Appliances

[lkiddy]

My washer has a horrible smell inside it, I'm sure the rest of you know what I mean.  A repair man worked on my washer a couple of months ago and he left me a pack of Affresh to use in it.  It didn't do anything for it.  I've actually bought a gallon of OdoBan odor eliminator and use this in the  prewash cycle, it keeps the clothes from having this funky smell but only as you use it with prewash cycle.  Can anyone give me any ideas to try in order to get rid of this smell.  

[inutel]

How old is your washer? overtime gunk/molds/mildew develops inbetween the tubs/drains etc. especially for front load washers. This is a  perfect breeding place for odor causing bacteria.

Try to run the washer without loads using hot water and bleach at regular intervals (like once/twice a month) and see if that helps.

Also try using HE soap /warm water during cycle/ extra rinse setting to minimize gunk build up. 

Good Luck.

[Dorothy-BBY Community Supervisor]

Ikiddy,

Might I inquire as to what type of laundry detergent you might be using?  The most common issue that people have with front loading units is when they use the wrong type of detergent.  

You must use HE Detergent in your front loading machine, or else you risk the chance of not only having smelly build-up, but you can also actually damage your washer by using regular detergent.  

Another suggestion is to wipe out the inner boot around the door when you finish a load, to ensure there is no damp residue, and leave the door ajar or open.  These are all actions that have helped out customers in the past with this issue. 

I hope some of this helps!

Sincerely,

Dorothy

Community Connector

Best Buy® Corporate

[lkiddy]

I have tried bleach and doesn't work.  I've had my washer/dryer set since 2005.  

[lkiddy]

I was using regular detergents and fabric softeners but when the repairman told me to use HE detergents I then started using those.  

[Dorothy-BBY Community Supervisor]

That is your culprit then.

It will take time, but your unit will finally stabilize and the smell will go away.  Do as I instructed, particularly leaving the door open or ajar when not using the unit, and it will help to speed up the process. 

It was a common misconception when front loading units first came out, and probably even still now, that you could just use a smaller amount of normal detergents, and it would work.  THIS IS NOT TRUE!!!  As you have now seen, it leads to smelly washing machines.  However, it also can cause your unit to malfunction and it leads to longer wash times.  

I hope that with time, you will see a big change.  

What LG unit do you have?  Sometimes there is a lint filter on the front bottom of the unit and there might be some build up in there causing some smell also.  

Let me know!

Dorothy

Community Connector

Best Buy® Corporate

[MichaelSander]

I also recommend using Affresh from Whirlpool, or a tub cleaner from Tide. These also help towards keeping odors away. In the owners manual for LG it will talk about using bleach once a month as a tub clean. Any of these solutions should help.

[vicki_in_fl]

My service plan covered me getting a replacement for my LG that smelled like mildew.

I have had my WM2801Tromm for 4 months now.

Everytime I use it:

I measure with an actual tablespoon: 1 TBSP HE soap

I NEVER leave clothes in once it beeps. I immediately take the

clothes out of the washer.

I then remove the soap dispenser drawer in put it in the laundry

tub next to the washer.

I keep wash clothes there and I wipe the door dry, the gasket dry and

the chamber where the soap drawer was removed.

I then leave the door open until I use the washer again.

That's doing more than the manufacturer recommends.

My unit still wants to start smelling like mildew.

The cure is to always buy the extended warranty so that in two years when

the unit stinks really bad, you can just get a new one and buy a new service plan.

I've done this three times now.

It's just a flaw in the front loader that there is no cure for!

[Dorothy-BBY Community Supervisor]

Hey vicki_in_fl -

I am glad to hear that you were able to get a new unit, and it is a shame that you had that issue.  Please let me assure anyone reading this that it is not ALL front loading machines that exhibit this behavior.  I can attest, since my Siemens unit is almost 3 years old and is fit as a fiddle.

[lkiddy]

Well Vicki_in_Fl, I can't seem to get a new one.  I tried calling everyday for like 3 weeks till I finally got someone to check it.  Then they wouldn't replace it.  Although I still have the smell even after using the HE washing detergent, leaving the door open afterwards, I take clothes out when they cut off, I wipe out the gasket and even use the Affresh; all this does nothing for the smell.  I have ended up using the OdoBan liquid in each wash along with my detergent just to get rid of the smell on our clothes.  I've thought very seriously about contacting the warranty department again since the problem isn't fixed but just been leary about it since they didn't do anything before.   My warranty runs out in 2010 so I don't have much time left.