Call 0208 429 3727

Speak to our team

All Makes & Models

How to fix a smelly washing machine

London & Home Counties

Vathsala Paramanathan
Vathsala ParamanathanGoogle - June 2024
I am very pleased with the. Work and advice of the engineer Jason who came today to repair my Liebherr fridge freezer. He said that there was no need to replace any part and resolved the problem
Mercy A.A.
Mercy A.A.Google - May 2024
If we could give the engineer Dan 10 stars we would! Such a quick, reliable service he provided and fixed the issue with our American Fridge/Freezer so quickly. Amazing customer service! Your company should feel lucky to have him representing you.
Sarah
SarahMay 2024
Having had excellent and quick service from Capital who sent engineers to sort out problems with my dishwasher and tumble dryer, I decided to buy a replacement dishwasher from them too. I was able to speak to real person! Who told me what they had available, I selected and bought it and was offered delivery two days later. Kept up-to-date on the timing of the delivery and the two men who came, fitted took away the old machine couldn't have been more helpful. I thoroughly recommend this company for swift and excellent service
Mercy A.A.
Mercy A.A.Google - May 2024
If we could give the engineer Dan 10 stars we would! Such a quick, reliable service he provided and fixed the issue with our American Fridge/Freezer so quickly. Amazing customer service! Your company should feel lucky to have him representing you.
Asker Mirza - Trust Pilot
Asker Mirza - Trust PilotSeptember 2024
Dan Lewis is a brilliant engineer. A REAL engineer and just not a techie.He sorted the awful noise from my Sharp Fridge freezer which I bought from AO.com.Dan’s knowledge base is considerable and he is extremely personable and humble. Will always want him to repair my ‘white’ goods. Most grateful as he has reduced the overall noise level of the fridge freezer.
Clair - Trust Pilot.
Clair - Trust Pilot.May 2024
Very good follow up be email to organize the appointment; engineer came on time and repair was very quick; the only thing which could have been improved was to mention somewhere that ETA means Estimated time of arrival....it usually has another common meaning.
Sally Zhang - Google
Sally Zhang - GoogleMay 2025
Recently booked an appointment with Capital Repair Peckham to fix my microwave oven combi. Oddly the microwave back to work the day before the appointment day so I had to cancel it, thought I would lose my half prepayment £60. But they are very understanding and friendly to refund me. How lovely they are. Definitely will use them in the future.
Mitraj Sinh Chudasama - Google
Mitraj Sinh Chudasama - GoogleMay 2025
James Booth did a wonderful job at Central Working White City of the installation of dish washer. He installed it within 15 minutes. That’s amazing. Highly recommend their services.
Eve Hollands - Google
Eve Hollands - GoogleApril 2025
I had Zulfi visit to repair my washing machine. He was extremely diligent, thorough and friendly and fixed the machine first time (which in past experience with other companies doesn’t always happen). Brilliant service, thank you Capital Repairs & Zulfi.

Like any household appliance washing machines need cleaning every now and then. If not then you may start to notice an unpleasant musty smell emanating from the machine, but what causes it and what can you do fix it?

If the washing machine is not allowed to dry out properly the heat and moisture present after a washing cycle can feed the growth of microorganisms in the drum and gaskets. Over time this organic matter will start to decay, causing your washing machine to have an unpleasant smell.

Cold water washes might be a good way to save money, but they don’t do the best job of clearing out residual detergent or fabric softener. If you’ve run a few cold cycles, you might want to try a hot one next time.

Also, remember to leave the drum door open after a washing cycle so that natural airflow to the inside of the drum can help dissipate the moisture.

If you’ve tried the simple options above and your washing machine still smells bad, then it’s time to give it a proper clean. Fortunately, there are a number of natural substances available which you might be able to find elsewhere in your kitchen.

A combination of vinegar and baking soda is one of the most frequently recommended ways of cleaning your washing machine. Just mix ¼ cup of baking soda in a similar amount of water and add it to the soap dispenser. Then pour two cups of white vinegar into the empty drum (don’t do this with laundry in the machine!) and run it through a hot washing cycle. This should dissolve the residue causing the unpleasant smell.

To complete the cleaning process, use a clean, damp cloth and a water/vinegar mix to wash down the rubber seal around the door. Be sure to get right into the folds of the rubber and clean out any residue hiding in there.

Follow these simple instructions and your washing machine should be back to its normal, odour-free self.

If all else fails or you decide it’s time for a new machine you can give Capital Repairs a call on 0208 429 3727, email us on repairs@capitalrepairs.co.uk or use our contact form.  One of our qualified technicians will be happy to help.

Request a Callback From Capital Repairs

Please complete the form below - fields marked * are required

Book your appliance repair today

Capital repairs works seven days a week so we can be there when you need us.

Areas Served

Get a quote from us

More to explore

Common Problems with Rangemaster Cookers

Britain’s most Beloved Range Cookers Britain loves its Rangemasters! This well-known brand of range cookers, first manufactured in Royal Leamington Spa in the UK in 1830, is renowned for being high quality, durable and versatile

Find out more

AEG Dishwasher Repairs

Troubleshooting an AEG Dishwasher AEG is one of Britain’s most popular makes of dishwashers. The name stands for Allgemeine Elektricitats-Gesellschaft, the name of the brand’s German founding company back in 1887. The AEG trademark has

Find out more

Why choose us

All our engineers are trained and DBS checked.

We'll provide you with a fully qualified, DBS vetted engineer to your local area.

Same day or next-day service

Need your applianced fixed the same day? We offer same day service to our customers.

No hidden costs

No extra charges for call-out, labour or parts on the Repair & Care plan.

Flexible payments available

No hidden extras, no scary surprises, just personal payment plans to suit your pocket.

Get help with a repair

Our calls are answered 24/7 with same day service.

Looking for a spare part?

See our appliance range and purchase today.

Get in touch with the team

Speak to our team today for emergencies or free quotes.

Capital Repairs
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.