My Smelly Washing Machine
Does you washing machine smell like stinky feet? If you have a front loading machine, I bet you have that moldy smell . Not yet? Your machine is too new? Just wait. After the one year wedding anniversary of the date you bought your washing machine, you will be blessed with a bouncy mold issue. (Birth control doesn’t help here. Sorry.)
For seven, long, agonizing years, I have tried everything to get rid of the mold in my Whirlpool front loader. Here is my laundry list of attempted fixes:
- Leaving the door open
- Used vinegar
- Used borax
- Using soap nuts(supposedly detergents cause the problem.)
- Wiping the rubber rim constantly
- Cleaning the drain tube that the water goes into the plumbing (gross.)
And then I committed the worse unimaginable act. (Cover your ears.) I used bleach. (I had to. I’m sorry, Planet.) I was desperate…
But nothing helped. Are you in my boat?
Anna, I am so with you.
Thought so.
What Causes this Gunk?
Mariette Mifflin explained in her About.com article:
“Because of the low water level, wash residue such as grime, dirt and even skin flakes, along with water softeners and detergents do not always fully drain out of a front-loading washer. Using cold water for most loads can also add to the problem. Residue can build up in the rubber door gasket, soap/softener dispenser or other parts of the washer and over time, mold can begin to form or the washer can take on a smelly disposition.”
Hitting Washing Machine Rock Bottom
Sometimes, you have to hit rock bottom to find a cure. Well, I hit rock bottom when all of our clothes smelled especially the boys’ polyester clothing. Why do smells cling to polyester? Mother Earth’s cruel joke? (“Wear petroleum. Smell like mold,” says Mother Earth.)
The lowest of the lows? When my kids’ friends tell MY KIDS that their clothes smell. Well you might as well have an “L” branded on my forehead.
I spent hours literally searching the “how to sites,” and “house forums” to discover that I was in good, smelly company. A group that no one wants to put in their Linked-in profile.
Believe it or not, I even thought of taking my machine apart. If anyone knows me, this would have been a really, really bad mistake. Handy, not. Completely insane at this point. Um, yes.
Just Take One Pill Says the Mad Hatter
Affresh
One day a PR person of Affresh approached me and asked me to try their magical pill. Just take one, they said, and your washing machine woes will disappear. (Affresh is made by Whirlpool.) Yah, do they think my life is an Alice in Wonderland series? One pill makes you big and another will make you small?
To sweeten the deal they gave me Grit Grabber sheets which resembles a dryer sheet. The sheet cleans the mold off the rubber gasket around the washing machine.
Moldy coins near washing machine drain filter
I scoffed and thought how toxic can this be? Even my washing machine tech was pushing the stuff. (Washing machine crack?) Especially, after he opened the bottom of my washing machine and showed me the water just sitting there and three really moldy coins. A couple of pencils and other miscellaneous stuff. (Talk about wanting to throw up.)
You Got To Have Faith
You know I had to be desperate when I didn’t even look up the ingredients. Desperate times means desperate measures. The tech warned me that I might have to use three of the tablets since my washing machine already smelled. You can only get away from using one pill as monthly maintenance, not when your washing machine already stinks.
And three I used. Did it help? Kind of. In a couple of weeks, the smell was back. Was I impressed. Not really. Why was the smell back in less than a month?
Back of the Affresh Package
Plus, after my desperation calmed down and I was able to think more rationally. I took a look at the back of the package. The product is made of sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate. The package carries a warning about ingesting it or getting it in your eyes. Hmm. Would I want to have a product around like this even it worked?
I remember a couple of years ago, another washing machine tech told me to use Tang. How many of you remember Tang?
Grit Grabber and Mold from my Washer
What was my thoughts on the Grit Grabber? Some chemical in the sheets stung my fingers since I didn’t wear gloves. Also, I don’t like the disposable idea. Does a landfill need my Grit Grabber with mold?
Advice? Wear gloves when using this sheet if you really want to try it. I probably could accomplish the same thing with a little bit of vinegar and a rag. Thoughts?
Stuff is Expensive too.
The product comes with 3 tablets and costs about $7. So for about $2.50 a month you might have a better smelling washing machine. Perhaps if your machine isn’t as old as mine these tablets might work. I unfortunately didn’t love the product. However, it may work for you.
One Last Resort
I am going to revisit checking the drain filter and clean it thoroughly. The tech cleaned it but I am wondering if there is another issue. So instead of giving advice, I need help.
Signed,
Smelly ( and now friendless…) in New Jersey
Join the Conversation:
- How have you successfully cleaned your smelly front loading washing machine?
- Have you used Affresh or anything similar? If so, has it worked?
- Do certain clothes smell worse than others?
- Would any of you use Tang or unsweetened lemonade drink to clean your washer?
- Have you taken apart your machine?
Elaine Spitz says
Anna, you have my sympathy on this. I too have been through the wringer (get it?) with this problem. We use HE detergent from Whole Foods. The thing started to stink within the first couple of months after purchase. Our installer/repairman warned us about it and provided a tablet of solid cleaner, probably like the Affresh product. Nothing really worked: cleaning the gasket, running a concentrated detergent rinse, using the tablet, keeping the door open. We finally had the gasket replaced – luckily our machine was under extended warranty. I leave the washer door open always now. Let us know if you come up with the magic bullet….
