Why does my washing machine smell?
The smell comes from detergent residue, fabric softener and lint that stay damp inside the machine. Some of it sits where you can see it. Most is on the outside of the inner drum and the inside of the outer tub, where the wash water passes and no hand can reach. That layer thickens over months, and faster in a household that mostly washes cold, uses quick programmes or adds a lot of softener.
On the laundry, the signs are clothes that smell although they have just been washed, and small black or brown flecks, which are pieces of that layer breaking off.
| Where it builds up | What happens there |
|---|---|
| Between the inner drum and the outer tub (every machine) | The thickest layer, out of sight. It is the source of black flecks and of a smell that comes back after cleaning. |
| Door seal (front-loader) | The rubber seal holds water and lint after each wash, and the closed door keeps the drum from drying. Mould spots appear if the seal is not wiped. |
| Detergent drawer and its housing | Detergent and softener residue collects in the channels. |
| Rim, lid and pulsator (top-loader) | Softener residue settles on the rim and under the lid; deposits collect under the pulsator, the wash plate at the bottom of the drum. |
What is the tub-clean programme, and how do I run it?
It is a cycle run with the drum empty, using a high water level, strong rotation or hot water to flush out detergent residue and lint. On the control panel it may read Tub Clean, Drum Clean, Eco Tub Clean, Eco Drum Clean or Clean Tub; on a machine labelled in Vietnamese, look for “Vệ sinh lồng giặt” or “Làm sạch lồng giặt”. Many front-loaders heat the water for it. Expect about one to two hours, and far longer on some top-loaders that soak. Names and steps vary between model years, so the manual for your own machine has the last word.
- Take everything out of the drum. Every manufacturer requires it to be empty.
- Switch on and select the programme with the dial or the programme button. On some machines you hold a button down for a few seconds.
- Add a cleaner only if the manufacturer recommends one, in the place the manual names (main-wash compartment, dispenser cup or straight into the drum) and at the dose on the packaging.
- Close the door or lid and press Start. Do not add laundry while it runs.
- When it stops, wipe the door seal and leave the door and the detergent drawer ajar so that the damp can escape. LG and Panasonic both recommend airing the machine after the cycle.
What is the programme called on my machine, and how often should I run it?
Most manufacturers recommend about once a month. The details below come from each maker's Vietnamese support pages and manuals; your model may differ.
| Brand | Name and the maker's advice |
|---|---|
| LG | Tub Clean. Run it monthly, or when “tcL” flashes on the display. If the drum already smells musty, LG's guidance is once a week for three weeks in a row. |
| Samsung | Eco Drum Clean, Eco Tub Clean or Clean Tub. On front-loaders Eco Drum Clean takes about two hours at a default 60°C, and the machine reminds you after about 40 washes. Samsung Vietnam says Eco Drum Clean can run on water alone. |
| Panasonic | Tub Clean or Drum Clean on most models, 60–120 minutes, once or twice a month depending on how often you wash. |
| Electrolux | “Làm sạch lồng giặt” in the Vietnamese manual of the EWF1023P5WC, which runs it at 60°C; Tub Clean on some other models. Monthly, above all if you usually wash at low temperatures. |
| Toshiba | Front-loaders such as the TW-T25BU have “VỆ SINH LỒNG GIẶT” (Drum Clean) on the dial: about 1 hour 18 minutes at high temperature. Some top-loaders, such as the AW-DM1100PV, have I-Clean, which cleans the drum at the end of every wash. |
| AQUA | On the AWM14-B2158L top-loader, hold Spin for three seconds to select Tub Clean; it alternates soaking and spinning for about ten hours. Toshiba and AQUA both advise running the programme before the first wash in a new machine. |
How do I clean the door seal, detergent drawer and filter myself?
