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I have a Frigidaire Affinity front loader about 5 years old. I started getting the septic smell after about 2 years. I thought it was something to do with the plumbing but found out today that is not the problem. The washer quit spinning so I went online and found out how to fix it. My sons took the machine apart (very easy - all front access) and there is a sump that is attached to the pump. It is like a large balloon thing that takes any stuff that has made it that far (lint, coins, screws, etc) and keeps it from getting into the pump.
The minute they took it off the house filled with the septic smell. The stuff in it was like black slime and stunk to high heaven. Also the filter for the pump was clogged with lint which also stunk. I don't what idiot decided the filter should be inside the machine but it is. They cleaned everything up, my machine is running again and the smell is gone.
As far as a mildew smell you will get that because it is a front loader. I found a really good solution but you have to be very careful when doing it. Put 1 cup of bleach right in the drum of the machine and put it on the sanitize cycle. When the machine has stopped filling and is starting to agitate add 1 cup vinegar. Put the vinegar in the detergent dispenser.
DON'T ADD the bleach and vinegar at the same time. It will produce a gas that is lethal. Once the bleach is diluted with water it is safe to add the vinegar. Let the cycle run and when it is finished the smell will be gone, as well as any build up and stain on the seal and outer side of the drum.
I have always had a problem with the clothes not rinsing well enough. I use less than the recommended amount of soap and still have to double rinse, sometimes a third time. I found if I do this bleach/vinegar thing about once a month the sudsing issued isn't as bad. I hope this helps.
I've had a moldy mildew smell I have been fighting for a few months in my Samsung Front Load washer, and nothing and I mean nothing has helped! I have scoured the internet trying every tip imaginable & wasted so much money in electrical energy costs trying to eliminate the problem, to no avail. But in a desperate attempt to diffuse the problem for good (before I threw in the towel and trashed the nasty appliance), I got to thinking.
We have a pool sitting in our yard with plenty of pool supplies, so I grabbed one of the many hth dual action chlorinating tablets (the #2) that you put in a floater to keep your pool water sanitized and decided to try a chunk of one.
You shouldn't allow it to come in contact with your skin, so before I unwrapped it, I threw it onto concrete so that it would break into pieces and I took the largest chunk I could find, threw it directly into the tub of my washer with an old towel to help it stay put while "washing", then set the washer to sanitize (which takes about two hours and runs with the hottest water temps possible), and let it rip.
I then ran another cycle on normal wash cold water to rinse out the bleachy contaminants, and every load thereafter smells so fresh, just like the day I had the appliance installed! I was beyond happy! Goodbye mildew! Yes, its that easy after all. Now why didn't the manufacturers think of that?
Note: If you should be one to try this at home, Please do not touch the bleach tablet, and allow the sanitize cycle to run completely before opening the washer door, or the CI bleach fumes will get you! Hot water can release some of the chlorine in the bleach as a gas. They do go away once you run a rinse cycle.
It's truly amazing what a little sanitize tablet meant for a pool can do. Please post back with your results! You can thank me later.
Replace the big gasket in front. All the bleach and cleaner in world won't fix. There's a class action lawsuit against LG in progress. Replacing gasket costs about 200 unless you do it yourself.
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. This may not be what's causing the terrible smells in your machine, but it fixed ours! I'm still going to add Borax to every couple of loads of laundry. Hope this helps anyone. The smell was so awful and now it's gone! We're going to clean the filter every few months, hopefully extending the life of the machine as well as keeping the terrible smell far, far away!
I use vinegar to rinse my clothes and leave the door slightly ajar after the last load. Between these two things there is no odor anymore.
Use white vinegar in the fabric softner recepticle instead of fabric softener and when the wash load is finished remove the dispenser drawer and leave the door of the washer open until it has a chance to dry out. I also take an old towel and wipe the door gasket (also under it). This eliminates the damp surface on which mold can grow-hense the smell.
I have used this method on my 2 year old machine with each use and have never had a problem with smell/mold.
Actually it's the gasket from the door, the water gets in there, keeps it moist and mold sets in. That's where the smell comes from. All front loading machines have this problem. Use Bleach in a warm water wash. I would do this frequently, at least on a monthly basis.
Put 2 cups of C.L.R. In washer and set washer on hot water and for the longest time possible, let it go through entire cycle. This will also clean out the drain holes in washer tub. Then let it go through another cycle. This should do the trick, if it still has a lingering odor which it shouldn't repeat it again. This C.L.R. Is wonderful stuff and removes hard water like a champ.
I had that problem. Serviceman told me to cut back on the softener and to run a full wash with vinegar, no clothes.
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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
By jholl0829
08/17/2011
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.
