Why Does My Washer Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

By Nick Evans •  Updated: 09/27/21 •  4 min read

If your washer smells like rotten eggs, you might not trust it to clean your clothes. What’s worse is that this smell can linger.

We can help you get rid of the rotten egg smell once and for all!

In this article, we’ll talk about and answer the following:

why does my washer smell like rotten eggs

Why Does my Washer Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

There are two reasons your washer may smell like rotten eggs:

  1. Bacteria growth due to not cleaning the machine
  2. A natural gas leak

Natural gas leaks are dangerous, and you should contact the gas company immediately if you suspect this is happening.

However, it’s more likely that your washer smells because it needs to be cleaned. If you don’t regularly deep-clean your washer, bacteria, mold, and mildew can grow inside of it.

How do I Fix a Smelly Washing Machine?

We recommend trying a washing machine deodorizer. This is a quick and inexpensive way to rid your washing machine of foul smells.

Regularly cleaning your washing machine will stop it from smelling. It’ll also ensure your clothes are properly cleaned during each washing cycle.

To clean your washing machine:

Washing Machine Smells When Running

If your washing machine smells extra bad when running, this may be because:

As the machine runs, the smell may become worse due to the movement and added water. 

You can clean your washer on your own using the steps above. However, we don’t recommend messing with the pipes unless you have plumbing experience.

Instead, hire a plumber to help.

Washing Machine Smells Worse After Cleaning

You know how, when you clean out a closet, the mess usually gets worse before it’s better? You have to drag everything out, sort through it, and before you know it the mess is everywhere!

This can also happen, sometimes, when cleaning your washer. As you scrub the appliance and the mess is lifted, the smell might hit you even worse.

It can even linger in the air afterward, or in the machine if it hasn’t been rinsed out thoroughly. Try checking for any visible mess in your machine and wiping it away if possible.

Then, run another clean cycle and see if that helps!

What to do When Your Washing Machine Smells and You’ve Tried Everything!

If your washing machine still smells and you’ve tried everything you can think of, here are some additional tips:

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