Once the drum was empty of clothes, he bailed out the remaining water with a plastic cup. It was heavy, tedious work, but necessary to prevent a flood when he disconnected the hose.

A musty or "rotten egg" smell near the back of the washer.

The smell was the first thing that greeted Elias when he walked into the laundry room. It wasn’t the clean, soapy scent of detergent or the fresh smell of linen; it was a stagnant, musty odor, like old pond water.

He pushed the machine back against the wall, but not before wiping down the back of the appliance and sweeping up the dust bunnies that had accumulated there.

Bubbling or gurgling sounds coming from the standpipe during the drain cycle.

He pressed start. The machine hummed, the solenoid valves clicked, and water began to rush into the drum. Elias crouched by the utility sink, listening.

The machine takes longer than usual to empty the drum.

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to clean and maintain your washing machine drain pipe using both natural remedies and mechanical tools.