[jimhurtt@twc.com]

It's big government running our lives. Forcing manufacturers to make only low water use washing machines, toilets, etc. I attached a short hose to the hot water outlet for the washer. At the start of every wash cycle I add water. Too much and the washer will pump out before it starts. Also newer toilets have a flapper that let's in too much water so it closes too soon. Get an adjustable flapper anywhere if you want a longer flush.

[mjc1145]

All front loaders are prone to having musty smell if door is kept closed when not in use due to zero air recirculation and residual water in the washer. This occurs because the door seal is very tight to prevent water leakage during operation. Top loaders do not have a tight seal and air can recirculate through the washer when it is not in use.

Recommend running a cleaning cycle using Chlorox in the detergent tray once a month, and leaving the door open when not in use. Occasionally, manually clean the detergent trays and housing. We have had a front loader for over 10 years, and have not had any serious issues with musty smell being transferred to clothes.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by MNJohnson

Try leaving the door to the washing machine and the detergent slot open. so that it can dry out otherwise this can cause mold and the smell. I also periodically run the cleaners through it and that helps. If your towels or other things start to smell, we have added a little white vinegar to the cycle and that helps too.

So do I. Leaving the door open is recommended and my front loader machine signals when it needs a sanitizer wash, about once a month.

[Nucky]

Before I bought the last Setup of Samsung Front Loaders I did some investigating and remember that Consumer Reports remarked that the smell we are talking about eliminating can be from a place in the door gasket that even someone with a Homeowner Handyman License wouldn't think to look. I learned the hard way after trying to find the problem over 10 years ago on a Washer I can't remember the name of. The Gasket was similar to an onion. There was layer after layer that kept on being revealed and just when you thought you couldn't find another layer guess what? There was one more layer and that is where the problem was. I felt so defeated. I had to pay for a house call and a repairman with a big mouth that professed his superstardom for his repair and told my wife I was on the correct trail but didn't go far enough. I got even with him. I tipped him but I put the Horns on him for making me look bad. Dirty Dog!

[Ladygolfer93]

r[QUOTE=Topspinmo;1836144]Funny that have to give 1000 plus bucks for washer and have to just through hoops just to keep it from stinking. If everybody would give bad reviews and refuse to buy the junk maybe someone would wake up and make washer that actually washes clothes?[/QUOTE

I have written terrible reviews on my "high end", less than year old Maytag. Wrote on as many sites as I could find to review it. But compared to my DIL's Samsung (highest priced model they make !), mine in a dream machine in comparison.... and remember, mine ruins clothes by "tying" items into "knot" like configurations that sometimes they never completely recover from and never look the same again ! If folks (consumers) are the ones who "demanded" machines that would "save" water, then WHY did the manufacturers not make them with a very SIMPLE dial, a hand turned dial, that simply said: very low, low, average, high & max. water level ? You could just simply turn the dial for the water level you need. This Maytag "thing" of mine, will empty ALL the water out if I try to fill it to soak some highly soiled things. Now that's really "saving" water ! Some have said just use the "pause", not stop or power. Well, that does not work with Maytag so beware. If you "pause" it to allow soaking, even if you don't open the lid, it will still empty and while you think the clothes are soaking.... you will find them drained, spun, and not really washed. These washers and this idea of using less water is about as "saving" as all the "improvements" to the light bulbs that have served so many generations for so long. Now thanks to the "improvements"....LOL... we need to call a hazmat crew if a light bulb is broken.... progress ! Sorry to all, I am SO disgusted with this new washing machine

[rothbear]

I have a 12+ year old LG front load washer and I have always left the door ajar once I am done with the laundry. I just pull out the dispenser drawer and open the machine door against it. I also make sure that I take out the dispenser drawer and empty it into the sink as there is always some water left in it. I leave it sit overnight and then close it up the next day. So far I have not had any odor problems. I have the Affresh but don't really use it much. I think I have used 1 tablet in the 12 years. I always use Tide HE, Downey and bleach for whites. I have cut down on the amount that I use more for not having a coating on my clothes and have not noticed a difference in the clean. When I wash my towels I always use the sanitary cycle, and hot water for anything with bleach (whites, sheets, mattress pads). Everything else is warm. I don't use cold at all, but then again I don't have anything I wash that is hurt by warm. I have done all this since day one. If there is already an odor problem it would need to be cleaned first, of course. I would try the bleach in a sanitary cycle first, as suggested above. Or if the unit has a machine cleaning cycle use that. Mine doesn't.

[RuthB]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I have a friend whose washing machine developed an odor that contaminated her clothes. Does anyone know what the problem may be?

