- Dissolve the baking soda or vinegar in a cup of water and pour on top of your towels in the washer, close the door and start the cycle with the hottest water setting.
Front loading washers have a tendency of ‘pooling’ water at the bottom of their drums, which can be a breeding ground bacteria and mildew.
Tips To Get Rid of That Smell
- Did you know that you are helping create a smelly and yucky washer by closing the lid to your washer after you are done with a load? The bin is wet and needs the air to evaporate the water. Otherwise, it just seeps into the lower bin and can sit there and can grow mold and mildew. If possible, try to keep the lid open so the moisture can dry. I know that can be tough with kids or pets around, so if it is not possible to let it air dry, then use a dry cloth or paper towels to dry out the washer. Be sure to get the grooves where water can sit. It is actually best if you can do both of these steps.
- Never leave a wet wash load in your washer overnight; remove it when the washing cycle is complete and leave the door open.
- Remove the detergent and fabric softener dispenser and soak them in a bucket of warm water. Once they have soaked long enough, spray with an all-purpose cleaner, wipe down and rinse. Be sure to dry completely.
- Inspect the rubber door seal for mold and mildew. Pull back the seal and examine all of the crevices. Mix 1 cup of liquid chlorine bleach with 1 gallon of warm water. Moisten a clean white cloth with the bleach water solution, and wipe down the seal to remove any mold and mildew. Allow the solution to remain on the seal for five minutes, and then wipe down the door seal with a clean, dry white cloth.
- You might want to check your washer manual for this step. Typically, there is a small door on the front of your washer. Inside the door holds a debris filter and a small hose. You will want to drain the hose. Be prepared by having a large bucket to drain the hose. It can sometimes hold a gallon or more of water. You can then pull the filter out and clean it.
Ways to Clean Your Washer
Cleaning with Bleach
Some washers have a “tub clean” feature. If it does, pour 2 cups of bleach into the detergent area and run your washer through as your “tub clean” directions advise. If your front loader doesn’t have this feature, pour the bleach into your washer and run it empty on its hottest cycle. When it’s done, wipe it dry and leave the door open. Do this about once a month, or as often as you feel it needs a deep cleaning.
Cleaning With Baking Soda
In 4 cups of warm water, dissolve 4 tablespoons of baking soda. Soak a cloth or sponge with your solution and wipe down the inside of your washing machine. Once you have thoroughly wiped down your bin, run the washing machine on the rinse cycle to finish the cleaning and rinse the baking soda. If you still see a white powder residue, it is not properly rinsed and you can repeat the rinse cycle.
Cleaning with Vinegar
In 1 quart of warm water, mix 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar. This will make a solution to remove any soap, residue or oil and will also break down any grease and fresh up your washer. Soak a cloth or sponge with the vinegar solution and wipe the inside of your washer bin. If there is some residue that won’t budge, place the damp cloth over the area for a few minutes to let the vinegar work to break it down. After you have wiped down your washer, run the rinse cycle to remove the vinegar solution.
My washer has a cleaning cycle.
A repairman advised us to run a cycle empty with a dose of dishwasher detergent. It cleans the inside and the outside of the drum. This is for a front loader. He said to do this once a month.
did he mention any particular brand and how much
The front load was my dream machine too… Well, as the saying goes: “Be careful what you wish for…” I got one, and I absolutely hate it! Next time I get a machine (in a 100 years or so), I am going back to a top load.
BIGGEST MISTAKE I EVER MADE!
I agree 100% Carmen. My front loader sucks. I too will go back to top load.
I agree as well! My front loader is awful!
I always wanted a front loader and now that I’ve had one for a few years I HATE IT. I want a top load machine again!!!
