Clothes Washer Smells Terribly of Mold/Mildew

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you leaving the door open? I have a front loader, and I make sure the door is *always* open, particularly after its been used. Same for the detergent compartment.

Like I said in my OP, we just moved in. I think the people who lived here before did not leave the door open, and it is a front loader. I know to leave the door open, but I'm trying to fix a problem that occurred before I got here.

There's the problem.

Those are mold factories, especially since they don't use enough water to rinse well and also require liquid detergents, which are notorious about developing mold in them while sitting on the store shelves. Once a detergent is made liquid, it starts to decompose and grow bacteria and molds.

If you want to keep the front load washer, you must clean with diluted bleach water ALL AROUND the front door gasket. You will find tons of mold hiding in the folds. Scrub it, bleach it, rinse it.

Once it's clean, keep the door open always when not in use, and wipe off around behind the rubber gasket after each use.

This is not true. In the industry front loaders known as not only MUCH better for cleaning clothing, but as more efficient. The only country that sells top loaders is US (maybe Canada). I’ve lived in 9 countries and used front loaders is 95% of my homes, the only country where they were moldy was in the US!

It’s simple, and valid for top loaders: anything that gets wet needs to air out. Leave door and soap dispenser open, always. So simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you leaving the door open? I have a front loader, and I make sure the door is *always* open, particularly after its been used. Same for the detergent compartment.

Like I said in my OP, we just moved in. I think the people who lived here before did not leave the door open, and it is a front loader. I know to leave the door open, but I'm trying to fix a problem that occurred before I got here.

There's the problem.

Those are mold factories, especially since they don't use enough water to rinse well and also require liquid detergents, which are notorious about developing mold in them while sitting on the store shelves. Once a detergent is made liquid, it starts to decompose and grow bacteria and molds.

If you want to keep the front load washer, you must clean with diluted bleach water ALL AROUND the front door gasket. You will find tons of mold hiding in the folds. Scrub it, bleach it, rinse it.

Once it's clean, keep the door open always when not in use, and wipe off around behind the rubber gasket after each use.

This is not true. In the industry front loaders known as not only MUCH better for cleaning clothing, but as more efficient. The only country that sells top loaders is US (maybe Canada). I’ve lived in 9 countries and used front loaders is 95% of my homes, the only country where they were moldy was in the US!

It’s simple, and valid for top loaders: anything that gets wet needs to air out. Leave door and soap dispenser open, always. So simple.

Do they use them in tropical countries? I think it’s a humidity thing. I bet in other places with mosquito problems, they like top loaders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you leaving the door open? I have a front loader, and I make sure the door is *always* open, particularly after its been used. Same for the detergent compartment.

Like I said in my OP, we just moved in. I think the people who lived here before did not leave the door open, and it is a front loader. I know to leave the door open, but I'm trying to fix a problem that occurred before I got here.

There's the problem.

Those are mold factories, especially since they don't use enough water to rinse well and also require liquid detergents, which are notorious about developing mold in them while sitting on the store shelves. Once a detergent is made liquid, it starts to decompose and grow bacteria and molds.

If you want to keep the front load washer, you must clean with diluted bleach water ALL AROUND the front door gasket. You will find tons of mold hiding in the folds. Scrub it, bleach it, rinse it.

Once it's clean, keep the door open always when not in use, and wipe off around behind the rubber gasket after each use.

This is not true. In the industry front loaders known as not only MUCH better for cleaning clothing, but as more efficient. The only country that sells top loaders is US (maybe Canada). I’ve lived in 9 countries and used front loaders is 95% of my homes, the only country where they were moldy was in the US!

It’s simple, and valid for top loaders: anything that gets wet needs to air out. Leave door and soap dispenser open, always. So simple.

Thank you for the propaganda and gaslighting of reality.

[Anonymous]

Changing detergent fixed the issue for me.

I switched to Dr Bronners Sal Suds. I use 1 tablespoon for warm or hot, and 1.5 for cold. It cleans great, but not stains. I pre-treat those.

Years ago, when I switched, I wiped the rubber gasket in the door area clean with vinegar. I always leave door open when not using too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Changing detergent fixed the issue for me.

I switched to Dr Bronners Sal Suds. I use 1 tablespoon for warm or hot, and 1.5 for cold. It cleans great, but not stains. I pre-treat those.

Years ago, when I switched, I wiped the rubber gasket in the door area clean with vinegar. I always leave door open when not using too.

Thanks. I'll try this.

[Anonymous]

I spray the door gasket with a bleach/water solution and wipe down with a paper towel. I also leave the door open and have never had any issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spray the door gasket with a bleach/water solution and wipe down with a paper towel. I also leave the door open and have never had any issues.

Hear this works ok if you insist on a front loader, and if you do it regularly.

Nothing works like bleach for killing mold. Except fire, but that is kinda moot.

[Anonymous]

Vinegar helps

[Anonymous]

Get a cheap top loader eith center agitator with only a couple of settings that actually fills with water.

You need water, real soap and agitation to actually clean your clothing. The high efficiency front loaders do not actually clean, they just perfume your clothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you leaving the door open? I have a front loader, and I make sure the door is *always* open, particularly after its been used. Same for the detergent compartment.

Like I said in my OP, we just moved in. I think the people who lived here before did not leave the door open, and it is a front loader. I know to leave the door open, but I'm trying to fix a problem that occurred before I got here.

There's the problem.

Those are mold factories, especially since they don't use enough water to rinse well and also require liquid detergents, which are notorious about developing mold in them while sitting on the store shelves. Once a detergent is made liquid, it starts to decompose and grow bacteria and molds.

If you want to keep the front load washer, you must clean with diluted bleach water ALL AROUND the front door gasket. You will find tons of mold hiding in the folds. Scrub it, bleach it, rinse it.

Once it's clean, keep the door open always when not in use, and wipe off around behind the rubber gasket after each use.

This is not true. In the industry front loaders known as not only MUCH better for cleaning clothing, but as more efficient. The only country that sells top loaders is US (maybe Canada). I’ve lived in 9 countries and used front loaders is 95% of my homes, the only country where they were moldy was in the US!

It’s simple, and valid for top loaders: anything that gets wet needs to air out. Leave door and soap dispenser open, always. So simple.

Front loaders don't clean clothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know you need to drain your front loader, right? There's a little tube behind the small front lower panel to drain the excess water. Watch a YouTube video

This is really a difference-maker! We moved into an old house owned by people in their 80s who had a 6-month old LG front loader. Neither they nor their housekeeper nor caregivers seemed to realize that it worked differently than their old top-loader (which they left the instructions for and which was definitely not high efficiency!).

The machine was a mess and it took us a while to realize that they hadn’t understood how to use or maintain it and were the wrong kind of laundry soap and way too much of it. The filter was totally clogged with residue and soap build-up. Once we scrubbed and drained it and did a few self-cleaning loads, it was like we had a totally different washing machine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you leaving the door open? I have a front loader, and I make sure the door is *always* open, particularly after its been used. Same for the detergent compartment.

This, I always make sure the door is open!

[Anonymous]

Say no to front loaders! Mold everywhere!

Went back to top loader

[Anonymous]

Get a top loader and never look back

[Anonymous]

Wipe out the gasket every time your take out a load.

Leave the door and detergent drawer open when you're not using the machine.

We do this and we've never gotten mold, and our clothes are clean.