes. Bacteria and mould live in this sludge.

2) incorrect routing of waste hose allowing dirty water to run into machine from sink.

For (2) please post some photos of the hose, all the way from the machine to where it connects into the drainage.

For (1) and (2) go to the supermarket or hardware store and buy some Washing Soda Crystals. In the laundry section. May just be called Soda crystals. Thus is NOT Caustic Soda which can be used for drain clearance and burning holes in skin and eyeballs.

Put a cup of the crystals in the powder drawer and run a hot hot hot wash with no soap or fabsoft. You can put white cotton towels in if you have them, they will not be damaged by the heat and will not fade.

The water in the machine will go grey and foam up because the soap sludge is dissolving out.

The towels will come out softer, more absorbent and whiter than before because the residue has washed out.

If the machine is very sludgy you may have to do it a few times.

In future, do a hot cotton wash once a week with 50% soap and 50% Soda. You will not need fabsoft.

Check the instructions on the box for the correct measurement of powder or liquid. People commonly use too much and it does not dissolve, especially at low temperatures, leading to accumulation of sludge. Washing Soda softens the water and dissolves soap and grease.

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/258133332

 

[JohnD]

 

[foxhole]

Outlet hose should not rise to sink or you get dirty water from sink sitting in WM. Has to enter from above the outlet .

 

[Old Salt]

We got a washing machine deep cleaning sachet from a hardware store to dose our washing machine. Do you take the clothes straight out as soon as the machine is finished? The smell can be caused by an anaerobic action (bacteria on damp clothing) I think.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

View attachment 374125

 

[jj4091]

Have a good look at the inside of the door seal, they often go black with mould that smells and pollutes washing. They can be difficult to clean and may need replacing.

 

[foxhole]

Have a good look at the inside of the door seal, they often go black with mould that smells and pollutes washing. They can be difficult to clean and may need replacing.

Door seal don’t need replacing unless damaged or worn out . Very easy to clean .

 

[jj4091]

Door seal don’t need replacing unless damaged or worn out . Very easy to clean .

Not always I'm afraid

 

[foxhole]

Not always I'm afraid

Always .

 

[pto]

are you doing quick washes 30 degrees