My front loader set is top of the line also – LG – door on the washer has a stop that holds the door open, unless you push it firmly past the stop to close it. I cannot tell you how much I hate both the washer and dryer – I clean it regularly, empty the trap door in the front and clean the filter – it still stinks and I think the cleaning action is not nearly as good as my old Maytag. Front loaders are high maintenance, dealing with the cleaning and keeping the seals clean. I was warned by an appliance salesman that had had his own store over 20 minutes that I would not like them – I wished I had listened to him. I have over $2,000 in this set that I bought on sale, including the pedestals. They look great, but really suck in every other way.
Meant to say 20 years, not minutes!
I absolutely agree! I will get a top load for sure!
Apparently U aren’t married!
Why? Just curious. I’ve had a front loader for 16 yrs now & love it. Larger loads & way less water.
I agree with Carmen–I hate my front loader and I tell everyone that is looking to get a new washer to stay with a top load–I have enough to do already than to add getting up in the middle of the night to open the door so my clothes won’t mildew
Yep, I agree with the above! Who has time to WASH a WASHER!?? Makes no sense & I can’t stand mine either. It looks like a space ship & doesn’t do half the job my Grandmas 1976 model green Matag (Maytag?) does! Thanks for the tips though!!
Hi Carmen and Anonymous 1 2,
Thanks for this advice and info. After reading these comments I told my husband that I had made a decision and we will never get a front loading washer. Seems like such a pain. But I hope these tips help with the smell and keep your clothes smelling good too.
xoxo
What’s worse than a front loader (I had a GE and hated it because it made my laundry stink, thanks to standing water) is a top load HE (high efficiency) washer (No post in the center) It makes my clothes smell even worse and I have to wash it with powder dish detergent on the clean cycle at least once a week. My front load had other issues too. My mom has had a front load LG washer for about 7 years and still loves it. No smells or problems. So just thought you might want to know. I’m so disgusted with my pretty new washer that I’m about to find an old washer on craigslist to replace it.
Also, just a tip. You said to add a cup of bleach to a gallon of water to clean the seal on the washer. I’d recommend that you add an 8th of a cup of bleach to a pint of water. Same concentration and less waste of bleach and water….unless, of course, you have other uses for the rest of that gallon of water and bleach.
Good point, thanks Trish. I usually don’t use the entire gallon!
WOW! I love my front loader, You maybe just bought a crappy model???? I got the top of the line Electrolux and will never own anything else
I have a Kenmore and its worked great for 6 years so far. I love that, in the drought-prone area where I live, it uses less water and doesn’t beat up our clothes as much. I use less dryer time, too, because it spins most of the water out!!
Mine either~it is the perfect size for our house. :)
The greatest tip I ever learned for my front loader, you can do ALL of the cleaning you want to your washer, but the smell will NEVER completely go away if it isn’t balanced!! Crazy huh!? The washer is designed to drain through little holes, but won’t if it’s cockeyed at all!!
Front loaders often smell because the user is putting too much soap in. Soap can breed microbes – it’s got nutrients in it. My husband is always using 2 – 3x the amount of detergent that is required, and our towels smell disgusting after a while. Then I have to rewash everything with vinegar and baking soda to remove the odor! As for the washer itself, the vinegar/baking soda will freshen it up. It’s always important to wipe out the rubber seal because it grows mold; again, something my dear husband (bless his soul for being willing to do laundry!) neglects to do.
THAT’S IT!!!!!!! My hubby thinks if a little is good a whole lot is better. Our towels stink!
I agree with the previous comment about the model maybe being an issue…I absolutely LOVE my front-loaders. Mine are LG and life really IS good with them.lol I swear it’s like each individual thread is washed separately. The clothes and linens come out SO clean. Loads of laundry are bigger, therefore fewer. And I have never had a smell in my washer, either. So all that in addition to them being EnergyStar and using less water and requiring less detergent…they are paying for themselves. Too bad some of you have had bad experiences. ):
So is mine and this my third front washer. I would never go back to awful top loader which ruined all clothes. Balance the washer, leave open , just wipe the sealer after you are done. Nothing smells bad. I use vinegar as a fabric softener so its does the job of deodorizing the washer , I think… Lg washers are great:)))
ex gf had an LG-phenomenal, I have a “top of the line” GE and I LOATHE it. Models/brands matter.
