My high efficiency washer was serviced recently, and the tech gave me some tips to reduce the smell in my washer that I would like to share.
First, he suggested that I make sure that the drain pipe isn't resting on the bottom of the drain. It should make a gurgling sound when the washer drains. He attached the drain pipe to the water hose with a zip tie so that it will always be in the correct position. He said that if the drain pipe is resting on the bottom of the drain, the dirty water is sucked back into the washer.
Second, he suggested that I run the washer once a month with the hottest water and a tablet of dishwasher detergent. At the same time, run a small capful of dishwasher gel in the gasket to get out the gunk trapped there. I have done this once and it has made a difference already.
Source: Sears repair technician
By Barbara from Nazareth, PA
This page contains the following solutions.
Some high efficiency washers have a bad smell inside. Rather than leave the door hanging open to air out (and risk hitting into it or a pet or child climbing inside and having it shut) I thought, for safety...
Those of us with front load washing machines know how important it is to keep the inside of the machine dry between uses to avoid unpleasant smells. Leaving the door open is one way to do that, but many machines don't let you just leave it ajar to dry out
My was over the top with smell. I was using an 'eco' cycle being the good human and trying to reduce our water usage. I had a buildup of muck at the bottom of the dishwasher so I would clean the filter etc.
Remember to not close the washer door until it has completely aired out. I have a pretty dishcloth I hang over the door so it won't close and everyone knows that the washer is drying out. Closing the door on a wet washer is what gives you that musty odor.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have a LG Tromm front load washer. The clothes smell musty after washing. I have used Affresh to clean it several times. The clothes are briefly OK, then after a few days the musty odor comes back. We are on city water so I don't think its that. I was told not to use fabric softener any more and to use HE detergents. Still no improvement. Please help.
By mark from Tyngsboro, MA
We had that happen to us as well. We were told to take bleach and water and clean the seal (rubber part just inside the door inside and outside), then do a regular wash cycle (minus the clothes) and add bleach. Also, do not close the door all the way when you are not using the washing machine. We keep it open about an inch. This has helped us.
Again I say switch to powdered HE Detergent and do not use liquid fabric softener. These are made with petroleum products and also contain animal fats. Use only a tablespoon of powder and put it right in the drawer where you were putting your liquid. You may have to search stores for powdered HE detergent, but it will last a long, long time. Worked for me.
I have a Kenmore Elite HE 4T and just went through this too. My husband took off the bottom of the washer to expose the drain. The black drain hose that comes down from the tub leads into an approx. 4" white "lint" trap that connects to the pump and the gray drain hose. He took off the white trap and it was awful.
Clean the filter! We tried everything! The only strategy that worked temporarily was adding a little Borax to every load. Then, finally, the machine stopped draining. We read online how to unscrew the front panel and clean out the filter. This not only is going to save the drainage pump, but it got rid of the smell. The interior filter (that is not easy to get to, but a do-it-yourself possible project), was clogged with sewage smelling water and lint.
How do I get rid of a musky smell in a front loader washing machine?
Do you know how you got the musty smell? It's important to wipe down the the inside of the washer and allow to air out or mold/odor will start to occur.
You could clean the gasket with 50% bleach & 50% water or run the washing machine on hot setting with 1 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of enzymatic dishwasher detergent, or a commercial washer cleaner.
Reference: www.wikihow.com/
My 2008 LD front loading washer and the cloths washed in the machine smell very bad, like mold. We also have several pets and I am unable to get to where the dog and cat hair lodge in the washer.
I paid a lot of money for what I thought would be my last purchase of a new washer and dryer as most of my previous appliances over the last 40 years have served me well. I also have a Master Protection Plan that we purchased at the same time as the purchase of the washer and dryer.
I had nothing but trouble with a washer that didn't work most of the time until Sears finally declared the washer unfixable and let me pick out another replacement washer. This one smells terrible. Even with the Master Protection Plan I could not get anyone out to assist me and was told to periodically throw in a cup of bleach and run a cycle. That didn't work.
After spending a thousand bucks on a washer that I hate and being a good constant customer for more than 40 years, I was finally able to get a tech out to look at smell my washer. He said this was a problem with all the front loaders. He then laid a bath towel across the front of the washer to keep the door slightly open. That was his solution! How and where do I go to find some resolution regarding this matter?
