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The remedy is to use a drain snake to clean the pipe in your laundry room. Your drains will be left clean in addition to having all material removed. If this is your first time using a drain snake, we suggest hiring a plumber to complete the task. The reason and prevention of Why Does My Laundry Room Smell Like Poop
shall be discussed.
Before you can start solving the issue, you must determine its root. You can take action to fix the problem once you understand what’s causing it.
Reasons Why Laundry Room Smell Like Poop
The laundry room could smell like a sewer if drainage or ventilation issues occur. When doing clothes, if you smell something off, it’s usually due to bacteria. The colonization and accumulation of these bacteria produce this stench.

A few factors contributing to this bacterial buildup include flooding, leaky pipes, and obstructions in your plumbing and drainage system. Since laundry rooms are typically small, you’ll notice the stench shortly after the issue arises.
The Reasons Are Given Below –

- Clogged Drain
If the drain in your laundry room is clogged, it can trap sewer gas, which can cause a foul odor. Pour a bucket of water to check for a clogged drain. If the water backs up, you have a clog. You can clear the clog yourself with a plunger or drain snake, or you may need to call a plumber.
- P-Trap Leak
The P-trap is a U-shaped pipe that is installed under your laundry sink. It is designed to hold a small amount of water, preventing sewer gas from backing into your home. If the P-trap leaks, the water will evaporate, leaving the P-trap empty.
This can allow sewer gas to enter your home and cause a foul odor. Look for water under your laundry sink to check for a P-trap leak. If you see water, you leak. You can repair the leak yourself, or you may need to call a plumber.
- Mildew Or Mold

If your washing machine is not properly cleaned, it can harbor mildew or mold. It can cause a foul odor, especially if you wash clothes heavily soiled with dirt, sweat, or other body fluids. To clean your washing machine, cycle with hot water and a cup of bleach.
- Sewer Line Leak
If the sewer line under your house leaks, it can allow sewer gas to enter your home and cause a foul odor. This serious problem should be fixed by a plumber as soon as possible.
- Insufficient Ventilation
Poorly ventilated laundry rooms might hold odors more rapidly. If your laundry room doesn’t already have an exhaust fan, you should get one for this reason.
The issue is only worsened by inadequate ventilation, which makes smells linger for longer periods.
If there is a blockage in the venting pipe for your washing machine, gases and fumes cannot enter it, which causes a clog, and your laundry room will likely experience venting issues.
- A Filthy Washing Machine
Sewer odors may also result from a filthy washing machine because soap scum development creates a favorable habitat for bacteria and germs to flourish.

Make careful to wipe out your machine frequently since you’d be astonished at how rapidly these tiny amounts of soap scum may build up.
Bacteria or mold development in your washing machine may hide in the basin lip or the door aperture. If they aren’t frequently cleaned out, the areas of your washing machine where bleach and fabric softener are stored are also susceptible to mold and bacteria growth.
6 Easy Steps to Stop the Sewer Smell in Your Laundry Room in
1) Washer And Dryer Maintenance
Clean the washer and dryer first. Verify that the dryer is functioning correctly and that there are no obstructions in the ventilation system. Next, clean the inside of the washer drum and the plastic lip surrounding the machine’s entry where dirt and grime accumulate using a 2:1 mixture of bleach and baking soda.
Ensure no ammonia-based cleaning products are in touch with the bleach combination, which could create chloramide gas. Clean the inside of the detergent tray and the hard-to-reach spots under and around the machine.
2) Use Bleach To Sanitize The Washing Machine