Unplug the machine or switch it off at the socket before you wipe the seal, take out the drawer or open the drain filter; Electrolux's manual requires the power to be off for any cleaning. Wear rubber gloves and have a soft cloth, an old toothbrush, a shallow tray and a towel ready. Do not use petrol, alcohol, solvents or metal scourers, which the Toshiba and AQUA manuals warn against.
| Part | How to clean it |
|---|---|
| Door seal (front-loader) | Ease back the lower fold and remove lint, coins and hair. Scrub with a damp cloth and a paste of baking soda, then wipe with clean water. Toshiba's manual advises wiping the seal and door glass after every wash and cleaning them thoroughly once a month. |
| Detergent drawer | Take it out, soak it in warm water and brush the residue from the channels. Wipe the housing it slides into as well. |
| Drain pump filter (front-loader) | Put the tray and towel underneath, open the filter slowly and let the water run out, remove anything caught in it, rinse the mesh and screw it back tight. After a hot wash, wait for the water to cool. |
| Lint filter, rim and lid (top-loader) | Take out the lint filter bag, if there is one, and shake it clean. Wipe the rim of the drum and the underside of the lid. |
What can baking soda, vinegar and bleach do, and what can they not?
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a mild alkali that suits upkeep between proper cleans. For a top-loader, fill to the highest water level, add about half a cup dissolved in warm water, let the machine run a few minutes, pause it to soak for two to four hours, then let the cycle finish. For a front-loader, put a smaller amount straight into the empty drum and run the tub-clean programme or a hot cotton programme. If the manual gives its own instructions, follow the manual.
| Remedy | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Baking soda | Loosens fresh detergent and softener residue and reduces a light damp smell. It is not a disinfectant, and it does not dissolve a film that has built up over months between the drum and the tub. Panasonic advises using it only where the manufacturer permits it for that model. |
| Baking soda mixed with vinegar | The two fizz and then largely neutralise each other, so mixing them adds nothing. |
| Vinegar in the drum | Maytag's guidance is not to pour it into the drum: the acid can age rubber seals and hoses over time. Diluted vinegar is for soaking the detergent drawer or wiping the casing. |
| Dedicated drum cleaner | What LG and Panasonic recommend first, at the dose on the packaging. |
| Chlorine bleach | Some Electrolux and Toshiba manuals allow it in the tub-clean programme; LG warns against using it undiluted. Never combine it with vinegar, anything acidic or products containing ammonia: the mixture can release toxic gas. |
Which habits stop the smell from coming back?
- Leave the door or lid and the detergent drawer ajar after each day's washing so that the drum dries.
- Take laundry out as soon as the cycle ends; do not leave damp clothes in the drum overnight.
- Measure detergent and softener as the packaging says. Excess product is a common source of residue.
- On a front-loader, wipe the door seal after each wash.
- Clean the lint filter bag or the drain filter at regular intervals.
- Run the tub-clean programme at the interval the manufacturer recommends, usually about once a month.
When does the drum need to be taken out and cleaned?
When the smell or the black flecks persist after two or three cleans. The tub-clean programme and baking soda remove loose residue and the outermost part of the layer; the rest keeps breaking off in later washes. The thick deposit on the outside of the inner drum, the inside of the outer tub and under the pulsator is still there after many cycles, and Panasonic itself advises calling for technical maintenance when a smell persists despite correct cleaning. Book a drum-removal clean when:
- Freshly washed clothes still smell.
- Black flecks keep appearing on the laundry.
- Mould spots on the door seal have spread deep into the rubber.
- The machine has been in daily use for about six months.
What does a drum-removal clean cost, and how long does it take?