Anna@Green Talk says
Elaine, I feel like my washing machine issue is like looking for the Holy Grail….I think I am going to try Tang 🙂
Condo Blues says
I have the same washer and it doesn’t stink. I use HE detergent. Sometimes when I use liquid HE detergent there will be a faint odor but not when I use powdered HE detergent or make my own. If it does smell, it usually means I skipped the monthly cleaning cycle for several months and cleaning the machine with vinegar usually does it.
Seriously girl, switch to HE detergent. You won’t be sorry.
Anna@Green Talk says
Condo Blues, do you know any eco friendly HE detergent? Anna
Steve says
We use Purex,only comes in he formula,it’s cheaper than tide,we get it at Walmart
tash says
I use HE detergent. (Not ‘eco friendly’ but septic safe) And my washer REEKS. The only solution I have found (and very eco friendly) is to line dry everything, even in the winter. Just make sure it’s outside in the sun. Things will fade faster, but they will smell sunshine fresh. I would rather be faded and smell good then have really dark darks that smell gross. The only thing that really sucks is hanging clothes in 33 degrees. And waiting until it is not frosty or snowy out to wash anything. (why don’t they just make washers that wash things? It’s not really ‘saving’ anything if I have to use disposable diapers just because my washer won’t wash my cloth ones!)
The line drying doesn’t work for all the gunk left on the clothes though, that just needs to be wiped off. Or wash again in the sink. (why do I even bother with the washer anymore?….)
Light harvest says
You mentioned diapers. If they have fecal matter, those need to be pre-rinsed–and not in the washing machine. This applies to having incontinent elders in the home, too. Don’t pile up WET items waiting to do laundry (especially if there’s food on them)–spread them out to dry, or pre-rinse & wash them right away. TIP: install more/longer towel bars, so that towels & other items can dry between use.
I think my home’s previous owner had his incontinent parent living there, and he didn’t know he was creating a mold problem–visible mold behind the top-loading washer’s “basket”. My daughter had no luck with ridding their top-load washer of moldy smell, so I figured I would NOT mess around–it was time to get a new washer.
No tidy/easy answer for this! You could try Hydrogen peroxide applied to surfaces (needs to be concentrated, so don’t try adding to wash water) When it works, it then BREAKS DOWN very quickly (it foams)–and then it has no further effect.
Soaking in a thick solution of baking soda can get rid of a variety of stubborn smells (like the ones that synthetic fabrics hold on to!) Can take 2 soaks. Also, the fresh air approach, especially if you have a covered porch/patio and weather is not wet/humid–and most especially, put in SUN for 2 days.
Mordohr says
I have had the LG Tromm front loaders (washer/dryer) for about 6 years now.
I have always used HE detergent, but I want to make my own, and I always wipe the inside out after the last load of the day.
I NEVER leave the door shut when not in use,
and I have NEVER had a smell from the machine or my clothes.
Sue Prue says
I have been using greener-safer cleaning and laundry products from Melaleuca for over 5 years. They are the best I have ever used including the chemicals I used to use. I add a capfull of Solumel to the wash water if I have an odor problem like when a swim suit got left in the beach bag for a couple of weeks (unknowingly) and was reeking of mildew. It’s like magic! Melaleuca oil (tea tree oil) kills bacteria, viruses, fungus and mold. I have a friend that had black mold in her home from a hose bib leak inside her wall. They had to move out of the house when the work was being done on it. While the wall was open she saturated the studs, etc. with Solumel (much to the workers horror who thought she was crazy). When the air quality test was dome 2 weeks later the technician couldn’t believe that there was no spores anywhere. She said that it usually takes at least 2 months to get ris of them. Anyway, I love these products so much that I decided to help others set up a wholesale account like I did. So if you’re interested in taking a look send me an email with your contact info to sueprue@verizon.net.
All the Best,,
Sue Prue, RN, NHE
Anna@Green Talk says
Mordohr, wow. You are so lucky. I tried using soap nuts which produce very little suds. I think my washing machine needs a through cleaning. It is about 9 or more years old.
Anna@Green Talk says
Sue, on my facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/greentalk) they were discussing one of the Melaleucca products for mold. One fan said it makes clothes stiff. What do you do about this? I like that you can soak a moldy smelly clothes in it and the smell goes away. My boys’ polyester shorts just smell of mold from the washing machine. Anna
Suep says
Hi Anna, I totally missed your question…sorry… Melaleuca oil is the best thing I have ever used for mold and mildew. Specifically Solumel (which is what they were probably referring to on facebook). I call it Magic in a Bottle, very versitile and effective. It is amazing at removing odors like smelly mildew. It will even get rid of cat pee odor which I think is one of the most difficult. As far as clothing being stiff I have never experienced that.
Anna@Green Talk says
Sue, did you see the question about clothes that are stiff? Anna
EnviroFusion says
Anna, I can honestly say that I must be one of very few fortunate ones that have never had this problem (YET) with my H.E .Front loading washing machine. Before my purchase I consulted an appliance owner on the advice of H.E. machines and he was the one who had given me advice of the following things to do and from day one when I purchased my washing machine in 2008 (and yes, I sat and watched the first load of wash) 1. I’ve always kept the doors open (for at least 5+ hours) after washing,
2. wiped down the rubber rim AND pulling back the ‘lip’ & wiping the rubber rim where the water & residue collects,
3. wipe the drum dry,
4. take out the soap/softener drawer & leave out to dry.
