Help! My washing machine smells real moldy and terrible?!?

Put a large pot full of water to heat until steamy hot, not quite boiling. In the meantime, start the washer filling for a hot wash at medium level. Add 2 cups bleach and a regular measurement of detergent to the washer. When the water is done heating, add that to the washer. Set it for the longest agitation time possible. If it has a fabric softener dispenser, take that out and throw it in the washer. Let it go through the wash and spin cycle. When it gets to rinse, add a quart of vinegar. Make sure you always leave the washer lid open when not in use and always save your whites load for last on laundry day.

The odor is a combination of mildew, fabric softener buildup and detergent residue.

Well, I have the same problem and also it does not use enough water to clean the clothes. I have a top loading Kenmore. They always have soap in them, and I do not over use soap. The problem is, these save the environment machines do not save anything. I always rinse twice, clean the machine every other week. But why should I have to spend money to keep the machine "pretty smelling". I have been married 57 years and have never had to purchase and item to keep my machine smelling clean. Give me the old machines with the impeller in the middle. No, I made a mistake. Just sold one I got 2 years ago, it was so noisy you had to leave the area to talk on the phone and it tore clothes, and turned them inside out. It was advertised as having 3 speeds, which I am accustomed to. Well, it did not, it turned full speed for "normal" wash, for casual, it turned at the same speed, but stopped every minute or two, and for delicate, it turned at the same speed, but stopped a little longer than for casual. That is not three speed. Any way so much for "saving the earth with economy machines that cost a lot more than the old ones.

Simple as putting a 1/4 cup of white vinegar in the machine with the clothes every time you do a load. Soap residue is remaining on fabric and in machine, this is creating the smell.

Probably is mold or mildew try getting a bottle of bleach and letting it set in the full washer tub over night and then let it run thru. Make sure you rinse it well beige washing a load of colors as there may be some left over bleach in it. Hope this helps. If not you may just have to retire it and get a new one :(

Probably fabric softener dispenser is gunked up. Run hot water through it several times with soap. If it's not that, you might need to change your hoses. The drain hose may have a slight clog that's not letting it drain completely.

Bleach will kill the molds but for the scent , sometimes nothing but ammonia will work...Get the pleasant scented kind if the other techiques do not provide satisfaction.