Maytag Washer Smelling Bad — Causes and Fixes

Common Symptoms

• Musty or mildew smell from the washer drum between uses
• Clothes smell sour or musty after washing
• Visible black or gray mold on the door boot seal
• Foul odor when opening the washer door
• Smell worsens after running cold-water cycles
• Slimy residue on the drum interior or door boot
• Detergent drawer has dark mold growth

Most Likely Causes

1. 1

   Drum Biofilm Buildup — Most Common

   A biofilm is a thin layer of bacteria and detergent residue that coats the drum, tub, and inner workings of the washer. It thrives when cold-water cycles prevent the tub from ever reaching temperatures that kill bacteria, and when the door is kept closed between uses, trapping moisture inside. The biofilm produces a musty, barnyard-like odor that transfers to laundry. Running a hot-water cleaning cycle with Affresh WP13281 tablets monthly breaks down the biofilm and flushes it through the drain.

2. 2

   Mold on Door Boot Seal WP8182119

   The rubber bellows door boot collects lint, hair, and detergent in its inner folds, providing the perfect substrate for black mold growth. Mold in the boot seal creates a strong musty or earthy smell and can transfer black spots to laundry. Inspect the boot by pulling back the outer lip and checking the inner folds — black or gray patches require cleaning with a diluted bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach per cup of water). A badly molded boot that is also cracked should be replaced with WP8182119.

3. 3

   Clogged Pump Filter WPW10190961

   The pump filter catches lint, hair, and small debris before it reaches the pump impeller. Over time, trapped organic material decays inside the filter housing and produces a strong sewer-like or rotten egg odor. The filter should be cleaned every 2–3 months on heavily-used machines. Access it through the small door at the lower front of the machine, unscrew the filter cap, remove all debris, rinse the housing with warm water, and reinstall.

4. 4

   Drain Hose Odor Trap — Siphoning or Low Loop

   If the drain hose is inserted too deeply into the standpipe, or if it lacks a high-loop installation, the washer can siphon sewer gas back into the drum between cycles. The drain hose should be secured at a height of 30–48 inches above the floor (the standpipe entry should be at that height) and should not be inserted more than 4.5 inches into the standpipe. A check valve on the hose prevents backflow. Reinstall the hose with a proper high loop using the included hose guide or a zip tie to the back of the machine.

5. 5

   Mildew from Low-Temperature Cycles

   Modern HE washers designed for cold-water washing rarely heat the tub to temperatures that kill bacteria and dissolve detergent residue. If every cycle is cold, biofilm and mildew accumulate much faster. Running at least one warm or hot cycle per week — or a dedicated cleaning cycle monthly — prevents mildew buildup. Maytag recommends the Clean Washer cycle (available on most Maytag front-loaders) with no laundry in the drum.

6. 6

   HE Detergent Overuse

   High-efficiency washers use very little water and require HE-rated detergent used at reduced quantities. Using non-HE detergent, or using too much HE detergent, creates an excess of suds that do not fully rinse away. The residual detergent film coats the drum, door boot, and dispenser, providing a nutrient source for bacteria and mold. Use only the detergent amount specified on the HE detergent label — typically 1–2 tablespoons for a standard load, not the fill line of the cap.

7. 7

   Detergent Dispenser Mold

   The detergent and softener dispenser drawer is constantly damp and can develop black mold in its back channels where detergent residue accumulates. Remove the entire dispenser drawer by pressing the release tab and pulling it out. Rinse it under warm water, scrub with an old toothbrush, and dry before reinserting. On Maytag front-loaders the dispenser housing behind the drawer also accumulates mold — wipe it out with a diluted bleach solution.

Quick DIY Checks

1. 1Run a Clean Washer cycle with Affresh WP13281. Drop 1–2 Affresh washer cleaning tablets (Maytag OEM part WP13281, also sold at retail) directly into the empty drum — do not put them in the dispenser. Select the Clean Washer cycle (or Hot/Sanitize with an extra rinse if Clean Washer is not available). Do not add laundry or detergent. Let the full cycle complete; the tablets dissolve and attack biofilm on all internal surfaces. Repeat monthly for prevention.
2. 2Clean the door boot seal WP8182119. Open the washer door and pull the outer lip of the rubber bellows back to expose the inner folds. Inspect for black or gray mold patches. Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach in 1 cup of warm water. Dip a cloth or old toothbrush in the solution and scrub the inner boot folds thoroughly, paying attention to the bottom where water pools. Rinse with a clean damp cloth. After every wash, wipe the boot dry with a towel and leave the door ajar for at least 2 hours to allow the interior to dry out.
3. 3Clean the pump filter WPW10190961. Place a towel and shallow pan under the small access door at the lower front of the machine. Open the door, pull out the drain hose cap and drain residual water into the pan. Then unscrew the pump filter cap counterclockwise and pull it out. Remove all lint, hair, and debris from the filter and the housing cavity. Rinse the filter under warm running water, scrubbing with a brush if needed. Reinstall the filter, tighten the cap, and replace the access door. Clean every 2–3 months.

1. 4Inspect and reinstall the drain hose with a proper high loop. Pull the machine away from the wall and locate the corrugated drain hose at the rear. Trace it to the standpipe or utility sink. The hose should enter the standpipe no more than 4.5 inches deep, and the hose should be secured at 30–48 inches height before dropping down — this prevents siphoning of sewer gas back into the drum. Use the hose guide clip (attached to the back of most Maytag machines) or a zip tie to create and hold the high loop. If the hose smells strongly, flush it by running a rinse-only cycle after cleaning.
2. 5Run a baking soda and white vinegar maintenance wash. Add 1/3 cup of baking soda directly to the empty drum and 2 cups of white vinegar to the liquid detergent dispenser. Run the longest hot-water cycle available. The baking soda deodorizes and the vinegar dissolves mineral deposits and detergent residue. Do not combine baking soda and vinegar in the same compartment — add them separately as described. Follow with a plain rinse cycle to clear any vinegar residue before washing laundry.
3. 6Clean the detergent dispenser drawer and housing. Remove the dispenser drawer by pressing the release tab (usually a small raised tab at the back of the softener compartment) and pulling the drawer straight out. Rinse it under warm water and scrub all channels and corners with a toothbrush to remove detergent buildup and mold. Inspect the dispenser housing cavity in the machine — wipe it out with a bleach-dampened cloth. Let both dry before reinserting the drawer. Going forward, rinse the drawer monthly.
4. 7Adjust detergent usage and cycle temperature habits. Switch to an HE-certified detergent if you are not already using one, and reduce the dose to the minimum recommended amount for your load size (typically 1–2 tablespoons for a standard HE washer, not the fill line on the cup). Run at least one hot or warm cycle per week to prevent biofilm accumulation. Always leave the washer door and dispenser drawer open between uses to allow interior drying. These habit changes alone often eliminate recurring odor problems permanently.

Repair vs Replace

Recommended Tools & Parts

• Affresh Washer Cleaner Tablets

  Maytag OEM washer cleaning tablets. Use one tablet per cleaning cycle monthly.

  $8–$15

  Buy on Amazon →

• Door Boot Seal

  Front-load door bellows/boot. Replace if mold is embedded in cracked rubber that cannot be cleaned.

  $30–$65

  Buy on Amazon →

• Drain Pump / Filter Assembly

  Drain pump with filter. Replace if filter housing is cracked or pump motor is odor-emitting after cleaning.

  $30–$60

  Buy on Amazon →

Links are Amazon affiliate links (tag: fixitfastai-20). Prices are estimates.

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