[Boomer]

Sold a northern house with an Electrolux front loader. We had it for 5 years, no smell problems — but the finished loads were never left for long. The door was always left open when not in use and I dried the gasket and the drum each time I finished using it. Takes seconds to do that. Saves the machine. Never, ever stunk.

But I will never again buy a front-loader.

At the closing, I told the young buyers about the care of a front loader. Whether they listened, I will never know.

Next time we bought a Speed Queen — top loader, not a lot of bells and whistles, built like a tank. I still leave the door open all the time and once in a while dry the tub if it looks like a little water is left behind. There has been no stink — ever.

(I have a nose like a hound dog so I would know if there was even a whiff of stink.)

[wiltma]

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?

I have a top loader LG and have never had a smell. I leave the top up after every use

[davem4616]

we have a top loader....all of a sudden 'soap residue' started appearing on the dark clothes....we called for a service check up (yeah we bought the contract) the fella came and his advice was to run a small load every two weeks, when the water fills up put a cup of bleach directly into the water.....when the cycle finishes, run a small load without any bleach to rinse it out....

haven't had the issue since

[Two Bills]

All these years my wife has been blaming my socks for the smell.

[macovatto]

Originally Posted by Ladygolfer93

All I can comment is I am amazed at the number of people who have encountered this in the last few years ! Never heard of it in my life until a daughter in law bought one of the new "water saving" models. Now, they are ALL that type (would give anything to have my old agitator where I could control the water level, the cycle, etc. But, so be it. The first thing I was told by sales person was "make SURE you purchase and use AS DIRECTED, the washer "cleaner" recommended" ! WHAT ? Something more to buy ? "Yes, the new styles of washers MUST be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent a serious odor problem". REALLY ? I am thinking "why", washers never had such problems ? And, if it did happen, why wouldn't running a simple vinegar cycle work ? Don't know, but this whole thing seems to be a relatively new "problem". "Afresh" is what I was told to use, but I understand Clorox also now makes a cleaner. Too bad your friend bought a new washer before trying the new "cleaners" first ! BTW, according to the internet information, the number one cause of W.M. odor is OVER USE/OVER MEASURING of detergent. Also machines bought in the last few years must not use the "typical" kinds of detergents you might have around. I was also warned about that my DIL and the appliance sales person. So could be your friend has never changed to the new type of detergent made for the new type of water saving machine, or, may not be using the washer cleaner on a regular enough basis ? Maybe ? Worth a try. Might take awhile of using the proper detergent and cleaning the machine on a regular basis to see if it all clears up. Doubt if it would disappear immediately but maybe with strict use according to the recommendations. I confess, I do NOT like any of the new style washers !

White vinegar works to neutralize odor. Run a large load cycle. When empty

[kathy1516]

I had front load LG and matching dryer. Worst junk I ever had. The front load was a pain to keep from having an odor Bought new gasket for washer, kept the door open, used the cleaning tablets regularly but it still smelled. Finally after 4th time having issues with both of these appliances, I bought a top load Maytag washer and dryer. No further issues with either of them. Also, they are made in America. Would never own a front load again. Impossible to find an “old kind” as this awful HE is all you can find. My washer does have a deep fill setting on water and I use this all the time.

[katyk]

I have been living in The Villages for 15 years and have the original GE top loading washing machine. I have never had any odor problems with it. I just leave the top open for a while after use, I use Arm & Hammer detergent and never really run any special cycles with it. It is still working well and I intend to keep it until it dies. Especially now that I read about all these issues with new machines.

[dadoiron]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Been here 7 years, top load washer, no odors ever, however, we have a water softener and whole house filter installed. We use Tide HE exclusively and carefully measure. Whites use Clorox, softener, smell good stuff, and the detergent. Also we have the washer open when not in use. These are Sears units.

Been here 5.5 years. Never an odor. No water softener or whole house filter. LG both and use any HE detergent, never any issues. Always follow the instructions - keep the top open as directed.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Cupcake57

If it's a front load machine, there should be a sanitize cycle; run that on hot with about a half a cup of Clorox every couple of months. There is also a filter on the front of the machine that has to be cleaned out of lard that is left over from liquid detergents ( and over measuring as other poster suggested.) This needs to be done every year or two depending on frequency of use. Look for the liquid detergents that have a little HE symbol on the front-stands for high efficiency. I always leave the door ajar and even pull out the little drawer for detergent so they can dry out a little between loads.

Now top load machines, I don't know so much.

Where is this filter? I've never cleaned it but maybe a technician did three years ago when my machine needed service. I'm not sure though.

I used laundry pods which get tossed right into the drum before loading the clothes. Do the pods also leave a build up of lard?

[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Ladygolfer93

All I can comment is I am amazed at the number of people who have encountered this in the last few years ! Never heard of it in my life until a daughter in law bought one of the new "water saving" models. Now, they are ALL that type (would give anything to have my old agitator where I could control the water level, the cycle, etc. But, so be it. The first thing I was told by sales person was "make SURE you purchase and use AS DIRECTED, the washer "cleaner" recommended" ! WHAT ? Something more to buy ? "Yes, the new styles of washers MUST be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent a serious odor problem". REALLY ? I am thinking "why", washers never had such problems ? And, if it did happen, why wouldn't running a simple vinegar cycle work ? Don't know, but this whole thing seems to be a relatively new "problem". "Afresh" is what I was told to use, but I understand Clorox also now makes a cleaner. Too bad your friend bought a new washer before trying the new "cleaners" first ! BTW, according to the internet information, the number one cause of W.M. odor is OVER USE/OVER MEASURING of detergent. Also machines bought in the last few years must not use the "typical" kinds of detergents you might have around. I was also warned about that my DIL and the appliance sales person. So could be your friend has never changed to the new type of detergent made for the new type of water saving machine, or, may not be using the washer cleaner on a regular enough basis ? Maybe ? Worth a try. Might take awhile of using the proper detergent and cleaning the machine on a regular basis to see if it all clears up. Doubt if it would disappear immediately but maybe with strict use according to the recommendations. I confess, I do NOT like any of the new style washers !

To put it simply it could be something is plugged up. Something simple like the washer drain.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by chrissy2231

Use Affresh, available on Amazon.

Exactly. Works very well. Never a smell in ours.

[sallybowron]

SMELL GOOD STUFF? EH? Now that is a great description! lol

[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.

[Ritzenthaler]

She needs to clean it regularly under gasket etc Also needs to leave door open until dry after running a load

[beachbum2591@gmail.com]

Read the manufacturer’s manual. Should have a clean cycle and tell you what to use to eliminate it. We installed a whole house water purification system and it eliminated the odor.