Two cups of bleach should be added to the washing machine’s hot cycle. A cup of baking soda can also be added to the machine’s drum. Baking soda works wonders in absorbing bad smells and removing the sewage odor in your laundry area.
The odor is caused by germs and microbes that the bleach kills. We advise performing this procedure at least every two months to ensure you know how to dispose of bleach properly and for future preventative maintenance.
3) Put Vinegar And Baking Soda To Clean The Drain Lines
If the drain is the source of the smell, you’ll need to clean it more thoroughly. If it smells like sewage, the greatest solution for sanitizing your washing machine drain is a mixture of baking soda and white spirit vinegar and adding a cup of baking soda and vinegar to the drain line. The last thing you need is a wandering washing machine that plugs the drain and stinks up the house.
You’ll observe that the mixture produces a bubbling response that removes any obstructions or clogs caused by debris, removing the odor. If the first cleaning concoction fails, you can use bleach and baking soda for a different cleaning concoction.
4) Examine The Pipes And Drains
Check the drains and pipes next if you need help finding the issue. Look for weathering indicators such as pipe damage or cracks. To stop sewage from leaking into the house, call a plumber if you discover any problems and need help addressing them. Call a pro if you need more plumbing experience to tackle it.
5) Turn The Water Heater Up
Increase the water heater’s water temperature if you determine that it is the scent that is coming from it. Do this for 24 hours, flushing the germs from the heater between hot water runs throughout the house. Your water heater might be to blame for the sewer-like odor in your laundry room.
6) Ensure The Ventilation System Is Clean
The ventilation may be the issue if you have not located the smell’s other sources. Open whatever windows you have in the space, or if there is an exhaust fan, turn it on and ensure it is functioning properly.
You should install one if the laundry room has no fan. Instead of letting the gases build up where they can smell, the exhaust fan blows them out of the laundry area.
Recommendations For Keeping Your Laundry Room Fresh-Smelling –
- Regularly clean your washing machine.
- Run a cycle with hot water and a cup of bleach every few months.
- After using the machine, leave the door open to let air in.
- Every time you wash a load of laundry, you must add a cup of baking soda to the wash cycle.
- Make sure the washing room is dry.
- Check to see if the P-trap under your laundry sink is dripping.
- Call a plumber immediately if you think there is a leak in your sewer system.
- Verify the proper drainage of your washing machine.
- Every three to five years, a septic tank should be cleaned out. To ensure everything is functioning properly, you should also have an expert inspect it frequently.
- By allowing as many windows and doors to be open as feasible.
- To assist in eliminating any smells, put a bowl of baking soda in the laundry room.
- You can maintain a clean and fresh-smelling laundry room by using these suggestions.
FAQ
What Should I Do If I Smell Feces In My Laundry Room Without Leaks Or Obstructions?
if you smell feces in your laundry room but can’t locate a leak or obstruction, your septic tank may have issues. Your home may begin to smell like sewage if your septic tank is overflowing or not working properly. If you suspect this to be the case, you should hire a specialist to pump out and inspect your septic tank.
What If My Clothing Are The Source Of The Odor?
It’s conceivable that your clothing must be adequately washed if the odor emanates. Make sure to clean the rubber door gasket on your front-loading washer routinely. You should also cycle using white vinegar every few months to help eliminate mold or bacteria buildup.
What Causes An Unpleasant Laundry Room Odor?
Environments with a lot of moisture are ideal for the growth of mold and mildew. Controlling moisture is the primary means of preventing mold or mildew growth, although doing so in a laundry room can be challenging.
How Can You Freshen Odor-Filled Laundry?
Soak your garments in a bowl of cold water and one cup of baking soda to eliminate the odor. Any odors that are trapped in the fabric will be released with the aid of baking soda. First, test a small bit of the baking soda solution on a hidden clothing region to ensure no negative effects.
Final Reflection
There are a few possible causes for the poopy stench in your laundry room. One possibility is that there has been an accumulation of organic material, such as soap scum and lint, in the drain and washing machine.
This accumulation may be a haven for germs, producing an unpleasant stench. A sewer gas leak in your home is still another potential. Sewer gas can smell strongly nasty and similar to excrement. You should contact a plumber immediately if there is a sewer gas leak.
Thus, “Why Does My Laundry Room Smell Like Poop” has been discussed, and preventive measures have been mentioned in the summary.