5. Once a month I’ll run a complete rinse cycle with 2 cups vinegar on HOT water, pretty similar to that of cleaning out your coffeemaker.
The only complaint I have is my towels. They still do not smell fresh after washing, whether it be washed in hot water, warm water, w/baking soda & a vinegar rinse, ANY idea’s? Living in Hawaii I take advantage of the FREE drying and hang dry ALL my laundry year round.
Anna@Green Talk says
EnviroFusion, I have this same problem with my kids’ poly shorts. They smell.
Do you use HE detergent? Anna
EnviroFusion says
I was using Sears Brand HE soap that lasted forever. It didn’t make any difference for the towels. I currently make my own laundry soap with Dr. Bronners unscented soap bar, borax & baking soda. Going to add 1/2cup of baking soda to the wash next time and see what that does. If that does not work I’m gonna try Em1 (‘Effective Microorganisms’) to the rinse.
Anna@Green Talk says
envirofusion: what proportions do you use for your soap? And what is EM1? Can it help get out stains? Anna
Engee says
I average 2 loads per week lightly soiled and 1 load every other week heavily soiled. I use Amway dry HE detergent and hot water. I use dye and fragrance free liquid Downy.
Once a month I use 1 cup baking soda in main wash and 2 cups white vinegar in prewash, set on highest hot water, highest spin, most soiled setting.
But before starting, I always drain the tub – on my machine, there is a tube with a plug in it behind a small flip open door on the front bottom of my machine. The filter is also there. I take out the filter, lightly scrub it, remove any fibers that are on it.
After this cycle, I drain the tub again and clean the filter and then run the self-clean cycle with the bleach cup/area filled.
One more drain and a little bit of detergent on the quick wash cycle.
Always wipe the gasket especially between the gasket and tub, especially at the bottom, after every wash and leave the door open.
This sounds like a lot more work than it is. Most of the time is either draining or running the machine. Like doing laundry, you do other things while the machine does its thing.
A word on bleach.. “bleach” isn’t always bleach. The bleach I grew up with was sodium hypochlorite – original Clorox. I have not done a full study on the various products. What I CAN say is splashless bleach is not the bleach that will clean mold and mildew in your machine (nor is it splashless). For more controlled use, I put my bleach in a Safety Wash Bottle labeled “Sodium Hypochlorite”.
Grace says
Your not alone. I have tried EVERYTHING. Bleach, vinegar, leaving the door open (from day 1), various detergents and during the last month, Smelly Washer and Charlie’s soap. Nothing has worked. The clothes and the washer stink to high heaven. My husband is taking the thing apart this weekend. If it breaks, oh well. It is practically unusable as it is. Biggest waste of $1000 ever.
Anna@Green Talk says
Grace, let me know what he finds. I am thinking about it too. Anna
Can you send me pics? Or upload them to the fan page (www.facebook.com/greentalk?)
Jim says
Stop falling for that front loader gimmic and buy a top loader. Never had a problem with one.
Stacy says
I have an LG top loader and I am having the exact same problem as everyone else. My clothes come out smelling not only as if I didn’t even wash them, but like my teenage boys’ smelly feet.
I am getting so, so discouraged. Especially after reading all of these comments!! Our appliance repairman told me that the only thing people have found to work (and not even consistently across customers) is to:
1. Start a wash cycle (no clothes) with Oxyclean – the one with bleach -, stop the wash cycle after a couple of minutes and let sit overnight.
2. Finish the cycle and then use Affresh as it normally would be used.
He said that he doesn’t even fix LG’s because they are so hard to fix (esp removing the drum).
He said that if this doesn’t work my only option is to get a new one.
I absolutely hate the idea of this appliance going into the landfill, but if this doesn’t work I don’t know what else to do.
Linda Marek says
I agree. After 15 years of a smelly front loader, I went back to a top loader. They now make them without the thing in the middle which is what used to stretch clothes out of proportion and prevent you from washing comforters successfully. If I had to do all the steps that Envirofusion does after a wash, I would never do laundry!!
Ulli says
I have a top loader without the agitator. I bought it used, and it is four years old. My clothes stink. I used four Affresh tablets in a row, not much improvement.
Peggy says
Amen!! Never again will I spend hard earned money on a front loader!! It’s a shame to have an appliance that supposed to clean your clothes and eventually leaves them stinking! My mother had the same top loader for 20 years and NEVER had this problem! A washing machine was invented to SAVE time and effort in washing our clothes NOT cause an additional chore this entailed and time consuming!! Yes any appliance needs regular cleaning and maintenance but not EVERY TIME you throw in a load of clothes .