I love my front loader too.I have a whirl pool duet I do a clean cycle on it once every month or 2 an leave door open until its dry and wipe door an seal out once a month. I really dont fuss over mine alot. Ive had it 5 years no issues yet.
I love my front loader. I can leave the load in even when it stops, you don’t have to rush to open it. But just like with a top loader, it’s better for the laundry if you take them out right away. I wash mine only when it starts to smell, which is maybe once a year. If running it empty on the highest temperature doesn’t do the trick, I check the door seal crevice as there is often some lint or dirt in the lower part. If not, I use bleach or citric acid. And no wiping, you can just poor the stuff in the drum and start the cycle.
Washing machines , both front and top loaders can leavecyour machines with clothes smelling sour. If you leave them overnight especially in the summer. All machines need to be cleaned once a month. Washing machines hold lots of bacteria and germs, from fecal germs. Gross but true. I truly wonder how “clean” our towels and clothes really get from our machines, whether they are front or top loaders, new or old machines. Google “germs in your washing machines.”
Germs are good for you, they train your immunity system against real attacks.
You are a dumbass. Although this is true, are you eating your clothes out of the washer?
lol
Germs, no matter how you are exposed to them, train your immune system to resIst attacks by harmful germs. Just like muscle – use it or lose it.
I love my front loader, will never have anything else again!
Thanks Nina and the other Anonymous’. I will take all of this info into consideration. I am totally confused now, Lol. But I appreciate all of your info about front loaders.
xoxo
I too have a front leader and am sooo disapointed. I miss that nice smell of fabric softner. I leave my door open and still have a smell. I also run vinegar through my washing machine.It helps a little. Would never buy one again. I have a samsung.
I strongly agree! Detergent alone causes the cells of bacteria to collapse into themselves, thereby destroying them!!! Adding chlorine bleach also sanitizes the machine whether you are washing clothes with bleach or just running a “cleaning cycle”. If your clothes, especially towels don’t smell spring time fresh, read the article on using vinegar and baking soda to remove detergent and fabric softener residue! I have a top-of-the-line Kenmore Elite front loading washer and wouldn’t trade for a stupid water guzzling top load machine that will rip your clothing, period!!!! If your machine has a sanitizing cycle, run it periodically with your towels and see what a difference 155 degree water makes on the smell.
Thanks Anonymous. I am glad to know the brand that you have too. Thanks for commenting with your experience.
xoxo
I had a whirlpool duet and now have a samsung. My opinion… they both suck. I will never own another one.
I own GE Profile front loaders and my laundry life was changed forever!!!!! Everything gets dirty and needs cleaned!!!!
Two words – Maytag Whirlpool
They have been making washers and dryers and everything else for over a 100 years.
Maytag – BEST CLEANING, tough ass washer
Whirlpool – GENTLE on your clothes.
they have the fancy new top loaders too. Take your pick.
It’s all about trade offs. You can wash a ton more, better cleaning, more gentle, with a ton less water. If you can’t drop a cup of bleach in your tube once a year, then keep on living in the 70’s with your old water hog.
I have a new samsung and it is not a cup of bleach once a year. There is a horrible smell all the time, I clean it, bleach it, vinegar it and wipe it down. Nothing helps. I cannot wait to trash it and go back to my worry free top loader.
I love my GE front loaders. Clean the filter and run your towels on Hot and sanitize if you have that option. Cleans the washer and keeps the funk out of your towels
I have an LG front loader – love it!!! My Momma always left the lid up on the washer to dry out; much to the dismay of my adult daughter, I leave the door open for the washer to dry out for a day – doesn’t bother me, no smells & I do all the laundry in cold water; I’ve had it about 3 years.
