Do Washers and Dryers Go Bad If You Don't Use Them?
Last updated: October 18, 2026 · 5 min read
It is a reasonable hunch: a machine you never run should stay factory-fresh, right? Laundry appliances do not work that way. A washer left to sit for months often comes back worse than one that gets used every week, because the things that damage it while idle are different from ordinary wear.
The short answer
Yes, slowly. Non-use does not preserve a washer or dryer. Sitting idle can dry out and crack rubber seals, hoses, and gaskets, grow mold and mildew from trapped moisture, cause rust, seize pump seals, and leave stale water in the lines, and invite pests. Moderate, regular use is actually good for the machine, so a set you use now and then is in no danger.
Why Sitting Idle Hurts a Machine
The parts most at risk are the flexible ones. Rubber door gaskets, fill hoses, and seals stay supple partly because they are regularly wetted and flexed; let them dry out for months and they can stiffen and crack, so the first load after a long pause is often when a leak appears. At the same time, any moisture that is trapped in the drum or folded into the gasket has nowhere to go, and a warm, damp, sealed drum is exactly what mold and mildew want, hence the musty smell that greets people returning to a long-idle washer.
Metal has its own problems. Standing water left in the pump, hoses, or drum goes stale and encourages rust and corrosion, and pump and valve seals that never move can seize in place. In a garage or vacation home, a machine that has not stirred in a season can also become a nesting spot for insects or rodents. None of this is sudden or dramatic, which is precisely why it catches people out.
The Fix Is Just Occasional Use
For any washer that is installed and hooked up, the cure is gentle and cheap: run a short empty or light cycle every few weeks, then leave the door ajar so the drum and gasket dry out between runs. That single habit keeps the seals moist, flushes stale water out of the lines, and stops mold before it starts. So if you have been worrying that using your machine "too little" versus "too much" is a problem, relax, moderate, regular use is the healthy middle, not a risk. It is total neglect that does the damage.
Running it costs almost nothing
Worried that a maintenance cycle wastes electricity? It barely registers. A short wash uses a fraction of a kilowatt-hour, so at a typical Texas effective rate of about 14¢ per kWh it is pennies, a trivial cost to protect an appliance worth hundreds of dollars. The rate you pay matters for your everyday laundry, not for the occasional cycle that keeps a spare set alive.
Storing a Set the Right Way
Long-term storage is different from an occasional idle stretch, because the machine is disconnected and may sit for a year or more. Before it goes into storage, drain it fully, the hoses and the drum both, and dry the inside; standing water is what causes most storage damage. Disconnect it, leave the door propped open, and keep it somewhere dry and temperature-stable, covered against dust and blocked off from pests. When you bring it back, reconnect it and run a short cycle to check for leaks before you trust it with a real load.
Idle Damage Versus Ordinary Aging
It is worth keeping the two apart. The problems here come from disuse and are largely preventable with a few minutes of care. Ordinary wear, the kind that eventually ends a machine\'s life no matter what, is a separate clock, and our guide on how long washers and dryers last covers that side. And if a returning-from-storage washer greets you with a stubborn smell, resist the urge to just ignore it, our note on what happens if you never clean your washing machine explains why that odor is worth chasing down.
⚡ Keep your everyday laundry on the cheapest rate
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Compare Plans Free →Common Questions
Do washers and dryers go bad if they are not used?
Yes, slowly. Non-use does not preserve a machine; it lets different problems set in. Long idle stretches can dry out and crack rubber seals, hoses, and door gaskets, allow mold and mildew to grow from trapped moisture, cause rust, seize pump seals, and leave stale water standing in the lines. Moderate, regular use is actually gentler on a washer than letting it sit for months.
What happens to a washing machine that sits unused for a long time?
Several things at once. Rubber parts dry out and crack, so the machine may leak the first time you run it. Trapped moisture in the drum and gasket breeds mold and a musty smell. Metal parts can rust, pump and valve seals can seize, and any water left in the hoses or drum goes stale. Insects or rodents sometimes nest in a machine that has not moved in a while. None of this is dramatic day to day, but it adds up.
How do I store a washer and dryer long-term?
Disconnect the machine, drain the hoses and the drum completely, and dry the interior. Leave the door propped open so air can circulate and moisture cannot build up. Store it somewhere dry and temperature-stable, keep it covered to keep dust and pests out, and if you can, run it briefly once it is reconnected before trusting it with a full load. Draining fully is the single most important step, standing water is what causes most storage damage.
Should I run my washing machine even when I'm away a lot?
For a machine that is installed and connected, yes. Running a short empty or light cycle every few weeks keeps seals moist, flushes stale water, and discourages mold, and then leaving the door ajar lets it dry. That small habit does far more good than harm. The running cost is trivial: a short cycle is a fraction of a kilowatt-hour, so at a typical rate it is pennies well spent to protect a machine worth hundreds.