Judith says
Ditto to jim’s comment
EnviroFusion says
Today I read an article regarding smelly towels. I have yet to try this process. First: Wash towels on a normal cycle w/ 2 cups of white vinegar, NO Laundry Soap & NO fabric softener in the hottest water setting. Leave towels in the washer and run it again in the normal cycle, with laundry soap, on hottest water setting again. NO fabric softener or other added products. When cycle is completed dry the towels in the dryer on the highest heat setting and thoroughly dry them. If they are not dry when the cycle completes remove & hang outside in the sunlight.
My guess is the fabric softener might be a culprit in keeping moisture in somehow.
Elaine says
@Envirofusion – I’ll bet this vinegar, double wash, etc., works, but it certainly counteracts the entire point of having a high efficiency washer! I never use fabric softener, so that is definitely not the culprit in my case. Oh well, we’ll just keep trying.
The best things we do in our house are: wipe out the rubber gasket and door after every couple of washes, use “the tablet” or whatever you have every three months in an empty washer, and take the clothes out of the washer as soon as the cycle is complete so they don’t have a chance to get stinky.
It’s all much easier than pounding your clothes on a rock by a stream…. hehe
EnviroFusion says
I have a sink next to my washer that I divert the water into to use to water my plants so I don’t look at it as wasting. It’s getting used and not going down the drain.
Wiping the barrel & behind the seals & rubber after every wash is done and leaving the door open is routine.
Don’t use fabric softener either.
Anna@Green Talk says
Enviro, I love the water the plant idea. What soap do you use? Anna
EnviroFusion says
Homemade Laundry Powder made w/:
Dr. Bronners Castile unscented bar soap
Baking Soda
Borax Laundry Powder
& Mint Essential Oil
Samantha says
CHARLIE’S SOAP!!! It is the miracle. I use the powdered Charlie’s Soap and wash everything on cold. As long as it doesn’t sit in there for two days (oops) with the door closed your clothes won’t smell like mold. I bought a front loading LG over others I was looking at from the Sears Outlet because so many were having mold problems, even some in the stores! Sears Outlet tests all their products before selling them. No one cleaned out or dried out their entire stock of Bosch front loaders before sending them over, so five washers were completely moldy. I went home and did some research, since Bosch was actually my #1 choice and stumbled across Charlie’s Soap. I’ve been using Charlie’s and PREACHING and PRAISING it ever since!! It’s a bit of a miracle cleaner and it’s safe! They are very well known in the cloth diaper world since they are one of the only detergents that actually washes clean and doesn’t leave a residue. I use Charlie’s powder and I add dryer balls with essential oils to make my clothes heavenly! My clothes have never been cleaner or softer without making me break out either. I suggest you try Charlie’s!! I have used the cleaner to clean out the washer during spring cleaning time and then the wash detergent (they’ve got different ingredients) regularly for clothes. I also leave the door ajar and the detergent cup ajar.
ALSO if you have a Whirlpool machine, you know there’s a class-action law suit about them molding?
VALerie says
What are dryer balls? Is there a place for the essential oil or do you apply it to the ball? Thanks!
Anna@Green Talk says
Valerie, some people make or buy wool dryer ball to reduce static cling. I would gather you apply the oil to the ball. Anna
Suep says
I use Melaleuca’s MelaPower laundry detergent. It has melaleuca (tea tree) oil which kills bacteria, virus, fungus and mold so it helps with odors, etc. I have a couple of friends that had the smelly washer problem too and don’t anymore since switching to MelaPower. My daughter calls melaleuca oil miraleuca oil because it’s so versatile.
Let me know if you have any questions or would like to get a w/s account with them. I can help you. (Editor’s note, phone number was deleted but you can click on her name above to take you to her website.)
Sue Prue, RN, NHE
Anna@Green Talk says
Sue, good to know. What are the ingredients in the product? By the way, I deleted your phone number for safety purposes. However, I did note on your comment, they can click on your name to take them to your website. Anna
Suep says
Thanks Anna. The ingredients are biodegradable anionic and plant derived nonionic surfactants with melaleuca oil acting as a stain remover and preservative. Cleans wonderfully with no chemical residues in the clothing or harmful ngredients that can damage our environment and waterways. Suep
Anna@Green Talk says
Sue, do you know if it contains 1,4 dioxane which is usually hidden in coconut ingredients? Anna
Suep says
No dioxanes in any of their products. I just verified it to be sure.
Pam says
So Anna, did you try Charlie’s Soap or MelaPower, and did they solve the smelly washer problem?
kris says
Hate to say it but my washing machine tech told me to do two things when my washer was new. 1) Only use HE soap. 2) NEVER put in soap above the ‘minimum’ level. Essentially, you add liquid soap to just under the minimum soap line. He said that using the wrong kind or too much soap (which means using what the bottle or the machine SAYS to use) is the culprit. I followed his advice and over a year later, I have a stink free machine. I also leave the door open and put a small cap full of bleach in the last load I do for the day. I justify the HE soap somewhat by thinking of how little I actually use. So, it is not THAT bad. I am litterally the only person I know who doesn’t have a moldy smelling washer. The other bad news is that my tech said that once it gets modly, there is no way to realy fix it. I just wish I could figure out an even more environmentally safe what not to stink.