I made a large batch of liquid laundry detergent. I have a front loading washing machine (which I love). My problem is when I go to remove the clothes, if it isn't the second it stops, they begin to get a foul odor. I can't say it's the musty smell that occurs if you leave the clothes in overnight either. Has anyone else had this problem?
Thanks.
Kim from Sutton, NH
By caddie
By Linda in AL
By Tina
Although the jury is still out, the odor problem with front loaders seems to come from standing water (just a little bit) in the drum. Here are some approaches to alleviating the problem:
By WeBMartians
My towels (regular clothes were fine), started to smell awful, even right after washing and drying. I used bleach, but didn't help. Then, I read the manual in more detail, and my Kenmore HE5t machine has a feature called "Sanitary". I used it to wash my towels with a little bleach and, Voila! Problem solved.
That washing cycle takes almost 2 hours to complete, but I must say I love it. I have not had that problem since then, even after washing the towels on a regular cycle. If the odor returns, I'll just wash them that way again. For added measure, I'm going to start using the "Clean Washer" cycle at least once a month. (11/16/2007)
By Mayra
By Jerry
My washer smells like new. I ordered some and it takes only a teaspoon to get rid of mildew smell from a load of towels. Also, their tech support is great. It's been 2 months and still no smell. (12/16/2007)
By Joann
By Chris
By Jeff
By Emily R.
By littletoe46
I have a Bosch front load washer that smells terrible. A friend researched this and claims that it is from the "fish oils" in the liquid detergent. Has anyone ever heard of this? She suggested running "hot" water and bleach through it twice and then switching to use HE powder detergent instead.
By KellyRaeB from OH
By Heidemarie
By Indianone
By pikkymama
My top loading washing machine smells like an old sock, or something is stuck inside. It just smells so bad, and as a result the house is smelling too. How do I clean this?
By TeresaE. from Salt Lake City, UT
By mandihere
What most people do not understand is that the commercial makers of detergents recommend using way too much of their product. Of course that is their way of making money but is really bad for the environment and your machine not to mention your wallet. Before I started using my own detergent I was ready to throw my front loader out the back door! (12/17/2009)
By TAbbott972
By emmamamie
By willsmaw
I also scrub all around the lip where the top lays down flat, and under the area where the lid stands up. Squeeze your brush/washcloth under as much as you can. I can usually get it sparkling white. I also scrub the agitator and fabric softener dispenser. Most of the dispensers will pop apart so you can clean them well. My old machine did not, so I had to fill it with hot water and then rinse it out. I did get that all clean too back then. I rinse these things with cup fulls of the washing water. Then I just let the machine finish that load; and then run plain cold water through a wash cycle. When that is done, I leave the top lid open, at least 24 hours and I have never had any odor problems.
I hope this helps you. (01/11/2010)
By carnation037
How do you get the smell out of an older Maytag front loader washing machine?
By Bramma5 from Bend, OR
By hodgemelody
By CarrieLyne
By theshrimp
By syntoniser
By Squirrley
By soup-lady
When you finish the last load of laundry for the day, use a piece of terry towel to soak up any water that collects around the seal. Also dry standing water in the detergent dispenser. Then leave the door and the dispenser open so they'll dry out quickly. (01/19/2010)
By Elaress
We have a front loading LG washer and have had an odor like rotten eggs coming from the washer and our clothes. The manufacturer says to use the hot tub clean cycle.
We have tried bleach tablets from Home Depot, and I drain and clean the sump filter each month. After a couple of washings, the smell comes back.
We are fed up with the washer. Any help would be appreciated. I have heard of other loaders having the same problem with mildew, mold, and rotten egg smell.
By Allen from Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Do you have well water? Well water is not generally chlorinated, which means it is faster to grow bacteria than "city" water that has been treated. If you have well water, you might talk to your well servicing company and find out if it would be worth it to install some sort of a treatment system that will put something into the water before it gets to your washer. (02/16/2010)
By Jilson
Quick notes from the article:
<< A quick scrub in the bathtub can get rid of the nasty slime, but how do you prevent this from happening altogether? Jordan says more maintenance. >>
<< There are some things that you can do to keep mold from building up inside your machine. One is to keep the door open between loads. It's also important to use special detergent made for high efficiency machines and if you are having an odor problem it's recommended that you use a washing machine cleaner product at least once a month. >> (02/17/2010)
By COflower
By ddpmkrupa
By rasta
By PDG
By ginblossom
By Pammy50
By JoycieK
By slufootsue
By jahummell
I have a Maytag front loader washing machine. It really stinks inside like mildew. How can I get rid of the smell?
How do I get rid of the odor coming from inside the front load washing machine?
My Whirlpool Duet front loader has an awful smell (like rotten eggs) when I run it. It seems to be coming from the water hose. Any ideas how to fix this? It really stinks.
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Smelly Front Load Washer