You ran a cleaning cycle, but the washer still smells. When a washing machine smells after cleaning, the cycle may have loosened residue—or the odor may come from an area it barely reaches.
Quick answer: Empty the washer and check when the smell returns. If it appeared right after cleaning, wipe visible loosened residue and run the rinse specified by your manual or cleaner label. If it returns after the door is closed, dry and inspect the gasket, dispenser and accessible filter. If it is strongest while draining, check the drain installation and nearby plumbing. Do not keep adding cleaning products or mix chemicals; seek service if the odor persists after the model-approved checks.
Start With the Timing, Not Another Tablet
Right after cleaning: Look for lint, flakes or cleaner residue that the cycle loosened but did not flush away. Wipe reachable surfaces and follow any extra-rinse instruction.
After the washer sits closed: Moisture may remain in the gasket, dispenser and tub. If airing them out helps, hand-cleaning and drying those spots may matter more than another drum cycle.
Only during draining or near the standpipe: The source may be outside the drum. Check your model's installation instructions; tub cleaner cannot fix a drain-hose or plumbing issue.
Only after the next load: Check detergent dose, softener, wet laundry and heavily soiled items. New residue may be forming.
What the Cleaning Cycle May Have Missed
Loosened deposits still need to leave the machine
Cleaning may loosen buildup without flushing it all away. Samsung advises wiping residue after Self Clean and using Rinse+Spin in its guidance for mildew odor or visible mold. Follow your model's directions and the cleaner label. If debris keeps reappearing, repeated cycles alone may not help.
The gasket, drawer and filter need separate attention
A drum program may not scrub the lower gasket folds, detergent dispenser or user-accessible drain-pump filter. LG lists those areas separately from Tub Clean when troubleshooting odor.
With the washer off, wipe the gasket or lid rim. Remove the dispenser only if your manual allows it. Follow the manual when opening a user-serviceable filter; water may come out. Do not dismantle sealed panels.
Dampness or excess detergent recreates the problem
Shut the door on a wet machine and odor may return. Let the door or lid and dispenser dry when safe around children and pets. Measure HE detergent as directed; Samsung notes that excess detergent can leave buildup in the outer tub.
A Simple Post-Cleaning Recheck
- Empty the washer. Remove damp laundry and photograph any remaining debris or standing water if the issue recurs.
- Wipe what you can reach. Check the door glass, gasket folds or lid rim, and the dispenser. Do not scrape rubber or force components loose.
- Rinse if directed. Use your washer manual or cleaner label to decide whether an empty rinse is needed before the next load.
- Let it dry, then compare. Air out the machine and note whether the smell is in the drum, at the drawer, near the filter or at the drain.
- Change one habit at a time. On the next normal load, use the correct detergent amount, skip unnecessary softener and remove the laundry promptly.
For a wider checklist, see our guide to common washer odors. For model-dependent cycle steps, see how to use Tub Clean.
Should You Run Another Cleaning Tablet?
If you previously only wiped the visible drum and have not run your washer's approved maintenance program, an empty Tub Clean or Clean Washer cycle may be the next step. If the manual permits a washer-cleaner tablet, KLEKPUE Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets – 12 Pack are a pre-measured option; place the unwrapped tablet in the empty drum as the package directs. Follow the washer manual if its instructions differ.
If you already completed the correct cycle with cleaner, inspect, rinse and dry first. Repeated-cycle advice is model-specific, not permission to keep dosing tablets. Never combine a tablet with bleach, vinegar, ammonia or another product.
When to Stop and Ask for Help
Contact the manufacturer or a qualified technician if the odor persists after the approved maintenance steps, water remains in the tub, the washer drains poorly, leaks or shows repeated errors. LG recommends service if odor continues after multiple Tub Clean cycles.
A sewage-like smell at the standpipe calls for a drain-hose or plumbing check. For a burning or electrical smell, stop using the washer and arrange qualified service.
Common Questions
Why does my washer smell worse immediately after Tub Clean?
The cycle may have stirred up old deposits, or a damp gasket and dispenser may still smell. Wipe accessible residue, run any required rinse and air-dry the washer. If the odor is chemical rather than musty, review the cleaner label before using the machine again.
Can I wash clothes while the smell is still there?
Wait until the cleaning cycle and any instructed rinse are finished and no cleaner residue remains. If there is standing water, poor drainage, a burning smell or an unexplained strong chemical odor, do not run another laundry load until the cause is checked.
Will leaving the door open fix the smell?
It helps moisture escape but does not remove built-up residue or correct a drain problem. Drying works best alongside cleaning the accessible areas and using the right detergent amount.
Bottom line: After a cleaning cycle, investigate the remaining source before repeating the treatment. One careful rinse, a wipe of the areas the cycle misses and a check of when the odor returns will tell you more than adding another product immediately.