Front loaders save water. If you are pulling water from a well or using a septic or both, then a front loader is the way to go. We have had ours for 15 years(Miele)and we do a hot cycle with vinegar in the soap and softener trays maybe every two years and all is well
When my husband and I bought our house, I wanted a front-loader, so we got one. We got an LG energystar model. I love my washer! I run some bleach cleaner through a cycle of hot water (empty) once a month, wipe down the grey seal (quickly) and wipe the clear front part (also quickly) and leave it open to dry. No problems so far, I’ve had mine a little over a year. My mom has the same model (and has had it for several years) and also loves it. It really requires such minimal clean up and is so much easier to load and unload (plus it using less water and being energy efficient) that it is worth it to me.
Question, you said in the towel cleaning entry that the instructions for cleaning towels is different for the front-loaders. What is different about them? There is nothing here that explains that. Thanks! :)
Hi Janne,
Thanks so much for commenting. I super appreciate your advice. Still trying to figure out which way to go, but I appreciate your info.
To clean the towels in a front loading washer, the info is at the top, second paragraph. Really easy. Here is what I wrote.
You can just dissolve the baking soda or vinegar in a cup of water and pour on top of your towels in the washer, close the door and start the cycle with the hottest water setting.
Thanks so much!
xoxo
This will teach me not to read the entire thing (I’d read it before for the cleaning the washer part, and only skimmed the second time. Shame on me haha). Thanks so much! Have my towels in the washer right now to sanitize and de-mildew them!!
One thing I thought while talking to my sister was your climate. I live in Arizona, where it is incredibly dry pretty much all the time. This could help keep the mildew from growing. My sister, who hates her front-loaders for exactly the reason people have mentioned, lives in North Carolina, where it is considerably more wet and humid. So, your climate may have a good deal to do with how your washer is able to drain, dry, etc.
I live in Ontario and we get very humid days, even weeks. It does not change anything to the front loader. They usually stay in the basement, and I believe you always should run your dehumidifier when weather is bad. Dry as chopsticks in basement:))
Hey! leave chopsticks alone! They have nothing to do with your western world washer problems! Chopsticks are gone for noodle eating and chow time,,,and sometimes deep frying! Sheesh..
I have a Maytag frontloader. I Have tried many things to keep that smell away, keeping door open when not in use, vinegar, bleach, the commercial cleaners out now, even ordered from a company called smellywasher.com on the internet, nothing keeps that smell away long, and I absolutely hate that nasty smell my towels have!! makes me furious we spent so much money on the frontloader, thinking we were saving money using less water. NOT worth the trade off for stinky clothes in my opinion! But I was told long ago to quit using the liquid fabric detergent, as it builds up, and MOLD loves the stuff! I’ve had my front loader for about 6 years now, I do hope for others’ sake they have improved them!
Totally have the same problem
I have tried everything. Putting them up for sell and going back to lots of water. At least I know my clothes won’t have that fowl sour smell.
I have a front loader and use liquid detergent and there is no smell. I don’t wipe anything down. What works for me is one 1) never use more detergent that filling to just UNDER the minimum line and never add liquid fabric softener, 2) I do laundry weekly and finish with a load that calls for bleach so any residual water has bleach in it, 3) never leave wet laundry overnight if I can help it and 4) leave the washer door open at least over night after the last load. It doesn’t really require extra work, just organizing loads differently. I do use the machine’s cleaning cycle whenever it recommends it. I’ve had moldy front loaders in a rental before. You can’t fix it unless you take the machine apart and replace the rubber seal. The trick is to avoid mildew from the start. I’ve had my machines for almost 4 years with no smell problems.
Switch to HE powdered detergent and don’t use liquid detergent at all in your front loader. After I made the switch my machine and towels no longer smell.
I bought the top of the line Samsung and I LOVE it! It has a quick wash cycle that I use a lot. It also has a washer cleaning cycle. My clothes look awesome and clean, so I love it. A big problem of front loaders getting stinky is that people use way too much soap and not the correct kind. You only need 2 TBSP of the high efficiency kind. I love Tide’s Sport version. Smells amazing and I have actually been told that I smell awesome and it is only my clothes.