Kaylen says
The Affresh MSDS (material safety data sheet) says it contains SODIUM CARBONATE PEROXYHYDRATE,SODIUM CARBONATE, and BORIC ACID, so I just put about equal amounts of borax and washing soda in the washing machine and run the sanitize cycle on extra wash and no spin. It seems to work well, although I admit that my (3 1/2 year old to me and I bought it secondhand) front loader has never seemed all that smelly. I clean out the trap when I get the impulse (maybe a couple times a year), wipe out the seal after most loads (it loves to collect dog fur), don’t leave laundry sitting in it, and leave the door open most of the time.
Anyway, I hope you’ve found a solution! I’d hate to go back to a top loader.
Organic Products says
Thanks for this Article. The wife and I have tried vinegar but with little success. I will try some of your other recommendations and see how they turn out. Thanks again. Can’t tell you how many loads of clothes have been tossed.
Becky Lauersdorf says
I am on year 5 of my 2nd front load washer…a Kenmore. This is our 2nd front loader (first one literally blew apart in the basement at 7 years!) In just the last 3 months I have a TERRIBLE stink in the machine! I use Melaleuca HE detergent and have added Sol-U-Mel. I’ve tried vinegar, bleach and baking soda washes. NOTHING has helped so far. The only thing I can come up with that has changed is that my husband switched from softener salt crystals in the water softener to pellets. I made him switch back, but I hope it isn’t irreversable at this point. I’m ready to put the thing out on the curb if I don’t get it smelling good soon. Oh, tried those darn Tide cleaner things too and they didn’t work either.
Anna@Green Talk says
Becky, take a look at @Karen’s link below. She has some great suggestions.
karen says
Anna, Anna, Anna….
You never mentioned your machine stank! You should read my front loader maintenance post. Sometimes you have to do just one thing but sometimes you have to take out the big gun and do everything…depending on your water, detergents you used, and how many times you use your machine. Read my post and see what more you have to do. Since I’ve been following my method, I haven’t had any smell in my machine. And it also depends on the order and where you put the various powders and liquids. How does you machine smell now???
Anna@Green Talk says
Do you think it will work for top loaders too?
karen says
Do you have smelly top loader too?
You should leave your lid opened after the washes for ventilation. I know it’s not a common practice for a top loader but moisture gets trapped inside. Always use powder detergent, use vinegar as fabric softener, and NEVER use commercial fabric softener. Run the machine with HOT water on LOW level with a full cup of vinegar once a month.
Top loader stinks less compared to front loader (due to water draining downward, unlike front loader’s drum that spins horizontally so water doesn’t drain very well to the bottom) but it can still smell.
karen says
The link for the post is
http://www.ecokaren.com/2009/0.....intenance/
Anna@Green Talk says
I wish I had your link before it broke down. Now I have a top loader. However, it is a great link to have for fellow GT readers like Becky above. Anna
Allison says
I have an HE top loader. I have used HE detergent from day one and Affresh every month. I have a stinky washer too. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s only the front loaders that stink.
Anna@Green Talk says
Allison, I agree with you. My top loader stinks too. What are you doing to unstink your washing machine? Anna
larry says
Use 1/4 cup of borax every time you wash, in two or three weeks your problem will be solved , no more odor. It worked for me 5 years ago and no odor since. now i make my own detergent with washing soda / borax/ and ivory soap- fantastic and 1/10 the cost of anything you buy. So really …start with the Borax every time for a month and see your results… Odor will go away i promise. i am a property manager and i now use this technique everywhere there are odor issues, like drains. The Borax works but you need to make a regiment of it. With drains you put in a 1/4 cup at night before going to bed or leave for a trip. This experiment will not cost you more than $5.
Donna says
I have a top loading Whirlpool Carbiolet washing machine and it started having a really strong mold smell. I typically don’t use toxic products, but for this I figured I had no choice. So I used one pellet of Affresh and I basically traded one problem for another. The toxic chemical smell is ridiculously strong and overwhelming. I will never use the product again. So now I am trying to eliminate the toxic smell from the Affresh. I hesitate to use vinegar in the washer since Affresh may contain some bleach like chemicals and that could create a toxic gas. Any suggestions for eliminating the toxic odors from Affresh? I have a small laundry closet on my bedroom level so it’s a real health issue. I ran an empty load with just detergent and hot water but the fumes are still present. Appreciate any advice.
NANCY says
Donna, my husband and I bought a top loader Whirlpool Cabrio Platinum and noticed an incredibly strong mildew-type smell just a few short months after starting to use it. This is DESPITE the fact that we leave the lid up ALL the time that the washer is not in use, we use hydrogen peroxide and ammonia in our detergent and my husband painstakingly hand dries the inside of the washer drum after each load of laundry. This is insane! Because I am highly chemically sensitive, I chose not to use any conventional cleaning products like Affresh and after reading your comment above, I am glad that I did not. If you Google “Whirlpool Cabrio washer mold”, you’ll find a LOT of other folks who purchased the Cabrio talking about this and other problems with the Cabrio. It appears from their discussions that the unit does not drain completely and the standing water in the bottom of the washer may be contributing to mold that is resistant to most natural treatments.
