If it is a top loader, attempt to run a full fill cycle with 2-3 fishwasher packs on the longest cycle and let it soak if possible. If it is a front loader, try to use the clean washer cycle with only one dishwasher pack. I personally would follow up with the same cycle with bleach instead of dishwasher detergent.

I just cleaned our GE HE top load with Cascade Fryer Boil Out. It did a pretty good job.

It's difficult to provide an on-target reply without details ... model of the machine, and photos are always helpful.

Not unusual that washers are infested with smutz and residue on the exterior of the inner drum and interior of the outer tub due to bad usage habits. Running multiple cycles with a washer cleaning product such as Affresh or Tide Washer Cleaner can help ... but sometimes the residue is so bad that the only proper fix is disassembly to scrub it directly.

Thank you. I believe that is what we are going to need to do. Ive been watching youtube videos on how to take the top off to clean the rim of the tub. Hoping to find the answer to the smell under there

Rim of the tub is likely just the tip of the problem ...

You may check the water pump and see if there is debris causing it to not drain completely. It may be leaving used water somewhere in that drain assembly. You did not say if it is one of those HE or a regular agitator one.

Where there is rust, there is water that is not supposed to be there. I suspect that you have drain water that is/was coming out somewhere that it was not supposed to. Rust is never a good thing to find.

Such as it was when my garbage disposal was dripping rusty water the other day. I had to replace it because where there is rust there is deteioration. It was a goner.

All washers retain some water (from the last rinse and spin extraction) in the pump and associated hoses.

Chlorine bleach. Would be the first thing that I would try.

This doesn't necessarily reflect the condition of the OP's machine-of-question but chlorine bleach won't clear this kind of accumulation in a machine I cleaned up for someone earlier this year.

No, chlorine bleach won't remove hard water deposits. But Tammy was complaining about odor and bleach is a quick & cheap remedy for stink. The bleach will knock back the odor so tearing down the washer is a bit more pleasant. Which is why I said that I would bleach it first.

there could be all sorts of goo in there. Fabric softener, excess detergent and common everyday mold. You can try the "chemical bomb" approach but dont think that will actually solve the problem. Probably need to scrub it all out by hand

"Under the rim" (of the snap-on tub cover?) isn't the only place there's residue. You can't get to the rest of it without more disassembly.

My top load washer smelled like dirty wet socks from using liquid detergent so I bought some citric acid, filled it with hot water, agitated for a couple

minutes and then let it soak for an hour. It loosened up some gunk. I have been using powders since with no smell at all.