Anonymous
Post 12/17/2023 10:49     Subject: front load washer mold
Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of people buy front loaders purely for aesthetics. I bought a top loader because I didn't want to deal with the mold issue and it fit much more. It cleans better, too. Ours has an impeller, not an agitator.


I bought a front loader, so I had a top put all my folded laundry to sit for days and days and days.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2023 10:48     Subject: Re:front load washer mold
I will never buy a front loader again because of this.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2023 10:46     Subject: front load washer mold
I think a lot of people buy front loaders purely for aesthetics. I bought a top loader because I didn't want to deal with the mold issue and it fit much more. It cleans better, too. Ours has an impeller, not an agitator.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2023 10:46     Subject: front load washer mold
Anonymous wrote:Has anyone switched back to top load because of this problem?


Yes - we did and I like it so much better.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2023 10:44     Subject: front load washer mold
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You need to keep the door open when not in use. Problem solved.

We did this from day one and still got mold in the gasket. My husband bought some of that gel mold killer and it cleaned up some but not all of it. Fortunately the people who bought our old house didn't seem to notice, LOL


This is not normal PP. If you keep your door open and you're still getting mold then either your washer is not fully emptying or you keep your laundry room door closed and there is no air circulation. Also shame on you for leaving a moldy washer behind for the next owner - although it's not a deal breaker it's not nice. Karma will find you.


I have to disagree - mold in the gasket of front loaders is so incredibly common. Especially in older front loaders (10+ years old). We replaced ours with top loaders, but have heard newer front loaders are much better, so maybe your experience is with newer ones, PP.

As for selling their house - this is why people have inspectors. If theirs did't catch it, that's on them. It's the buyers' responsibility to check these things.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2023 09:52     Subject: Re:front load washer mold
You need to get the kind made with Microban gasket. All others get moldy/mildewy even if you are vigilant about wiping them down and leaving the door open.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2023 09:42     Subject: front load washer mold
We got our first front loader 25 years ago. Never got any mold (I'm sensitive to it). We replaced it with another front loader 4 years ago. No mold even after our 3 teenagers started doing their own laundry. Two of those are boys (oldest is 20) with ADHD who often forgot their clothes in the washer overnight.

We leave the door and detergent tray open after the wash is complete. When mold grows in the tray, we wash it off. Periodically, we run the tub clean cycle. No mold.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2023 09:29     Subject: front load washer mold
Anonymous wrote:We had an old front loader with mold that came with our house. It was one of the original ones. We replaced it with another front loader (we need the useable surface on top told fold) and so far so good. It’s been over a year with no issues. I leave the door open, and I take a Clorox wipe to the inside of the gasket every few weeks but nothing ever comes out. I also just stick my nose in there to check periodically and always smells fine. I guess time will tell but I really don’t like the look of top loaders and my laundry room is visible (off the kitchen, on the way to the garage.) If it was in some upstairs closet I probably wouldn’t care.


Same. No issues with the current set I have. I have a double set of w/d stacked and this wouldn't be possible with top loaders. I love having 2 washers and dryers and wouldn't give that up for a top loader with a hard to reach bottom.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2023 09:25     Subject: front load washer mold
We had an old front loader with mold that came with our house. It was one of the original ones. We replaced it with another front loader (we need the useable surface on top told fold) and so far so good. It’s been over a year with no issues. I leave the door open, and I take a Clorox wipe to the inside of the gasket every few weeks but nothing ever comes out. I also just stick my nose in there to check periodically and always smells fine. I guess time will tell but I really don’t like the look of top loaders and my laundry room is visible (off the kitchen, on the way to the garage.) If it was in some upstairs closet I probably wouldn’t care.
Anonymous
Post 12/16/2023 20:34     Subject: front load washer mold
Even though there have been multiple threads about this on DCUM it is a topic that is better googled than dcumed. There's lots of info out there.
Anonymous
Post 12/16/2023 18:58     Subject: front load washer mold
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You need to keep the door open when not in use. Problem solved.

We did this from day one and still got mold in the gasket. My husband bought some of that gel mold killer and it cleaned up some but not all of it. Fortunately the people who bought our old house didn't seem to notice, LOL


Maybe humidity and dampness are a problem in your house. Is there a way to improve air circulation? Crack a window?


Nope, not an issue. This was above ground in a room with good circulation.
Anonymous
Post 12/16/2023 16:09     Subject: front load washer mold
Anonymous wrote:Has anyone switched back to top load because of this problem?

No but I have avoided front loaders for this reason. Top load only for me!
Anonymous
Post 12/16/2023 16:06     Subject: front load washer mold
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Has anyone switched back to top load because of this problem?


We did. We like our top load washer so much better.


+1. Only problem is I got the biggest drum we could get to wash all our sheets etc at once and my arms are too short. My tall husband loves it though as he has no issues reaching the bottom.
Anonymous
Post 12/16/2023 15:57     Subject: front load washer mold
Anonymous wrote:I don't know why everyone ran out to buy those washers.


I jus posted about getting rid of ours for a top loader, and we didn't -- we bought a home that had an almost new front loader in it and we thought it would be an "upgrade" over our last home with a top loader. Nope. People say the newer models are better but I don't believe it. The top loader is also easier on my back.
Anonymous
Post 12/16/2023 15:56     Subject: front load washer mold
Anonymous wrote:Has anyone switched back to top load because of this problem?


Yes, and I'm so happy about it. Our laundry is in a closet with stacked units and it was such a hassle to leave the door open because it meant leaving the closet door open as well, so our hallway would always be partially blocked. And then we'd STILL get mold in the gasket, even wiping it out after every use and leaving it open. So frustrating.

Top loader has none of these problems, and also you can get a bigger drum. We are able to wash pillows and comforters at home now, when I used to have to take them to the dry cleaner. Highly recommend.