[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by raynan

I have a front-load and clean around the inside of the door gasket frequently with Lysol or Clorox wipes. On laundry day I also run an empty load after everything is done with just bleach and extra rinse on sanitize cycle. I do the anti-bacterial cycle in the empty dishwasher with vinegar also periodically. I used to work for GE.

wow. that's impressive. thanks for the tips. I hope you share them as often as you think of them.
Kitty

[vlm790]

I have a front load machine and always use recommended amount of liquid detergent. Have same smelly towel problem. Washed all my towels in super hot water with cup of vinegar. Rinsed in clear water twice then washed with baking soda. Never use fabric softener but problem came back. Did same vinegar/baking soda routine and now I do a couple sprays of febreeze for fabric directly on wet towels when going into the dryer. Problem has not been back yet. Fingers crossed!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Bonanza

We have a new front load washer. After every wash, I wipe the inside of the door off completely. I've always used Tide powder and won't any more because I find some powder residue on the door and rubber gasket; it doesn't seem to disolve completely even though I wash with warm water.

Unless I'm using bleach for a white load once every few white washings, I fill the bleach dispenser with vinegar for every wash. After every wash, I never close the door completely until the washer is dry. Otherwise, I have found, the damp washer can hold a musty smell.

Another biggie . . . After each load, pull the large rubber gasket (on the bottom) out so you can see if there is any debris, pet hair, etc, clogging the tiny openings. I believe all washers are the same in this respect. We have pets, so there is always hair there and it does prevent the flow of the water into the washer (that you can't see). I use a damp sponge to wipe the hair and other stuff out; it removes more easily that by using my hand.

There are some good suggestions here. I'm sure if you try some of the recommended posts you will get rid of the smell.

Bonanza, can you say exactly where this large rubber gasket is located?

[gomoho]

So the front loaders are saving on water and you can wash a million pair of jeans or towels in one load, but what a pain in the butt the rest of the time. If you had to do it again - would you buy a front loader or a traditional machine??? Sorry for the hijack but curious.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by gomoho

So the front loaders are saving on water and you can wash a million pair of jeans or towels in one load, but what a pain in the butt the rest of the time. If you had to do it again - would you buy a front loader or a traditional machine??? Sorry for the hijack but curious.

There was another thread on this a year or so ago. I detest my agitator-less top loader as compared with how well my front loader in MI got my clothes clean. It doesn't use enough water to get the clothes clean. I have to use tons of stain pre-treat and much hotter water. I can't wait till it breaks. I'll be going back to a front loader.

Others, however, love theirs.

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Bonanza, can you say exactly where this large rubber gasket is located?

I used the term "gasket," and perhaps that is confusing.
From what I read, you have a top loader so you don't have that problem.
However, even when I had a top load washer, I would leave the lid open for the washer to air dry.

Anyway, in a front loader, when you open the door, there is a large flexible rubber "thing"
that seals the door when the washer door is closed.
That is what I was calling a gasket.
The rubber piece is flexible and if you pull it sort of up and out a little,
it is like a flap. Check in that area to see if there is anything clogging the tiny holes which let water flow through.
Anything that accumulates there (lint, pet hair, etc.) is what I wipe out with a sponge.

If I am not clear, ask me again!

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by gomoho View Post

So the front loaders are saving on water and you can wash a million pair of jeans or towels in one load, but what a pain in the butt the rest of the time. If you had to do it again - would you buy a front loader or a traditional machine??? Sorry for the hijack but curious.

Originally Posted by CFrance

There was another thread on this a year or so ago. I detest my agitator-less top loader as compared with how well my front loader in MI got my clothes clean. It doesn't use enough water to get the clothes clean. I have to use tons of stain pre-treat and much hotter water. I can't wait till it breaks. I'll be going back to a front loader.

Others, however, love theirs.

Well -- it's the old story . . .
If you ask ten people, you will get ten opinions!

When we moved here I thought it was time for me to get 'modernized'
and buy one of the new front loaders, which I did.

To make it short and sweet -- I don't like it!
I don't like the fact that I can't use Tide powder, because I find some residue.
Larger items (sheets, blankets, etc.) get rolled up.
I question how can they be clean if that's what happens in the washing process???
Again -- this is me, not the washer!

Just as a point of information, my pair is a quality set -- a Whilpool Duet set on pedestals.
The problem isn't with the washer per se; it's me!
I just don't like it and would sell it in a heartbeat!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Bonanza

Originally Posted by gomoho View Post

So the front loaders are saving on water and you can wash a million pair of jeans or towels in one load, but what a pain in the butt the rest of the time. If you had to do it again - would you buy a front loader or a traditional machine??? Sorry for the hijack but curious.

Well -- it's the old story . . .
If you ask ten people, you will get ten opinions!

When we moved here I thought it was time for me to get 'modernized'
and buy one of the new front loaders, which I did.

To make it short and sweet -- I don't like it!
I don't like the fact that I can't use Tide powder, because I find some residue.
Larger items (sheets, blankets, etc.) get rolled up.
I question how can they be clean if that's what happens in the washing process???
Again -- this is me, not the washer!

Just as a point of information, my pair is a quality set -- a Whilpool Duet set on pedestals.
The problem isn't with the washer per se; it's me!
I just don't like it and would sell it in a heartbeat!

You are correct about the ten people and ten opinions. We should trade sets! Mine are Kenmore Elite (made by Whirlpool, I believe). When I do a king-size sheet, even though I put other items in with it and make sure the agitator thingy at the bottom of the drum is exposed (as per the manual), it will frequently look like a frisbee top when the washer's done, totally covering the agitator and curled all around the sides.

And nothing gets as clean as it did with my front loader. I've read that it weighs the clothes and decides how much (make that "little") water to use. I've thought about throwing a ten-pound weight in there with the clothes so it'll use more water!

I thought you were referring to a gasket that was on all types of machines. Sorry for the confusion. Up north I always left the door to my front loader open and wiped out the gasket, especially in the summer. I never had a problem with it, but it wasn't as humid, and everything was inside in air conditioning.

And I do leave the lid open on my top loader to let it dry out (also inside in a/c). Just common sense down here.

[Rango]

Originally Posted by D&Lsunfun

it may be the washing machine, about every 2 months our washers has a sour smell, i use the machine cleaner cycle with bleach and hot water and good to go.

There have been problems with front loading washers getting molding around door seals and causing moldy smelling clothes. There is a law suit pending against manufacturers of these machines.

[Happy Snowbird]

I always put vinegar in as "fabric softener". It helps get all the soap out. May help with the musty smell.

[John_W]

15 units of a condo in Titusville were destroyed this morning by a woman who was trying to dry a wet towel in the microwave, true story.