My washer STINKS! Can you help me?

Question

We bought a Performa Maytag off of CraigsList, recently. They are very clean people...but MAN does this thing stink! We have run bleach baking soda, soap, etc through it but it still stink...a very sour gross smell. It is a wonderful machine, otherwise./.

No stupid, pointless comments needed or wanted. I really need the help if you can offer any! Thanks

Answer 1

Have you identified what is causing the smell? Have you cleaned the filter of all lint and debris? Have you checked to see if there's anything rotting in the housing where the motor is located? It can even be the pipe where the water comes into it--there may be mold, mildew or other gunk in there. Running water through a stinky washer usually cleans out whatever's in the drum, but it won't touch these other areas. Especially the lint filter. Try that first, then run 20-Mule Team Borax through a full cycle on hot water, then a full cycle again without soap, and check the color and condition of the water that is coming out of the drain pipe when the washer is on the spin cycle. There might even be an old sock or pair of undies in there that got stuck!

Answer 2

Wash some whites in it with some bleach and in the rinse cycle add a bunch of vinegar-like half a gallon.

Answer 3

I think the model you have is a top load. If so put it on soak cycle let it fill up and pour 3 cups of bleach in it. stop it and let it set over nite. then drain and run a empty or white load thru the machine. this should take care of it for awhile if this is a serious mold issue you may not be able to get ride of the smell on a perminate basis  

Answer 4

What does the smell seem like it might be? Is it a mold smell? A dead animal smell? A urine smell? I think that would help determine where it's coming from.

Is this a top loader machine? Is there a gap around the top where moisture or something else can get into?  I would see if there is a panel on the back that you could unscrew and open it up. Check to see what's going on with the inner workings.

If it's a maytag, you could always call the maytag repair people and see if they could tell you how to open it up.