why does my washing machine give off a smell of rotten eggs when filling and entering?

Question

I can't see any blockages, there's nothing in the drum, it fills from the normal water supply and it can't just be my drains as my parents smells like it too and they live 10 miles away. Perhaps it's genetic!

Answer 1

Have you checked the filter?

Answer 2

My washing machine is only several months old. Mine too just started smelling like rotten eggs. It only does this when I do the first load of wash after not using for a couple of days. The odor is so strong,the rooms connected to laundry room also smell. The next load I will do, doesn't have a problem. I don't know if I should call the washing machine repairman or a plumber? By the way, we do not have well water.

Answer 3

The problem is in your water heater. The instruction book with our water heater says,"The anode rod with the tank is designed to be slowly consumed cathodically, minimizing corrosion in the glass lined tank. A hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg odor) may result if water contains high sulfate and/or minerals. Chlorinating the water supply should minimize the problem".

You could also saw off the anode rod, but that would nullify your warranty. We did that, and the smell went away. Our water heater is over 7 years old. I think they're supposed to last 12-15 years.

Answer 4

You need to clean your outlet pipe. Mines doing the same and I need to pull it out (it weighs a ton, any nice strong fella's want to help me?!) and chuck some sink and plughole unblocker stuff down it.

It's caused by dirt and hair and old soap clinging around the bends in the pipe and if you don't clear it you'll end up with blockages and eggy water all over your kitchen!!!

Someone also suggested to run an empty wash (water but not clothes) quite hot with some vinegar in!

Answer 5

The smell is being caused by residual bacteria - which can hang around the seal, and the inner workings - notwithstanding that you put washing powder in it all the time. Clean it out with something like Calgon- (run a cycle on hot, empty with it) - you can get it from most supermarkets - keeps it smelling as fresh as a daisy!

Answer 6

If you always wash at low temperatures, as you should for most normal purposes, a residue of stale detergent and washed-out dirt will build up on the inside of your machine, and as it biodegrades it will stink. Every year or two, when it gets smelly, run a dummy cycle on the boil wash programme meant for traditional white linen sheets, with no load except half a packetful of washing soda crystals. That will either remove or kill all smelly bacteria.

Answer 7

Probably sulfer in the water that's just sitting in the pipe until the machine is turned on and filling. Does it happen only with the wash water and not the rinse water?

Answer 8

For Anyone with a smelly washing machine....LISTEN UP!!!! Go to ASDA/TESCO/WALMART, get a bag of WASHING SODA, (55 pence)empty it in the machine, do a hot wash with nothing else in. This will clean your machine, all that greasy soap (right now rancid greasy soap)

Answer 9

sounds like its the drain itself. You should run a hot hot water wash with lots of bleach. It will stop it temporarily.

Answer 10

Maybe you have sulfur in your water but it's just strong enough to smell when you use the washer. My grandparents have that too but you can really smell it in the shower.

Answer 11

Check your water supply or connection. Or, you could also use Say Clorox Pen sample for stains and foul odors on your laundry. Check out this site http://www.upkb.com/cloroxpen.php for more info.