The short answer
Wipe out the rubber door seal, clean the filter, and run an empty 90C wash with soda crystals. Then leave the door ajar between washes.
- Pull back the door seal and wipe inside it. This is where the black slime lives, and it is the source of the smell in most machines.
- Clean the detergent drawer, which pulls out on almost every model.
- Empty the filter, usually behind a flap at the bottom front. Put a towel down first.
- Run an empty wash at 90C with soda crystals or a machine cleaner.
- Leave the door and the drawer open between washes.
What will ruin it
Do not use bleach in a washing machine. It damages the seals over time and can react with detergent residue left in the drum.
Why it works
Low-temperature washing with liquid detergent leaves a film of soap and body oil that never gets hot enough to break down. Bacteria and mould live in that film, and the seal is the warmest, wettest, darkest part of the machine.
Household chemicals can be dangerous in combination. Never mix them, keep the room ventilated, and test anything on a hidden patch first. Full disclaimer.
More laundry
Why your towels stopped being absorbentWhat temperature to actually wash atHow much detergent to actually useHow to stop clothes coming out creasedHow to wash wool without shrinking itHow to dry washing indoors without causing dampAppliance Running Cost CalculatorWhat any appliance costs per use, per week and per year, plus eighteen worked out for you at today's rate.Open the calculator →