Joan
How about running vinegar through a cycle? Tide also makes a product the "cleans" your washer.
Best of luck.
Make sure that you leave the door on your washer open in between washings.
Well, he's right, except you don't need the towel. I'm guessing you have been leaving your washer closed when it's not in use, right? A certain amount of water remains in front loaders and it mildews when you close up the washer, and especially in the heat of the summer.
Right after you run a load, leave the door wide open. Come back a couple of hours later and push it almost shut. Honestly, the only time I ever close mine completely, other than when a load is running, is if visitors are coming and I want my laundry room to look really nice. You must leave it open or it will mold.
Also, pull back the bottom edge of the rubber gasket to make sure nothing little like a sock has sneaked into that area. That could create a bad smell, but I'm 99% sure leaving the door open will solve it for you.
I know exactly how you feel. I bought a Maytag Neptune and spent a thousand dollars on it 10 years ago. I had the same problem and followed all the instructions given to me by the appliance serviceman. I saw an ad on TV for a Tide product which is made just for the purpose of getting rid of the mildew smell and to my surprise it worked. You may want to try it. It is simply called Tide Washing Machine Cleaner. Good Luck!
I have posted a feedback before, but let me do a repeat. DO NOT use too much detergent. A tablespoon of liquid detergent is all that is needed. I often add vinegar to towels. I drain the washing machine about every 6 weeks and do a long wash with a lot of vinegar added.
Oh, leave the door open after a wash.
I "had" a front loader Whirlpool Duet. It never worked correctly. It would hang up in a cycle and beep and flash at me. The electrical panel was a joke.
But, the musty and mildew odor was a big issue too. I was told by the dealer to leave the door all the way open at all times letting the rubbery liner near the door to dry out and not mold. My space is limited in my laundry room, and it made the "elephant in the room" a lot bigger. I finally got rid of the "elephant". I have seen advertisements for a new deodorizing product to rinse your front loading washers to keep them smelling fresh. What a joke?
I finally got a new washer. It is a Speed Queen (plain Jane with no bells and whistles or buzzers). It has a good old agitator and it gets my laundry clean and fresh smelling. It does use more water than the front loaders, but it gets my laundry clean and smelling fresh. That's all that matters to me:) SusanB
I noticed that my front load washer has a mildew smell also, but it stops at the door. The inside is fine and the clothes washed are fine, but the problem is the gasket. I keep meaning to clean it, because I can see that that is the problem and I'd bet it's yours, too. The under-flap of the door gasket needs to be wiped. There is lint and hair that collects there. I have heard many complaints about this on front loaders. I'm going to try vinegar, or maybe lemon. I would avoid bleach. You have to actually wipe the stuff off. (Rubber gloves or vinyl disposables are great!)Hope this helps!
I clean houses and almost all of my clients have a front loading washing machine as well as my brother. My brother and his gf never dried their washer or the gasket or left the door open so the whole entire washer smells like mold and all the clothes get washed and come out smelling moldy even after being dried. They don't care but that's another story:) Not one of my clients (14) are happy with their front loaders.
After each load, you need a towel handy to dry the inside and completely dry the rubber gasket rim thing where the door seals as well as the door. Then the door has to be left open to avoid mold issues and the moldy smell. Then you have to have a place to hang your towel so that you can use it again unless you want to use a clean one every time and then there's a whole load of towels for you to wash:)
This is what you need to do. Wash the inside with soap and water. Pull the seal out and clean all the mold and dog hair out of there. You may have to use a little clorox cleanup on the mold. Clean the door and leave it open from now on unless it is in use. Wait a couple hours and come back and smell it. If you still have an odor you can buy the washing machine cleaner packet. It works great. Always always always dry the inside when you are finished and leave the door open.
Not everyone has a huge laundry room and in most cases this is a royal pain, but it is the only way. Not one of my customers likes their front loaders. I don't care how much water it saves. I would never purchase something that requires so much upkeep. Good luck!
