5 Common Washing Machine Mistakes That Leave Clothes Dirty There’s nothing more frustrating than folding freshly done laundry out of the machine only to find they still smell musty, looks stained, or feels unwashed. Many households assume the washing machine is faulty, but in reality, the issue comes down to laundry habits rather than the appliance. From overloaded drums to detergent residue, small mistakes can quickly turn clean clothes into dirty laundry.