I have a front loading HE LG washer. Friends that have the same washer have had severe problems with odor. I have never had that problem. These washers seal tightly with the door closed and if not opened or used daily they build up odors from bacteria thriving in the warm moist environment. The answer is to always leave the door wide open this allows air circulation and helps to allow the interior to dry between loads. Give your washer a deep clean with either an empty load with clorox or with a product designed to clean the machine. Then you can maintain it by keeping the door open (not ajar)

[daveac83]

If a front loader, the door must be left open after washing. Use the correct detergent. On settings add an extra rinse cycle. Wipe the door and gasket after each wash. Run the tub cleaner cycle every couple of months. There are products that make this cycle more efficient.

[FromDC]

1. Put 1/2 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax in washer before adding clothes.
2. Always keep washer door open when not in use.
3. Run Aafresh cleaner after 30 loads.

I ran out of Borax earlier this year and decided to stop buying it since I didn't think it was necessary. Well, once the laundry started to smell, I was ready to buy a new washer. Decided to try Borax again and that solved the problem! No need to buy a new washer!

[Spike380]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I have a friend whose washing machine developed an odor that contaminated her clothes. So, she bought a new washing machine, but the new one has the same problem. The odor seems to occur even when she uses only hot water or only cold water when washing her clothes. There is no odor anywhere else in the house, or even in the laundry room. Does anyone know what the problem may be?

Washing machine doors should be left open to air dry after you're done using it as you will get mold/smell. There is also a cleaner (powder) you can get at home depot to use for 1 empty wash. Really works

[raynan]

I found that I always end my laundry day washing whites in hot water with detergent and clorox and then no odor ever has a chance to build up.

[fraurose]

Always leave the Lid or Door oben after washing so your Waschmaschine can dry out inside . I leave mine open all day till evening, it does the trick . If you don’t , mold will build eventually .

[flflowers]

Originally Posted by B-flat

Thanks to the OP for posting the question and also to ladygolfer93 for a remedy. We just moved to another home and when running the washer there's an awful smell. We'll try the cleaner.

I have also heard that it helps to leave the lid OPEN after finished with laundry to let the inside dry out completely before closing. I have been doing that at my son's house and it seems to help there with their "high end" machine....what I would do for my old machine that I left when moved

[Carla B]

After 99 posts of advice, I imagine the OP will advise his lady friend to leave the door open.

[Sunnies]

How to Remove Washing Machine Odors

To remove those foul odors, use the following three-step process to restore your washing machine’s clean, fresh scent: scrub, sanitize, and deodorize.

1. Scrub: To begin cleaning, remove the soap, bleach, and softener dispensers so you can scrub them individually.

When water gets splashed into any of these parts, it is often left behind as standing water between cycles—a breeding ground for mildew. Use an old toothbrush to get inside the cracks and crevices, and a pipe cleaner to dig out buildup lodged inside the pipes of the dispensers—that’s a sneaky source of moldy smells. If you have a front-load model, also wipe around the rubber seal with a wet cloth, and use a Q-tip to remove accumulated gunk around the gasket. On top-load models, pay special attention to the cracks and crevices around the doors where dirt tends to hide. When you’re done scrubbing the parts, it’s time to move on to the tub.

2. Sanitize: To sanitize the machine, keep chlorine bleach on hand.

Chlorine bleach should be your “go-to,” as it’s the absolutely best solution for killing mold and mildew. Just be sure to take precautions when using this product and, for safety reasons, don’t mix it with other cleaners. Now, set the washer to the highest possible temperature setting. The amount of bleach you should use depends on your appliance: Add four cups bleach to a top-loading machine or two cups to a front-loader, then start a cycle. Let the tub fill, and stop the wash cycle once the agitator has mixed in the bleach. Allow the bleach water to sit for 30 minutes, and then resume the cycle. One more run of the rinse cycle should remove all traces of bleach.

Washing Machine Smells
Photo: fotosearch.com
3. Deodorize: Once the bleach has done its job sanitizing, move on to vinegar to remove any last lingering smells.

Vinegar is not only an excellent deodorizer, but the acidic quality of the liquid removes hard water buildup as well as any leftover bacteria that may have survived the bleach. To begin, set your washer on its hottest setting. Add four cups of plain white vinegar (not balsamic or apple cider) to a top-load machine or two cups to a front-load model. Don’t use laundry detergent or anything else in this cycle—vinegar acts alone! The process from this point should feel familiar: Allow the tub to fill, then stop the wash cycle once the agitator has mixed the vinegar and water. After 30 minutes, turn the washer back on and allow the cycle to resume until complete. The next time you open your washing machine door, don’t be afraid to breathe in deeply! Instead of that foul-smelling odor, you’ll enjoy the sweet smell of success.