Yeah! You smell great! I love it!
I agree with Tami. I have a samsung and really love the savings. We even washing cloth diapers in ours and we don’t have a smelly washer. I do wash it once a month, but really how hard is it to run a load with just vinegar or bleach. I also just keep the door open after unloading. I have left overnight and never have a problem. I don’t think it is that much harder than a traditional washer, since you should be cleaning that as well
I worked at an appliance store for years and one thing I think you should add to this list is to use POWDER SOAP!! The liquid is made with animal fat and sticks and builds up so when you shut the door it just festers. Thats where most of the smell comes from. I have had my front loader for years and only use powder and have never had a problem with a smell. This is the number one thing we always told customers. Also dont turn the washer on and pour a couple gallons.. Yes gallons of vinegar into your tub then just let it sit. DO NOT TURN ON WASHER. After about 20 minutes manually turn the tub and let it sit for another 20 minutes and keep repeating until the whole tub has soaked then run it through the hottest cycle and it will get rid of all that crap :)
Great information. I also have front loader and the cleanliness of clothes is amazing. I appreciate every ones input and I’m off to buy powder detergent!
We bought a top of the line Maytag for our old house, which I used there for 9 years and I never had a smell problem. I always leave my washers open when not using them-learned that from my mom, a country, farm wife. It just makes sense for anything that gets wet to let it get aired out. That Maytag could have cleaned anything. I even used it for horse blankets, horse halters and dirty shop rags from my husband’s shop. When we sold the house (ourselves, no agents) an unscrupulous inspector convinced the young couple who bought it that it was about as dangerous as a nuclear warhead and so we gave them some cash to buy a new washer if they so desired to make them feel more comfortable. We checked everywhere online and no bulletins of any kind had ever been issued for that machine. The house we bought has Whirlpool front loaders that we’ve been using for 6 years now and again, there has never been any smell and they clean really well. My husband has a nose like a bloodhound and he thinks that everything stinks so if there were a smell, he would let me know about it! I do use a solution of the old-fashioned Lysol (the one in the evil-looking brown bottle) in my wash to kill germs as I am a nurse and don’t want to spread anything to my family from my uniforms. I also take it on vacation and run a washer full of just that solution before I wash any of our things in a vacation rental condo or apartment as well as rinse out the bathtubs, etc. with it. I like things around the house to be really clean, but I’ve never thought of cleaning my washer except for wiping the outside down-I’ve never seen anything TO clean in any of my washers. I found this discussion while looking for a way to rejuvenate my towels. I think that is what is causing the smell that everyone is talking about on their clothes and towels-detergent buildup. The towel thing really works. Try it and stop blaming your hard-working machines.
I have found my solution for my stinky front loader Maytag. After having it now for about 4 years it all of a sudden started smelling. I use All for front loaders. I had this problem occur also with my last one after having it for a few years. I have tried most of all the things above and my solution discover this week, is adding baking soda to each wash. My wash is cleaner and no smell anymore. The sales person at Menards, said it is from all the rain. We do not believe that. We do live in the country, and I drink the water. Something is not right when you pay lots of money for the good washing machine. I will try the powder, because maybe the person above is right. Otherwise, I’ll keep using my baking soda.
My roommate’s washer is a front loader & I honestly don’t like it, but my other friend has a front loader & i love it. The difference in the smell & cleanliness of the clothes between the two are like night & day..
I have GE top of the line steam clean front loaders. I have had them for 5 years now. The first 2 years you could not convince me there was anything better. Now I hate them. I have followed the cleaning routine per the instructions, leave the door open, dont leave wet clothes sitting, etc. My clothes and matchine still have an odor. I do have to wonder after all this time if there is a soap build up now. Tonight I am cleaning the washer with bleach and vinegar for the first time and not using the affresh tabs. So we will see how that works. And i may actually do all my towels and jeans in baking soda to see if that will help strip the detergent out of them.
Sorry, Whirpool… not GE..