Anna@Green Talk says
Nancy, what does the company say about this? Anna
NANCY says
Anna, to be honest, we haven’t contacted Whirlpool. I need to have my hubby tear the machine apart because I am hoping to take pictures of what we discover when we have complete visibility of the tub. I’m sure we’ll find mold. But I’m not holding my breath that Whirlpool will do anything. I’ve visited several other websites with reviews of the Cabrio where there were legions of people saying that the Cabrio was the worst washer they ever purchased and that Whirlpool was not interested in the least in addressing their concerns.
Anna@Green Talk says
Nancy, what are you going to do. This is awful. Could this post help? http://www.drkarenslee.com/fro.....intenance/
NANCY says
Thanks for the link, Anna. It’s appreciated. Unfortunately, if our Whirlpool Cabrio, as I suspect, has an inherent design flaw which causes water to not properly drain, I’m afraid that even taking the machine apart and cleaning it (even if done properly and thoroughly) is just buying time because it will undoubtedly recur. Unfortunately, both my husband and I are EXTREMELY sensitive to mold and are under the care of a Medical Doctor for mold illness. So, having an appliance with a proclivity to developing mold is NOT an option for us.
FYI: About one-quarter of the general population carries a gene that makes them incapable of detoxifying mold once they are exposed to it and which initiates an inflammatory cascade in their bodies. Unfortunately, both my hubby and I “won this unlucky lotto” and have the gene Just thought I’d throw this out there for folks who are having mold/mildew issues with their washers and who may be inexplicably ill but have not yet connected those dots.
Anna@Green Talk says
I have that gene too.
Anna says
AT THE END OF THE DAY’S WASHING, JUST LEAVE THE DOOR FULLY OPEN FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS. THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SUCCESSFULLY ELIMINATE MOLD & MILDEW IS BLEACH. I CLEAN MY FRONT LOADER ONCE A MONTH WITH BLEACH IN PLACE OF AFFRESH. SEVENTH GENERATION MAKES HE DETERGENT.
tim says
yes bleach works but also damages the rubber seals and gaskets. You can try Salon hydrogen Peroxide 10% strength as a substitute. Try home made ozonated water. These attack the mold but do not deep clean the residue that the mold is feeding on. That is where you need a deeper cleaner. Tang can work because it uses orange oil and citric acid (the sugar does not help). Unsweetened Lemon powder is very good alternative. then again, vinegar is almost the same but not as strong as the lemon. Washing Soda at walmart (laundary isle) is the essential ingredient in Affresh. Buy a box for a few $. I use a LG Combo washer/dryer. The dry cycle immediately after the wash eliminates any smells but the lint and gunk still builds and requires that Tub Clean occasionally. BUt no smell. For front loaders, a Combo washer/dryer is the best overall solution to this ongoing issue of the smell. In fact the dry function kills more bacteria than any wash cycle or cleaner.
Anna@Green Talk says
Tim, how do you make home made ozonated water? Sounds interesting. Anna
Jack Reynolds says
Has anyone tried used coffee grounds put them in a old sock and run a cycle it works plus it works for smell in the refrigerator .
Anna@Green Talk says
Jack, how do you make sure the coffee grounds don’t get all over your washing machine? Anna
Laura says
Thanks to someone that mentioned Tea Tree Oil as the active ingredient in something up-thread, I put a few drops of the essential oil directly in my washer this afternoon (in the ring/washer at the front where it is supposed to drain and doesn’t). Wow! It really worked to eliminate the smell. Thank you!
Anna@Green Talk says
Laura, wow. Thanks for the trick. Anna
Carol says
Where can I buy a washer with an agitator and used water levels like the kind before energy efficient. I want to go back!! Most of the things mentioned in the post I have tried and have not worked. I have a top loader and a constant mold smell. My kitchen towels smell like mold. How can this be healthy!!! As for as energy efficient goes I had to run an empty machine with various cleaners ( Affresh, Bleach, machine cleaner…..) numerous times in one day and still did not get rid of the mold smell. What a waste of our natural resources. Let’s go back to the machines we used to use. I will gladly put my machine out for trash if I could buy one like I had before this new and improve one.
Anna says
Carol, both GE and whirlpool have machine with agitators. I feel so bad for you. My top loader has less smell then my front loader. I hated that machine.
Do you leave the lid up between washes? Anna
carol says
Thanks Anna. I always leave the lid open when not in use. Switched the clothes immediately when finished. I do like GE. I will definitely check them out.
Craig says
Bosch comes standard with a piece of silver bar (the metal) installed in the washer to prevent the problem from starting. I’ve heard that Bosch does not have this problem because of this.
So, I put several coins of quarters in the fold of the rubber seal and the existing residue decreased substantially (over time). However…
…this did not remove the residue around the entire seal but it may be that the silver content of the coins is too low. Therefore the next trial will be with silver dollars which were minted well before the silver in coins was reduced.
Craig says
Well I see that Bosch has been sued for this problem. So much for hearsay accolades!
Anna says
Craig, so does the silver not work? Anna
Joy says
BioKleen makes a good HE laundry soap that is rated well on ewg.org
I’m happy with it’s performance.
Anna says
Joy, good to know!!! Anna
Sara Rivas says
5-6 drops of tea tree essential oil and 1/2 cup of vinegar in the detergent spot.
run it on hot.
Maybe some good scrubbing right after. Let me know if it helps.
Mine doesn’t have a stink, but I do this as maintenance.
