Maytag MVW5430 top-load washer smells musty, sour or like mildew

The checks in more detail

Run the washer's Clean Washer cycle, which Maytag provides for this, with a washer cleaner tablet or the amount of cleaner the manual gives, on a hot setting, and, if you use bleach, follow the manual, since it should never be mixed with other cleaners. Wipe the lid, the seal and the dispenser with a cloth and a mild cleaner, and rinse them. Change the habits that feed the smell. Use high-efficiency detergent in the amount on the bottle, since too much leaves a film that bacteria feed on, and avoid too much softener.

Do not leave wet clothes in the tub, and leave the lid open between washes so the tub dries. Wash towels and workout clothes on a hot cycle from time to time, and use a warm or hot wash with an extra rinse for heavily soiled loads. If you wash in cold water often, run a hot Clean Washer cycle monthly. If the smell persists after cleaning, look at the drain. A trapped sock or a clogged drain hose gives a sewer smell, and a drain that does not empty fully leaves stagnant water.

Check that the drain hose is not kinked and is set at the right height, with an air gap or a loop to prevent back-siphoning. A smell like sewage may come from a dry floor drain or a dry trap in the standpipe, which a cup of water solves. Check under and behind the washer for a slow leak that keeps the area damp. If you still have an odor, clean the agitator area by removing the wash plate if the manual shows how. Contact Maytag with the model number if you cannot find the cause.