I just buy washing machine cleaner and follow instructions.
I also do not like my front loader at all for so many reasons. I am saving to get a top loader.
You can get an energy efficient top-loader washer. My front-loader was fine for about the first 5 years, then I started to have some problems with smell. I have always left it open when not in use, but have not been consistent about washing it every month
I have an LG front loader and I love it. it does have a tub clean and only have to do it once a month. A cup of bleach and about 20 minutes and you are ready for your next load. I am sure I could go longer between tub cleaning if I didn’t wash my husbands coal mine clothes once a week. It let’s me know when it needs cleaned. And I always leave my door open. In the past year and half never had an issue! I absolutely love the delay was feature!
I have a front loading washer and I too hate it because of the smell , kinda of makes you wonder how something that cleans laundry can be so smelly , I run mine on a cleaning cycle that lsts maybe 2 days than back to the smell
I have a LG he front loader 2011 direct drive and have never experienced the ” stink”. It.s weird because I live by the intercoastal waterway in daytona florida, humid summer climate. The machines by a laundry room door however and gets. Fresh air***My sons fish in the river I have big dogs..fur.undercoat nightmare and I never ran the clean feature. Ever. Also we surf so that adds to the dirtyness salt
smell on clothes..I never leave the door open after wash.
So why does my machine not smell like so many others?
Y I guess is bleach. I.m a bleach nut. I.m pretty bad I disregard how much to use I lov bleach
. I put bleach in with darks lol I now use powder because it.s cheaper and you know I have noticed that the clothes are. Crisper..smelling. I am gonna start cracking open the door so I dont have any issues.
I came here because the gasket was defective ripped leaked water and LG replaced it . The machine uses hardly any water little electric. Stacks saves space .overall I dig the thing but am weary because of poor reviews.
I’ve had my Kenmore for 8 years and have never had a smell. I use the homemade laundry soap which I believe make all the difference. Clothes and my washer are better for it.
First of all, DON’T buy a front load washing machine!!!! Or a front load dryer for that matter!!
I wanted to remodel our laundry room and get new appliances and I had my eyes on these beautiful RED ones! I got them! But, soon after using them for a while, I found that I didn’t love them! Here are some of the reasons. The washer never seems to completely dry out. I don’t really like seeing the door open all the time, but it is a necessity or the mildewy smell comes about very quickly. I have used washer cleaners but they just don’t do what needs to be done. Next, I have this bad habit of forgetting to put something in or finding something that should be in the washer, but I had already pushed “start”. You can’t open them once you start the machine. It’s like trying to get into Fort Knox! I also have been known to wash my tennis shoes in the washing machine and this doesn’t seem to work well at all for the front load washers. I like to be able to soak some of my loads which is impossible for the front load machine. The next thing I dislike about the washer is moving clothes from the washer to the dryer. Every time I do, something falls on the ground as I drag the clothes out. With a traditional dryer, the door catches them! You may think the door is low, but not nearly as low as the FLOOR! I do like having the clothes up higher when I go to fold or hang up the clothes though. Oh, wow! That was a positive for the new front loads!
So, think TWICE before you get the pretty front load machines. Mine are BEAUTIFUL, but not as functional as I would like them or need them to be. And, I have seen the traditional models in some of the really pretty colors too. I just thought I would want the front load machines. I was wrong…but they sure are pretty!
You can still soak your clothes just put it on rinse only then press stop. The water will stay in there as long as you like.
I’m surprised at the negative comments regarding front load washers in general. I love my Samsung washer and dryer. It’s a downside that it requires a little more TLC, but it doesn’t bother me.
Thank you for writing this article, I’ve been looking for ways to keep mine fresh and bacteria free. :)
Shannon…I have red front load washer and dryer and I dont seem to have those problems with mines. And advice to all, my front load washer says that you can use bleach to clean the inside…I place bleach in both sides of the drawer and do a 30 mins wash with just bleach alone and mines come out smelling good!