Anna says
Sara, love the tip! Thank you.
JK Oakes says
I am dealing with some smelly laundry also. I have a top loading washer (I honestly would never purchase a front loader)…. Mostly towels and sport fabrics. One thing I keep running into in my research is the idea that the detergent isn’t rinsing out fully. I remember reading about “stripping” towels with Dawn dish soap a few years ago(something like 1/4 cup or less) and rinsing back to back in hot water till no bubbles in water, around 5 times. I tried it once a few years back and am going to do it again with the towels as it was a success. I am also going to try this with the polyester sport fabrics just for kicks. Although I have had good success with individual items soaking in strong vinager/water solution for 24 hours and then washing and rinsing twice.
All in all I am more convinced that this problem may be more solved by using less detergent perhaps and more rinsing than anything else.
I recently did use two affresh tablets with 1 cup each vinager and baking soda. Ran with hot water, dbl rinse. The logic to me is that my dishwasher needs it every few months, why would the washing machine not? I bought new machines two years ago and really only noticed a problem the past few months…..going to try the Affresh process all even months this year and see what happens.
Happy Trouble shooting everyone! This is what they pay us the big bucks for!
Anna says
JK, what happened? Any luck? Anna
Miranda phoenix says
I love my front loading HE machine, and I use Trader Joes HE lavender washing detergent.
I have indoor freeroam rabbits, and wash their bedding (very rarely has urine because they are litter trained, but still smells like a barnyard) in the machine on the sanitizing setting with bleach.
Deep cleaning the machine has just become part of routine.
1) Gotta drain the drain and clean the filter.
2) You just gotta clean that rubber stuff….. like REALLY pull it back and get all the gunk out from the seals. It helps to have a turkey baster or syringe and squirt through everything with a vinegar rinse, then rinse with water, then rinse with diluted tea tree oil. WARNING: too much essential oils will eat the rubber parts and cause corrosion. But diluted works great.
3) Wipe the outer glass and metal areas down with a vinegar spray, then rinse with a water dampened cloth, then I use Meyers’ lavender spray.
4) Now do a sanitizing empty load with some bleach (or vinegar in the bleach compartment) and do the EXTRA RINSE CYCLE.
5) I find that my bath towels will sometimes absorb the unique fragrance of an HE machine. When this happens, I drop tea tree oil onto the towels, then they get their own vinegar run in the machine on the sanitize cycle with an extra rinse.
The extra rinse cycle is your friend in dealing with these with these machines.
This may seem like a lot of work, but if you just do it and get it done as part of your regular cleaning routine, your clothes will always smell great.
Anna says
Thanks Miranda for such a great comment. Anna
Laura says
Sounds to me you have a moisture problem with your washer machine. Stop wasting money on chemicals. Get yourself a dehumidifier and run it for 2-3 hours after you do a wash. With the washing machine door open. Guaranteed problem solved.
Anna says
Laura, good idea. Anna
Kathy says
I have a Kenmore elite, top load washer, purchased in 2000. I typically washed 4-8 loads one day a week. I use liquid cheer and then powdered tide for the last load. After all this time, we just started to have a mold odor (18 years). It coincides with my children doing their own wash. So far, we have taken these actions: used only powdered soap, using bleach, using vinegar, using baking soda, used 2 different washing machine “cleaners”, paid to change our water hoses, sprayed the drum with Lysol spray, removed the washer from the closet to the garage. At this point, we rewashed the machine with citrus wipes and it finally stopped smelling (but it wasn’t hooked up). We painted the laundry room, bleached the floor and the dryer, inside and out. No smell for three days. Ran one load and the smell returned, only it disapated quickly. I am leaving the lid up and the light on. I was tempted to buy a newer washer, but after reading all the posts I will try the borax and the tea tree oil. Those are my last efforts before I give in and start over with a new machine. I’ll try to repost with my results. Wish me luck!
Anna says
Kathy, let us know. Anna
ANN BENKE says
I have an interesting problem. Background… I have a Maytag HE front load machine & been using it for 4 years on warm/cold settings. I have never had the smelly washer & I’ve never used those washer cleaning tablets. We have soft water & I do wipe the gasket and keep the door open. I also use a eco-friendly laundry product called Pink Solution that you melt and mix with water to make a gallon of laundry detergent (BTW – It’s not pink and it’s sold at Costco at their product road shows)
Today I was washing sheets on an extra hot bedding cycle ( usually just use the normal cycle) and when I took them out of the washer the drum was covered with a thick greasy waxy substance. I had a devil of a time trying to remove it with paper towels… I gave up, I did however get the film off with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Because there was some residue on the sheets I’d washed, I ran them through again… and again on a “extra hot” temperature setting with Oxyclean & Resolve Gold. Same thing again but not quite as heavy of a coating. So I ran the washer again with no laundry and only some PInk Solution and Borax in it, on the Washer Cleaning “Affresh” cycle. With all the water used on the washer cleaning cycle it seems to have purged the junk as the drum was squeaky clean. I’m wondering if the hot water used in the bedding cycle loosened gunk that had been accumulating and it was distributed through the drum during the wash cycle.
