Clothes are sour after wash

Is this a front-load washer or top load?

Is the machine operating properly, or are your clothes getting a musty smell?

The musty smell has a few solutions, One may work but probably a combination of all will work best.


Immediately move wet clothes to the dryer, do not let them sit in the washer for a long time.
If your clothes smell, put mouthwash with your clothes directly in the tub during the wash cycle (this will not stain your clothes)
leave the door open when not in use (lets it dry out)
If the washer smells, use bleach and hot water in an empty cycle once in a while (kills just about every kind of bacteria or mold which may be causing the smell)
Use washing machine cleaner once in a while(can be found at your local grocery store isle next to detergent)
Dry your clothes completely, damp clothes can start to smell again.

If you are looking for a new washer, try to find a newer model that features a stainless steel tub with silver impregnation. The silver is a natural disinfectant.

there is a product called washing machine cleaner that can resolve this issue. Use it monthly.

Try tossing a tad of dry baking soda in with the clothes in may take a time or two but it would be better than tossing the dryer. If it smells like mildew also maybe try placing some charcoal inside withe door shut, charcoal draws mildew.

Look inside the door to the gray rubber ring gasket thingy. Pull apart the sides and look in. Betcha a dollar to a donut there's mold in there. It's a gross, nasty problem whirlpool customer service doesn't give a damn about.That's where water sets after wash cycles. There are tablets call "Affresh" which can be run with hot water for a cycle to attempt to clean out the mold/mildew. Not cheap, not fair, and probably will only be a start to a maintenance type cure if you've had the washer for awhile. May take some manual labor with bleach as well. NOT a sanitary washer. This is an unbelieveable problem with a washer. Piece of ****.

when the wash is done make sure there is no water left in the door boot

Until you can find the filter (I'll investiate!) I suggest running it on hot hottest wash you can (empty) with just bleach. That at least should kill the bacteria that are causing the smell

Sears has tablets for front load washers that work great. I use one every month and it has helped the stinky washer smell and the bad smell in the clean clothes. It is called Affresh and it works better than any of the cleaners you can buy in the grocery stores.

Put a half a cup of vinegar into wash load, with soap. It removes the smells.

Have you recently painted or finished any woodwork or floors? A gas dryer will smell like gas when the vapors from paint or finishes reacts with flame. It can smell like gasoline.