Front load washers are TERRIBLE. I have used many different models of top load and front load washing machines and the worst top loader was still better than the best front loader.
I did look for new top loaders after having the kenmore and the whirlpool cabrio ( which has no center agitator.) I was ready for an old fashioned top loader that used enough water to get my clothes clean,.Problem is now they make them efficient so they don’t fill like they used to and the center agitator only moves back and forth, not up and down like they used to . According to sears, they don’t even make the top loaders well any more, so I got stuck with another front loader.
That is really interesting to read. I had no idea. I want a new washer, and with all these points of view, I may be more confused. Thanks for your comment.
We’ve had two front-ad washers, one Whirlpool and now an LG. Both have been excellent. We use 2/3 of a cup of household bleach (~5+ % sodium hypochlorite) once a month with the cleaning cycle and never have an odor problem. We learned that lesson the hard way with the Whirlpool which developed an odor after about three months without using the cleaning cycle and bleach. Our old top loader danced all over the garage, could never stay balanced. Other than that it was a satisfactory product but I believe the front loader we have now, LG,, gets the laundry cleaner. It certainly smells great.
We also suffered from the problem of clothes smelling very unpleasant immediately after they were washed. It was obvious the Washing Machine had something wrong. Much research on the interest and the suggested treatments did not help.
I reverted to my swimming pool knowledge and after viewing a video showing what caused the problems, we treated our machine in the following way.
Our Machine has a Trommel Reinigung program (drum cleaning program, we are in Germany). So using this program we put the machine through 4 consecutive cycles:
Cycle 1 : using a supermarket drain cleaner (caustic soda / sodium hydroxide would also work). This is very good for removing the greasy/fatty building up that cause the stink problem. Some of the liquid cleaners may cause a foam problem – use small amounts.
Cycle 2 : using white vinegar (about a liter) and with the drum cleaning program
Cycle 3 : using Cloudy Ammonia (it may be difficult to buy, in Germany you can by it from hardware stores in the paint section under the name Salmiak Geist / Ammoniak). Be careful and DO NOT BREATHE in the fumes. This product is very good at removing fat … but it is harsh.
Cycle 4 : using a cheap supermarket powder designed for dishwashers. We used quiet a lot, about 1 full tea cup of powder. The cheap powders have the strongest cleaning agents.
Maximum Heat should for each cycle (95 degrees if possible).
In the future we will use sodium bicarbonate and sodium per carbonate at least once per month in conjunction with the special drum cleaning program.
After this process we appear to have solved our stinking washing problem.
As we understand the problem, it is caused by the new technology washing liquids .. and low wash temperatures.
My front loader didn’t start to smell until it was roughly 4 years old (I’ve always
left the door open 24/7).
I used a whole packet of Alka-Seltzer tablets, each tablet broken in half, and dropped
into the drum, with NO washing powder/detergent.
It works an absolute treat.
It’s now 7 years old, and is just starting to show signs it might need doing again.
I agree with others here that it cleans clothes to perfection, and the filter does an
amazing job.
My wife and I have been using front loaders for many years. The only one that I say without a doubt that sucked was our Maytag Neptune. Why? Well the circuit board went out while under warranty; however, due to a known issue, there wasn’t a fix in placed, other than ordering a new control board, that wouldn’t connect to the current motor or joining the class action law suit. We did neither. We moved on and vowed to never purchase another MayTag!
So, we replaced the old ones with Whirlpools. They work great as did the Maytag. As for the smell… Never really had the problem. We cleaned ours at least once a year. The problem that most of you are running into, with front loaders, is the trap that gets clogged. Keeping it clean will make a world of difference.
And to all you posters that just post “I hate my front loader”, it would help if you gave a wee bit of an explanation why! Just saying!
purchased 2010 new DUET washer/dryer six months later rampant mold and mildew
opened machine cleaned dispenser and water tubes, some improvement but mildew smell
returns, regularly clean and dis-infect machine- smell always returns- very disappointing
$1200 spent for an unsatisfactory machine- can’t believe the company has so little integrity –
WILL NEVER BUY A WHIRLPOOL PRODUCT AGAIN- anybody at Whirlpool home???