Switch to powdered HE detergent. All the liquids are petroleum based and stick to the plastic hoses and gaskets and other parts. Hint given to me by a repairman. Worked for me. Use only a tablespoon for an average load. Don't use liquid fabric softener either. Eventually same stink.
My front loading washer has the worst sour smell. I need some help. I bought the washer cleaner, but it did not phase the smell. I used Clorox bleach and used the hottest water and ran it through two loads, but that still did not fix it. I need help immediately, please.
By betty from Hurricane, WV
Google your brand and model of washer or check the mfgr's website. You may need to clean a filter or the detergent/bleach dispenser. Always leave the door open when the washer is not in use.
In addition to leaving the door open when the washer is not in use, take out the detergent drawer, empty the standing water in it and leave on top of the washer so that the cavity where it belongs has a chance to dry out. The odor comes from the standing water in your machine. It may take a couple of weeks to get all the residual smell out.
I use some vineger in the fabric softener compartment instead of the actual liquid softener. When I dry the load I use a little liquid softener on a cloth. No smell in the washer so far.
I was having the same problem with my Maytag Neptune front loading (stacker) washer. Now I simply leave the door ajar between washings, and no more smell. A simple solution, but it works! When the serviceman came for something, he agreed that this is a common problem and that this is the best remedy. You can adjust it so that the light does not come on.
If you are using liquid HE detergent switch to powdered HE. Search until you find some. And stop using liquid fabric softener also. That did it for me. A repairman said those liquids are petroleum based and leave residue on the plastic pipes. I had tried everything else ever mentioned, this was the answer that worked. Another thing he told me was to use much less detergent than the manufacturers suggest. I did that and my clothes still come out clean.
I have heard this before about front load machines. Contact the manufacturer.
You need to keep the door open when not in use. I've had front load washers for over 20 years and you can't close up all that moisture; it creates mold. Try the bleach again but this time keep the door open to air dry.
Not only do I leave the door open as much as possible (hubby like to close it on me), but I 'pry' open the gasket that's around the door and stick a dusting rag in there to absorb whatever water is left. I've found that by doing both it might take a while to totally get rid of the smell but it does eventually work, and become a habit too. It doesn't cost anything so you might want to give it a try and see if it works for you. Good luck!
I have a front loading HE washing machine as well. The cause of the odor is using too much detergent! We are all used to using too much detergent because of the older style top loading machines. These use less water and need less detergent. The detergent companies love us for these old habits.
The solution is to get down and dirty and clean out the mold from the rubber gasket. It is smelly and gross but you need to get rid of it. It is behind the gasket, under the folds of rubber or silicone whatever. Get an old washcloth, dampen it with water and scrap it out using the washcloth as your scraper. Next, use white vinegar and go over it all again.
Next, run the washer through a regular cycle or quick cycle with a quart or so of white vinegar. Make a habit of leaving that door open when you are finished with a load. Above all, learn to use less detergent so the mold doesn't have anything to grow on. You should hate having to clean out that disgusting mold. It is dangerous to your health and the health of your family. The clothes will be clean with less and your pocketbook will love you for it as well with a savings in detergent. Best wishes to all.
How do I get rid of the moldy/musty smell in my front load washer? It smells like wet towels that have been sitting in the damp basement of an abandoned house! Please help.
By Hunter
Run some baking soda through your washer on a quick gentle cycle. Then remember to not close the washer door until it has completely aired out. I have a pretty dishcloth I hang over the door so it won't close and everyone knows that the washer is drying out. Closing the door on a wet washer is what gives you that musty odor. Good luck!
I had this problem with my front load washer too, until I started leaving the door ajar between washdays. No more problem!
I had the musty smell whether I closed the door or left it open. I was about to throw the machine away even though it was only two years old. A repairman told me to stop using liquid detergent, use only powdered, and no liquid fabric softener. The liquids are petroleum based and leave a residue on plastic pipes and rubber gaskets etc.
Powdered HE detergent is hard to find, but worth the effort. Also, he said not to use as much as recommended, he said most people use way too much soap. There is absolutely no smell in my machine now, and amazingly the clothes are just as clean. For two people washing a small load of clothes I use only a rounded tablespoon of HE powdered detergent. Try it... the only thing you have to lose is a moldy smell.
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