Why does my laundry room smell like sour milk?

Why Does My Laundry Room Smell Like Sour Milk: 8 Top Causes!

Have you ever walked past your laundry room and wondered, “Why does my laundry room smell like sour milk?”

If yes! it is not a good sign, but not a new one. This unpleasant and funny odor has many reasons in place.

Every individual reason needs special attention and remedies to deal with.

From mold formation to soap scum, any problem these solutions can help you get away with the sour milk smell from your laundry.

Without any ado, let’s get into more insights into why does laundry room smells like sour milk and the hacks to get rid of this.

 

Why Does My Laundry Room Smell Like Sour Milk: Top 6 Reasons

Here are the top 6 reasons why a laundry room smell like sour milk:

mold in washing machine

1. Mold and Mildew In The Washing Machine

One of the major reasons for Laundry room odor is the formation of mold and mildew in the washing machine.

Over time the moisture will get trapped in the washing drum and the detergent tray.

This will create the perfect environment for mold to grow on clothes and are smell worse than sour milk.

How To Fix It

Just clean the gasket, maintain the washing drum dry, and make sure the door is open for better ventilation.

 

2. Stinky Drain Pipes Can Make Laundry Room Smell Like Sour Milk

Drain pipes to get away with washing waste can be another contributing factor to the sour milk smell.

There are chances of accumulation of soap scum, lint, dirt, and also musty debris that can cause water blockage.

How To Fix It:

Just maintain the drain pipe by clearing the drain filter and make sure to flush the pipes every week with hot water.

 

3. A Detergent Build-Up For Bad Laundry Smell

Using too much detergent is inadvertently cause a stinky smell.

The excess soap will accumulate in the laundry machine creating a slimy texture.

This can further turn the breeding hub for the pests and also be a bacterial-friendly environment creating a sour milk smell.

How To Fix It: 

Make sure you use less detergent and less chemical-induced ones for an effective wash and avoid over-accumulation.

 

4. Wet Laundry Can Make Your Laundry Smell Like Sour Milk

wet Laundry Room Smell Like Sour Milk

There are times when we leave our laundry unattended even after the washing cycle.

This could be one of the potential reasons for making your laundry smell like sour milk.

How To Fix It:

Remove laundry and sun dry it right after the cycle and make sure you keep reminders to wash your wash tub.

 

5. Poor Ventilation in the Laundry Room

Only washing machine is not the prime reason for the laundry smells like sour milk, but sometimes the room itself.

With poor ventilation, there are chances of the pest infestation like spiders and also the pungent smells.

This not only makes the laundry room messy but also makes laundry a hectic task.

How To Fix It:

Make sure you install a vent fan to get away with the bad smell in the laundry room and open the windows to get more sunlight.

 

6. Dirty Laundry Baskets Can make laundry room smell like sour milk

laundry basket with holes
Image By Freepik

Laundry baskets have holes just for the reason to keep away with the bacteria formation and the skunky smell.

So if your laundry baskets have no chance to escape from moisture there are chances for odd smell formation.

How To Fix It:

Always prefer laundry baskets with holes. Keep it dry and clean it periodically and consider using a washable liner in your basket to clean regularly.

 

7. Dirty Walls and Floors Causes Laundry Room Smell Like Sour Milk

If your laundry room is not cleaned, dusted, or cleared dirt there are high chance of a sour milk smell.

These odors can not only make the area stinky but also lead to breathing issues when exposed continuously.

How To Fix It: 

Declutter your laundry once in a while and also deep clean the laundry every month. Inculcate natural oils to make the laundry odor-neutral.

 

8. Clothes with Organic Materials

jeans in My Laundry Room Smell Like Sour Milk

Heavy clothes like natural fibers, like cotton and wool have more moisture-retaining compacity.

They can form a wet environment and can create a musty smell which is highly unlikely to feel in the laundry.

How To Fix It:

You can try using linen crafts or linen fabric to suck away the excess moisture.

Make use of dryer balls to get away with clothes tangling each other.

Keep the environment-keeping plants like eucalyptus to eliminate odor from your laundry room.

 

Conclusion

So here are a few reasons why your laundry room smells like sour milk.

We’ve curated the list so that you will get a glance and work on eliminating the odors.

Make sure you always prefer DIY methods over chemical-induced methods to stay close to the natural ways.

 

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