Even though I put a tablet to clean my front loader about once a month, it still has a moldy odor. I went to see the salesperson at Sears and was told if it doesn’t have the tub clean feature and I am cleaning it empty it will only clean the bottom of the machine to the water level so the top never gets clean and breeds mold. You need to clean it with bleach which she said was the best and fill the machine with whites – she keeps a couple of old white sheets for this purpose. At first every day for 3 or 4 days – and of course make sure the door stays open. To clean any black markings on the rubber gasket – Cascade dishwasher soap works perfectly because it will not dry out the rubber like a bleach would. So all the years of my cleaning the washer empty was a waste of money (hot water) Also some machines have a Select and Option button which you are supposed to hold down for 10 seconds and that will activate the tub clean cycle. Have not tried any of these yet, but if I succeed, I will post again the results.
I meant the door stays open after cleaning so the machine can dry out – always keep it clean….also for fabric softener – always dilute with half water and half fabric softener so it won’t clog the tubes. Hope this is helpful to anyone.
Always remember to use the right kind of clothes detergent, be it powdered or liquid types. For front loading washers, the only type that is suitable for use are HE detergents and nothing else. Avoid fabric softeners at all cost or it’ll cost you time and money to get rid of the bacteria and/or fungus and mildew that feed and thrive on the proteins of fabric softeners. I know what I am talking about ladies and gents…you can take my word for it. Whats my credentials you ask? Well I am a retired chief engineer in a well known US brand company that produces home appliances. Worked in the company in the US for 10years and was later posted to china when ‘they’ decided to shift all production there, Worked in china for 20 plus years. All man-made machines have a life expectancy and we can prolong its life span with proper care and maintenance or shorten it by improper usage and abuse. Sadly, with today’s standard of home appliances’ design and manufacturing, almost all products in the consumer market are made with low quality in mind and more of a quantity driven approach so that companies can reach their sales and profit target, and end their financial year with ‘positive’ numbers on their account books. Anyway..good luck guys..love the machine you own and take good care of it. Remember… that there is a human touch in every process of making the machine, so talk to your machine and treat them nicely…Oh…and Be kind to humans too.
Typically, there is a small door on the front of your washer. Inside the door holds a debris filter and a small hose. You will want to drain the hose. Be prepared by having a large bucket to drain the hose. It can sometimes hold a gallon or more of water. You can then pull the filter out and clean it.
I didn’t know about this door until my daughter told me. Now I drain it and the water stinks so bad I can’t believe it!! I will do the cleaning solutions mentioned and have used cleaning products for the washer to clean it. I haven’t noticed anyone talking about draining this small hose.
Check the smell of the water coming into the washer. Most city water comes from surface water lakes. Remember how wonderful your kids smelled after a day playing at the lake.. The water “purification” process is designed to filter and settle the solids, not remove smells or bad taste. Chlorine is added, when required, to lower the bacteria counts to meet Federal Standards. (There are forms of Bacterium that have mutated very thick shells and are resistant to chlorine (Mycobacterium family). So don’t think your water is not a possible suspect in “washer stink”.
I HATE my front loader…but before I got that, I bought a wringerless washer…that did not clean the clothes at all. I went back to a front loader….IT IS A SAMSUNG.. It stinks…samsung will not do anything about it…I had a service man out one time and he said to throw some towels in the washer with clorox and run it through…nothing helps my washer is a THORN IN MY SIDE EVERYDAY…..No matter how much you clean it , it never changes…
Have to see if they still sell wringer washers…for sure
I have a Samsung front loader and had the smell problem until I switched to powdered detergent only and NEVER use liquid fabric softener. Now no smell. I leave the door open AND the detergent drawer after I’m done. I rarely clean it except the front filter occasionally. Powdered detergent was the key.