Hi Mom,
Does anyone have a simply solution to making my front loader washing machine not stink. It doesn't seem to matter what I do it has an awful smell. Thank you in advance!!!
I ordered this product after I saw it on the news and it seemed to help. My washer didn't really stink too bad, but the clothes never had a fresh smell. http://www.smellywasher.com/
Good Luck!!
Hi,
I read an article that said the reason for smelly washing machines is because of water left in after the spin cycle. It seems that not all the water gets drained out. The article said to run some vinegar through the rinse cycle and then just leave the door open a little so the water will evaporate
Hi C.,
It's funny you mention this since I was just talking about this with some friends. There is a product that you can pick up for $17 from Ace Hardware called 'Smelly Washer'. It's a washing machine cleaner and it also works on moldy towels. It works fantastically! Hope this helps!
S.
I know you will get alot on this topic. THIS WHAT WORKED FOR ME
I know what you are talking about. 1 year ago I had the same thing i was ready to throw my brand new machine out. 1st make sure you are using the correct amount of soap and/or softner. Liquid is the only way to go in my opinion because the powder does not get enough water to truly dissolve. Go by label instuctions even if it is not filling the dosage cup on the machine. I think this was my biggest mistake.
You will need to clean the machine and start fresh. In an empty machine pour 1/2 gallon of liquid bleach directly into the tub. Run the sanitary cycle (hot water) or tub clean if your machine has it. The machine will need to run about 2 hours to get it right set your settings accordingly maybe heavly soiled and fastest high speed spin if you so not have the other two options. whatever it takes to get the 2 hours because remember you are getting a buildup of soaps to break loose and rinse away. You will need to do it 2 times to start for sure then do a load of laundry and you may need to repeat it. The brand of bleach does not matter for this I use whatever is on sale or the cheapest. I called the Kenmore guy out on my LG 3 times, they told me that this was the biggest complaint. The machine uses much less water so the detergent doesn't get rinsed out of the tub right and even builds up in the clothes after time. (keep this in mind to use even a little less then recommeded on the bottle. It will take time but keep using the correct amount of liquids. And do the tub clean 1 time per month for preventative because once it starts to stink it is much harder to get back under control. Also I was warned when I got my machine to leave the door open at all times when not in use (I did and still got the stink)(I also do at least 1 load full load every day) and if this is possible for you to do it cannot hurt. I talked with a friend and she doesn't leave the door open (not in a convient place) but she does laundry daily too.(house full with 8 going to be 9 this month) The main things is the bleach clean once per month and use the right amount of detergent HE(high efficency) of course. Also wipe the rubbber seal around the door regularly my hubby works in dirt (excavator) so we have much dirt and the seal gets scummy. At time I use the extra water feature to try to rinse the dirt through. GOOD luck you try the bleach and right dose of liquids and you will be fine.
When we bought our front loader thay told us
1) to monthly run it through with just bleach
2) after every load leave the door open at least over night until it is completely dry as it is a water tight seal and if you close the door it will cause mold/mildew/etc
3) monthly wipe the seal down with bleach
4) there is a product for cleaning them at home depot, sears, etc - I don't remember what it is called and I've never used it - but you can use it to clean out and it also helps with soap residue
The first 2 i do regularly and I've never had a smell problem. hope this helps.
Do you by any chance have the Kenmore HE2. We had that set and they were horrible for smell (amongst other things). We pretty much ran bleach through it all the time. That helped with the smell when we did it.
We ended up being able to return it under the Lemon protection program and got a Samsung--love it. We havent had a smell issue since. It might just be the type of washer you have. The only thing that worked for us was the bleach. I have also heard vinegar works too.
We have horrid water where we live. We just built a brand new house...and our front load washer was already smelling horrible within the year too. We tried a few things such as using bleach periodically in an empty/hot load which kind of helped I guess.
Then finally one day I heard this advertisement on the local radio station for this 'Smelly Washer' stuff... So, purchased it at a local store. Guess this guy invented this stuff sells it via local ACE Hardware stores. Or, you can get via their website: www.SmellyWasher.com.
You put one of the tablets in your washer, using the directions they provide (do it once a month or so)...and it eliminates the problem somehow. Not sure exactly what it does.... But it definitely helped our washer out tremendously!
Wishing you a better smelling future ahead!
Hi C.
Welcome to the world of bad designs in high efficiency washers!!
We just had someone here 4 times-- again-- from repair. Our washer only 5 years old.
Check consumer affairs . com about your brand.
Turns out -- they are poorly designed. They never really rinse themselves out-- low water use-- mold and slime build up and then come back. You have to leave the front doors open at all times. Many tear your clothes and you have to use 1/4-1/2 of the soap listed on the high effic. soaps or your pumps burn out trying to deal with the suds-- again not using as much water. That stains your clothes over time.
You can rinse with a gallon of vinegar periodically, have your seals removed and cleaned- gaskets, leave the doors open or buy affresh and it might help.
