Musty smells in a Maytag MVW7232 come from three habits Maytag's Product Help names: leaving wet clothes in the basket after the cycle, which breeds mildew in the clothes and the washer; using non-HE detergent, which leaves a film residue that smells; and skipping the monthly Clean Washer cycle. That cycle uses higher water volumes with affresh washer cleaner or liquid chlorine bleach to clean the inside, and Maytag recommends running it every month.
Differential
Likely causes of “Maytag MVW7232 top-load washer smells musty, sour or like mildew”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Wet clothes left in the basket
What separates it Mildew smell on the clothes and in the tub
How to confirm Remove the load as soon as the cycle finishes
- 2
Non-HE detergent or too much detergent
What separates it There is a film residue and a sour smell because non HE detergent or too much detergent was used
How to confirm Use measured HE detergent, in the amount that the label gives for the load
- 3
No monthly Clean Washer cycle
What separates it There is a musty smell from the tub because the monthly Clean Washer cycle is not run
How to confirm Run Clean Washer with affresh or liquid chlorine bleach every month
- 4
Softener or detergent build-up in the dispensers
What separates it There is a sour smell near the dispenser because softener or detergent has built up in the dispensers
How to confirm Wipe the dispensers and, if fitted, wash the drawer
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Where the smell is strongest, the tub, the dispenser or the clothes
- How long wet loads sit and how often the Clean Washer cycle is run
- The type and the amount of detergent that you use
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedEmpty the washer promptly
ReversibleEmpty the washer promptly, by taking the clothes out as soon as the cycle ends.
Switch to measured HE detergent
ReversibleSwitch to measured HE detergent, since non HE detergent leaves a film that smells, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Run Clean Washer
ReversibleRun Clean Washer, using affresh or liquid chlorine bleach, monthly, as Maytag directs, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Wipe the dispensers
ReversibleWipe the dispensers with a damp cloth, since the dispensers are not removable, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Leave the lid open
ReversibleLeave the lid open, to let the tub dry between loads, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- What the Clean Washer cycle does
- The Clean Washer cycle on the MVW7232 uses higher water volumes together with affresh washer cleaner or liquid chlorine bleach to clean the inside of the washer, and Maytag says to run it every month, or about every 30 cycles. It also re-calibrates the control to its factory-set water levels. Affresh reaches components such as the tub, pump, valves, drain and recirculation hoses that cannot be reached by hand.
- Film residue and HE detergent
- Maytag says non-HE detergent can leave a film residue that produces odor or smell, and that the detergent maker's recommended amount should always be used. HE detergents come in 2x, 4x and 8x concentrations, and the dose depends on soil level and load size, so a concentrated product used at a 2x dose is a common source of residue.
- Get the smell out of the load too
- Clothes that have already picked up a mildew smell should be rewashed after the washer itself has been cleaned, since a washed load can pick the smell back up from the tub. Take the load out as soon as the cycle ends, and leave the lid open afterwards so the basket dries; Maytag names wet clothing left in the basket as the way mildew develops in both the clothes and the washer.
- Parts for this problem on the MVW7232 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-20)
- filter-pump, drain, part number W11568797, at $17.45; dispenser drawer, white, part number W11573771, at $60.51; drain pump, part number W11396717, at $139.60.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models MHW8630, MHW6630, MHW5630H, MHW5100, MVW8230, MVW7230, MVW6200.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the smell is burning or electrical, stop and unplug the washer
- !If a sewer smell comes from the drain, call a plumber
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Maytag's own article on why the Bulky cycle fills in stages while agitating and how long the fill can take.
Maytag's own table of top-load washer codes and resolutions.
Maytag's own symptom articles for top-load washers, each.
Maytag's model page and manual listing for the MVW7232HW.
A dealer listing giving the MVW7232HW's capacity, width and feature list.
Parts and list prices as shown on RepairClinic's parts search for this model number on 2026-09-20.
Exact questions
Common questions
How often should I clean my Maytag MVW7232?+
Run the Clean Washer cycle every month.
What causes mildew smell?+
Leaving wet clothes in the basket, non-HE detergent film, and no regular cleaning.
Can I use bleach instead of affresh?+
Maytag says the Clean Washer cycle works with affresh washer cleaner or liquid chlorine bleach.
Does HE detergent matter?+
Yes; non-HE detergent leaves film residue that causes odor.
Should I leave the lid open?+
Yes, leave the lid open, since it helps the tub to dry between loads.
Does the Clean Washer cycle do anything else?+
It re-calibrates the control to the factory-set water levels.