These are UpClean's listed prices, fixed per machine and confirmed in writing before you book. Each includes removing the drum, cleaning it inside and out, reassembly, a test run and the Up Report, the before-and-after photo record sent by WhatsApp or Zalo. A front-loader costs more because more parts have to come off and the door seal, detergent drawer and drain pump filter are cleaned in detail.
| Machine | Fixed price and time |
|---|---|
| Top-loader, up to 9 kg | 450,000 VND, about 1.5–2 hours. |
| Top-loader, over 9 kg | 550,000 VND, about 1.5–2 hours. |
| Front-loader, up to 9 kg | 690,000 VND, about 2–3 hours. |
| Front-loader, over 9 kg | 790,000 VND, about 2–3 hours. |
| Washer-dryer | Add 150,000 VND to the price for its door type and capacity. |
| Japanese-market, commercial or hard-to-reach built-in machines | Quoted after a survey from photos. |
What UpClean does on the visit, and how to book
The work is done in your home. The Up specialist, identity-verified and trained to the Up Standard, records the machine's condition, protects the area, takes out the drum and cleans the inner drum, the outer tub, the pulsator, the door seal, the detergent drawer and the drain filter, then reassembles the machine and runs a test cycle with you.
Afterwards you receive the Up Report with before-and-after photos of the drum. If the drum still smells, reply to the report: anything within the agreed scope is redone free of charge within the period in the Warranty Policy, 48 hours by default. Payment is made after the walk-through, by bank transfer or cash.
To book, call or message 0968 726 135 (phone, WhatsApp or Zalo) between 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM, seven days a week, with the door type and capacity of the machine. Quotes, confirmations and the Up Report can be in English. You receive the specialist's name and photo before the visit, which is what an apartment building needs if it asks residents to register outside staff.
- Washing machine cleaning
- What is included for each type of machine, and the areas covered.
- Price list
- Every listed price in one place.
- Get a quote
- Price the visit online before you decide.
- Book a visit
- Choose a day and time.
- Mould and humidity in Saigon apartments
- For damp and musty smells in the rest of the home.
Frequently asked questions
Why do front-loading washing machines smell?+
The rubber seal round the door holds water and lint after every wash, and the closed door keeps the drum from drying. Wiping the seal and leaving the door and drawer ajar after washing limits it considerably.
My machine has no tub-clean programme. What can I do?+
For older machines without one, Samsung Vietnam's guidance is to select the highest soil level, a soak programme and the maximum water level, add the recommended cleaner and press Start. For top-loaders without Tub Clean, LG's is to add the cleaner, fill the drum about two-thirds, run it for two to three minutes, switch off and soak for two to four hours, then run a complete cycle. A machine that has gone a long time without cleaning may need this more than once.
Can I wash clothes during the tub-clean programme?+
No. The drum must be empty. The cycle uses different temperatures, water levels and spin speeds from a normal wash, and may contain a strong cleaner that damages clothes.
What does “tcL” mean on an LG washing machine?+
According to LG, a flashing “tcL” is the machine's reminder to run Tub Clean.
There are black flecks on my clothes after I cleaned the machine. Is that normal?+
They are residue that came loose and was not rinsed out. Run one more rinse cycle with the drum empty before washing clothes. If flecks keep appearing over many loads, the drum needs to be taken out and cleaned.
Does baking soda kill mould and bacteria in a washing machine?+
No. Baking soda is not a disinfectant; it cleans lightly and reduces mild odours. For a deeper clean, use a dedicated drum cleaner as the manufacturer directs, and have the drum taken out and cleaned at intervals.
How often should a washing machine be cleaned with the drum out?+
About every six months for a machine used every day, with the tub-clean programme about once a month in between.
Related guides
- How to clean a fabric sofa at home: the care label, stains by type, mould spots and when to book a deep clean
- Leather sofa cleaning and care: which leather you have, which cleaner to use and what never to put on it
- How to clean a mattress and topper at home: stains, odour, drying, and what to do with latex and memory foam
- How to clean curtains and blinds by type: what can go in the washing machine, how often, and how professional cleaning is priced
- Washing machine not spinning, not draining or draining all the time: causes and what to check
- Front-loader or top-loader washing machine: the practical differences, how each is cleaned, and what that costs
- How to clean a fridge and range hood: smells, door seals, the drain hole, grease filters and what a professional clean costs
- How to remove limescale and yellow stains in a bathroom: shower glass, toilet, tiles, grout and taps