We're done and they told us we had to buy a new washer -- ours had a class action lawsuit on it we were never notified about (couldv'e had a new washer value replaced if they actually paid out cuz the suit settled in favor of the consumer)
So-- good luck and they told us to go back to the old fashion dial machines, top loaders and we'd have success and clean clothes for 20 years like one would hope. So we are.
About me- 48 yo perfusionist, wellness coach for an online nationwide biggest loser and mom to 7 yo twin girls.
B. J
It seems that I heard something recently about the rubber seal in the door of front loaders, that "scum" can accumulate there and cause odors. I wonder if the manual which comes with the machine tells how to clean this area . . . sorry I don't remember all the details.
You should be putting it through a bleach/clean cycle once a month and make sure you leave the door and soap drawer open so it can dry out when you're done using it.
There are tablets you can buy that clean the machine and decrease odor. You just place them in the washing machine and run it through a "hot" cycle. I use them every few months.I believe the name is "Afresh" (or something like that).
Also-leave the door open in between washes.
Leave the door open when not in use, and wipe out the rubber liner with vinegar water once a week or so. That should help a lot.
I haven't tried this yet. I have a font loader, my sales person told me to leave the door open when not in use and I do and have never had a problem. I saw this product on the news, a local MN washer repair man invented it. It is supposed to work great. Use it, then from now on leave the door open:)
I haven't tried it myself, but I remember being told that a Lemon/Lemonade Kool-aid packet would do the trick!
Since I've started using vinegar in the liquid fabric softener cup for each load, the "stinky" problem has stopped. It actually serves a dual purpose, keeps it "stink free" and softens the laundry. One good thing is vinegar is cheaper than fabric softener....
Renee
As the previous post stated. Make sure to run the bleach only wash cycle (mine has an actual setting for this), at least once a month. Also, make sure to leave the door open when you are done washing clothes to air it out. You could try also wiping the rubber seal dry when done washing...
You have to dry the rubber around the door with a towel and leave the door cracked/open when you are not using it.
I have the same problem as well. I have cleaned the rubber seal in front by pulling it back and wiping it behind. Then I run bleach through like you where doing a load with no spin. Some people use vinger I hear as well. Also leave the door open a crack when not in use. Hope this helps.
C.,
I too have experienced this with my front loader. I just tried this weekend a product made by Tide. It is called washer cleaner. It worked great and I loved the results. You can also run white vinegar through the washer without clothes on hot and it should take away the wmell. Go ahead and leave teh door open every now and then also. This seems to air things out. Good luck.
With front loaders you need to leave the door open. If you close it, it gets mildewy and starts to smell. I'd run it on empty with either bleach in it or vinegar and I would bet that would take the smell out.
I too have a front loader and have had the odor problems. I talked to a person at best buy about it. There is a tablet you purchase from them called afresh. you put one tablet in once a month. It work really really well!!! They told me that the front loader are prone to this problem because they never air out like a top loader does. It also helps to put the ruber ring around the door back a bit and wipe it well atleast once a week with a 10 to 1 mixture of bleach and water!!!
I had the same issue and washed it with a bleach and then a vinegar in the load, and from then on, I have always left the door open when it is not in use, so it can dry out in between....hasn't gotten smelly ever since.
Follow the instructions in your manual for using bleach only to wash the machine.
Our front load was stinky, we followed hte instructions and it took care of the problem. :)
Have you checked for mold? Front loaders collect water in the rubber seal by the door and they need to be wiped out after each wash cycle. A friend of mine had a service man come out to her house for the same reason and that's what he said.
Hi C.-
Go to Best Buy and purchase some tablets for cleaning stinky front load washers- I can't remember the name of the product, but they come in a 3 pack and they work! Follow the directions on the package....
Good luck.
A couple different ideas, as we have the same problem:
--Run the sanitize cycle; I think front loaders have this because of the stinky problem.
--Run a load of clothes with bleach. I do underwear/handkerchiefs/whites with bleach, and it seems to make it smell better for a while.
--Make sure you remove wet clothes promptly. I used to run a load in the morning with my regular washer and come home from work and deal with it; I can't do that anymore.
--Leave it open when you're not using it. My baby likes to shut the door, but I try to leave it open, especially the day I've run a load.
--I think they actually make special products for this problem--yup (just went to check)--I got them free with my Maytag HE. It's called "affresh" and it claims to "remove odor-causing residue in HE Washers". I haven't used it yet; so far the above solutions have worked for me.
After that little 4 year old girl crawling in the front loading washer and her little 18 month old brother starting it, killing her, I wouldn't leave the door to a frontloading washer open if you have small children.
Our previous front-loader was stinky, I'm sure it was from the rubber gasket not fully drying. We got a new front-loader (LG)in February 2008. I have never used the Clean Washer cycle, I leave both the soap door and washer door open when not in use and I have NEVER had a problem with this washer! Good luck, hope some of the other suggestions work!
Clothes washer mold odor is caused by overuse of detergents, using fabric softener or low water washing temperatures. The odor will transfer to towels and clothing to make them smell like mildew. The washer must be cleaned before attempting to remove mold odor from towels and clothing.
To compare washing machine cleaners:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua6OJPn0-fU
Go to the blog page at www.smellywasher.com for much more information.