Anna says
Ann, interesting.I don’t know. Anna
Jaz says
This thread is so wild to me. I use the regular old Whirlpool top loader with an aggitator $300 washing machine. I keep the lid closed all the time, and have no issues. All you folks with these $1000 washing machinea to have all these problems….just wow. Unfortunately, I did have to experience one of those wonderful HE front loaders at someone’s place and that was a major tragedy….seriously…those things stink. I was so confused to “wash” clothes for them to smell worse.
I remember a few years ago when all the rich folks were buying those top of the line HE front loaders in all the pretty reds and cute colors with risers and all. Then they were literally giving them away (setting them on the curb) a few months later to go back to the top loaders.
Good luck to all of yall. It sounds like a chore. I’m grateful for my 14 year old $300 machine. Hope he keeps on clunking for a few more years and I’ll replace him with something similiar NO HE or front loaders for me.
NICO says
IF YOUR WASHER MACHINE ALREADY STINKS, YOU MUST follow these instructions:. Use either Affresh or Tide’s washing machine cleaners CONSECUTIVELY until you are literally “mold free”. The reason the cleaners are not working after one treatment is because you have mold build up like you would not believe!! The first time you treat the machine with one of the products mentioned above, stop it once it’s been running for about 15 minutes…….as the water starts to settle, you will see mold floating in your machine and want to vomit thinking about your clothes being in there. Anyway, once the shock wears off, you will have to repeat this cycle multiple time before you have eliminated the mold…….when it happened to me, I used 3 boxes of the Tide cleaner (3 packets each box)…….9 washes later, I was mold free and my clothes no longer smell!! YAY!!! Now I use it monthly and as needed………if I leave clothes in there too long wet and have to rewash, I throw some in before the rewash. It works but IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ODOR, you must follow these steps to first rid your washer of ALL THE MILDEW, and then use it as a maintenance monthly and you will be good to go!! Hope this gets read and helps someone…….IT DOES REALLY WORK!!!1
Christine says
Ladies,
Get A SPEED QUEEN washer! It uses much more water! IT WASHES your clothes! You need WATER to wash.
I gave up on all of this HE stuff years ago.
Mistie says
Hello! We bought our LG set of front loaders way back in 2010. My husband made me research the best on the market the LG’s we got were it. Then he made me read the manual! Lol my reply was “ I know how to wash clothes!” I did it anyway. I can honestly tell you bc I read the manual and followed all of the instructions to a “T” that I never had a mold or a smell problem. Even in 2016 when we lost everything in the Louisiana August 2016 floods. The day before I started a load of my husbands clothes. Well in rushing to evacuate with our three kids that load of clothes was the last thing on my mind. We had ours stacked. Washer is always on the bottom. After sitting underneath 6 1/2’ of flood water 4 days and another 3 days of gutting my father in law opened the washer. Not a single odor! No mold! Of course we washed the clothes again in special detergent and stuff but I can honestly tell you none of the flood water entered the machine. Some friends used the machine for 6 months after the flood no problem. I insisted on keeping them even though my husband bought me another set. ( we got the same ones as my mom had bc they were 1/2 off) Samsung and I hate them. So I took the machine apart and sanitized all the parts you don’t normally see with shockwave. ( a special microbial cleaner ) 3 years later my machines still work and still don’t have the smell. Following the instructions meant watching the machine each load bc it weighed the clothes and told me how much cleaner to add, leaving the door open all the time unless in use and cleaning the filter and draining the filter line once a month. Hope this helps but I would really like to hear what you ended up having to do!
Mistie says
Oh! I also use 1/2 a cup of baking soda in every load and vinegar in the bleach and fabric softener compartments with an extra rinse cycle.
Bonnie says
I have a Whirlpool front loader. From friends’ experiences, I knew to leave front door open several hours after wash and wipe in and around the rubber. I started using affresh within first few months. I found using with the affresh cycle barely “melted” the tablet so I instead use the normal cycle and select hot water. I’ll also use tablets more than 1 a month if a load has been particularly nasty (shoes, items with cat pee). After, it’s back to being fresh. I’ve also always used HE Tide liquid detergent and had soft water equipment installed way back when, which means using less soap to wash. I think it’s combination of everything being done since beginning of purchase. I was reading others love something called FinallyFresh. Never used it, more expensive than affresh (29.99 for 6 tablets, although site runs 50% off specials and every now and then). My issue has been the fact that HE washers do not clean as well as regular washers for me. Sometimes it seems like the clothes barely get damp much less fully washed and anything that requires a major cleaning just do not get it with the HE machine. At the hose times, I really miss my old machine!
Jess says
I know this is an old post but wanted to comment in case someone finds it helpful.
Probably worth paying someone to remove the door boot seal (its involved process) so it can be replaced or soaked n cleaned & inner areas can be cleaned of mold n mildew.
I’ve found the best method to keep it clean is to put 5+ cups vinegar + small box baking soda directly into the tub & set to “tub clean” cycle. Combined w/. normal preventive steps like leaving door & dispenser open have kept us smell free for 6 years!
Always wondered what affresh was made of. Sodium Percarbonate is a bleach alternative (active ingredient in “oxi-clean”). It forms oxygen & Sodium carbonate after being mixed with water…. why list both as active ingredients when one is just the byproduct of another haha?!