Front loader Washing Machine - Musty smell

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Forum -> Household Management -> Cleaning & Laundry

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shluchamom

Mon, Jul 09 2007, 2:22 pm

Does anyone here have a front loader washing machine and have an issue with it getting musty smelling. I had the repair guy come once to change the rubber in the front cuz he said it was moldy there but he told me the service contract wont cover that again but now a couple of months later its smelling again and he told me thats the problem with the front loaders.

Has anyone had this problem and found a solution to it?

Thanks

tziviakayla ↓

Mon, Jul 09 2007, 2:30 pm

After you are finished with the washer leave the door open. The excess water inside will air dry intead of sitting on the rubber pieces getting musty while the door is closed!

brooklyn ↓

Mon, Jul 09 2007, 2:47 pm

What make and model do you have?

chocolate moose ↓

Mon, Jul 09 2007, 3:00 pm

I have a front loader . . thanks for the idea!

red sea ↓

Mon, Jul 09 2007, 3:32 pm

Always leave the door open when not in use

GAMZu

Mon, Jul 09 2007, 4:57 pm

Is that safe for kids?

↑ chocolate moose ↓

Mon, Jul 09 2007, 4:59 pm

It's safe for MY kids - first of all, it's behind a door, and 2ndly, they are 17 and 19 years old!

↑ red sea

Mon, Jul 09 2007, 5:04 pm

GAMZu wrote:

Is that safe for kids?

good ? if its not in a place they cant get to.

Mimisinger ↓

Tue, Jul 10 2007, 8:50 pm

I keep mine open and it isn't as musty, but I do have that same smell Sad

Maybe run an empty load with just vinegar? Let me know what you hear...

lubmommy

Tue, Jul 10 2007, 9:22 pm

I have the maytag stacking washer/dryer and also have this problem and others too. Does anybody ever find socks or other small items outside of the washing area between the ring and the door? When they get stuck there they don't get spun out and are sopping wet.

miriam ↓

Tue, Jul 10 2007, 9:29 pm

GAMZu wrote:

Is that safe for kids?

I would hope no kids would climb in there. I don't think it's big enuff anyway. Mine is in my basement and kids are only there when I am.

Yup, I use vinegar and it works well. I put in the bleach spot.

I always leave the door open!! Otherwise, YUCK.

↑ tziviakayla

Wed, Jul 11 2007, 12:13 am

lubmommy8 wrote:

I Does anybody ever find socks or other small items outside of the washing area between the ring and the door? When they get stuck there they don't get spun out and are sopping wet.

I use a mesh bag for the socks, especially little baby ones!

Marion

Wed, Jul 11 2007, 2:13 am

I usually leave the door open when not in use. And Every so often I take some vinegar or bleach and an old rag and actually wipe down whatever mould spots I can see.

↑ chocolate moose ↓

Wed, Jul 11 2007, 10:32 am

[quote="mommy3"]

lubmommy8 wrote:

I Does anybody ever find socks or other small items outside of the washing area between the ring and the door? When they get stuck there they don't get spun out and are sopping wet.

Yes,me...I hate that!

greenfire

Wed, Jul 11 2007, 11:01 am

of course leaving it open is dangerous for kids ... they are curious ... I would be careful ...

also what about baking soda ... that usually absorbs odors ... I wonder ...

and cm ... you'd be surprised how teens can be experimentally curious with gadgets ... my son just told me he warmed up some cake in a dryer at yeshiiva ... on the way upstate he warmed up pizza on top of the car while at a pit stop ... I myself used to crawl inside a dryer ... just to see how it would feel when young and skinny ... we also would go inside refridgerators ... caution: always have a partner in crime in case anything goes awry ..

↑ Mimisinger

Wed, Jul 11 2007, 11:35 am

Lubmommy - I've had socks not spin out, just squeeze them out and they'll dry. And, you're lucky, at least they didn't get stuck inside. My mother's washer broke from a baby sock getting stuck in the bottom. Another big problem - is bra underwires - they come out and break your machine. I always put both in mesh bags....

↑ miriam

Thu, Jul 12 2007, 12:42 am

I was thinking of this thread to day when I was doing laundry. Another point: try to transfer the wet clothing to the dryer right away. Then there is no time for the smell to fester.

↑ brooklyn

Thu, Jul 12 2007, 7:35 am

How old are your machines? I have mine for three years, do several loads per week, so far I don't have this problem and I keep the door closed. Does it happen over time when the seals get a little worn?

mummy-bh

Thu, Jul 12 2007, 7:38 am

I have never had this problem. I only have front loading machines. As for it being an age-related issue, I had my previous machine for 7 years without a problem of mustiness.
What brand do you have?

YALT

Thu, Jul 12 2007, 8:30 am

I have a frigidaire frontloader for 1½ yrs - never had a problem.
It IS DANGEROUS IF A CHILD CLIMBS IN! we used to do that as children as well. Mine is in the kitchen, and I gate off the kitchen when I'm not in there. (keep an eye open when I am) But DS turns on the machine, and runs empty loads for me. The only way to prevent it from starting is by keeping it open. I used to keep it open whenever he's not around, to prevent it getting musty (it warns you in the manual that "for child safety - keep it closed, otherwise keep open to prevent mustiness").
When I went away for 2 weeks, I put some baking soda in a cup & sat it inside my washer.
Never had a problem.

About the socks getting stuck - yes, I used to have that. Now I will never wash any socks w/o a mesh bag. So much easier. But worse comes to worst, you squeeze it out. Like MIMIsinger wrote - atleast they don't get stuck inside the machine.
My sister had a toploader, and when it broke, & she was getting a new one, she asked the guy to take out the old one now, before the new one comes. He said he first wanted to open it up, to return what was rightfully hers. SHe was a bit confused until he told her that all her kids lost socks will be hiding in there. But the only way to get them out is by destroying the machine. So you can only get it back when it's ready for the garbage.

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