Whirlpool washer smells moldy whenever idle

Washer Repair
41

Guess I’m one of the lucky ones to never experience the moldy-smell issue in my 9 year-old Kenmore front loader (soon departing for 328-series Samsungs!) but a cup of white vinegar in an empty clothes washer, then run thru a full warm wash cycle has always been noted as an excellent remedy.

Therefore, I can’t comment on the Affresh tablets either but everyone at a couple of applicance sales / repair centres rave about them. A bit pricey but if they work per the adverts, it seems like a fair trade-off.

Check your detergent dispenser, too. I periodically remove mine and run it thru the dishwasher with any removeable bits (bleach and fabric softener cups) captured separately in the flatware basket.

If there was ever an almost-ideal location to grow mold in your household, what better location than the warm, moist and dark environment of a clothes washer tucked away in the laundry room? Therefore, make sure the odor isn’t coming from your home HVAC vents either … Should this be the case - CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE IMMEDIATELY!

42

I actually went out and bought new washers due to this terrible smell.

THEN my daughter who is a chemist told me to switch detergents.
DO NOT USE LIQUID DETERGENTS!!! THey have live microbes in it to attack proteins. Because of the design of front loaders the inner basket breads these microbes and they stink like, well you know!

Use the afresh, the entire bag with the hottest water you can find and switch to ANY powder detergent, you will find the problem to go away.

I had a Maytag Neptune, bought a LG front loader and within 7 days the smell came and I raised all kinds of trouble with the company. The smell after going with powder NEVER came back

Rich

43

Interesting … I’d have never guessed liquids and powders were so chemically different but 1, I’ll cetainly trust a chemist’s knowledge, BUT … 2, IMO, powders don’t clean as well - unfortunately. And powders are marginally harder to use to quick spot-treat a soil blob.

I assume we’re talking about “he” liquids? Same with regular liquids too?

I’ve never had a serious “stink” problem with my new Samsung front-loaders - yet. Never did with my old Kenmore’s either. (I was a frequent rinse-cycle user of white vinegar. That simple liquid - as a rinse - is a-freakin’-mazing!)

As far as any stinko with the new Sammy’s, that may have to do with the “silver-care” sanitizing wash cycle I have begun to use - expecially with bedding.

Sure those silver ions or whatever they are knock the be-jeez out of any mold or mildew bugs!

44

Well, spot treatment is different, we still do that. Its the everyday use of liquid detergents, especially those directed at protein stain removals, they have the highest amount of enzyms.

Our Neptune (Maytag) was so bad we took it apart and actually SCRAPPED the insided drum and had to pressure wash the scum off! This is after the factory did the door gasket flushing upgrade. We tried vinegar, bleach, OXYclean (which is diluted Afresh) and it ALWAYS came back within days. We also found that it got worse when we put a water softner in.

We bought new LG front machines, in less than 7 days the smell was like someone vomited on our cloths, I was REALLY UPSET!! And when I switched to powers (Tide) the problem left and never returned.

Rich

45

I didn’t see this posters post before I posted mine. He’s absolutely correct and includes softners, which literally coat your driers exhaust and exchanger with a gooey silicone, and plugs everything up.

46

Rich1281 wrote: “We bought new LG front machines, in less than 7 days the smell was like someone vomited on our cloths, I was REALLY UPSET!! And when I switched to powers (Tide) the problem left and never returned.”

Whoa! This is way beyond serious !! My friendly service tech says you may well have MUCH bigger problems than ANY washer - by design - or detergent, fabric softener or whatever else imaginable: GET YOUR WATER SUPPLY LABORATORY TESTED!!! MAKE SURE THE SAMPLE IS TAKEN AT THE TAP OR FAUCET RIGHT WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE CLOTHES WASHER!!

While you’re waiting for the results, don’t drink the stuff or use it for making coffee or tea either …

47

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]By great co-incidence, I just had lunch with my favorite appliance service tech. (Seems we like the same Greek restaurant!)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]He reminded me - AGAIN! - of the major no-no list for home-use washing machines …[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]1. NEVER leave wet clothes in ANY washing machine longer than absolutely necessary! This practice of “do a load and run out for a few hours of shopping – or dinner” – is a sure-fire way to start a toxic waste site right in your home![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]2. When not in use, leave the door or lid open. Mold and mildew-causing bacteria don’t like fresh, re-circulating air. Should you have ventilation or an actual ceiling fan in your laundry room (I do), leave it on - with the door or lid open - as much as possible. Careful … as cats have been known to nap in an open-door front loader!!![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]3. NEVER use too much detergent! It’s really, REALLY surprising how little “washing” clothes require to get clean. Since front-loaders are already more efficient at making contact with the wash-water, save yourself time, money, extra rinse cycles, etc., etc. by dialing down the detergent amount. After all, the more you put in, the more you have to rinse out …[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]4. Fabric softeners: Not the bad guys they’re made out to be … but, I really limit their use. In things like bath towels they actually seem to make the cotton LESS absorbent later! Softer feeling, yes. Better at drying me completely dry? No.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Try using dryer sheets instead of a liquid added to the rinse cycle. Since most people add softener to get rid of “static cling”; these dryer sheets do the same thing.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Still not all fluffy and “soft-feeling” enough? Remarkably, I use those hokey “dryer balls” and towels come out fabric-softener soft and REALLY pumped-up fluffy![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Again, try 1/4 or so cup of plain, 'white" vinegar for a rinse cycle. it’s guaranteed there will be NO soapy / detergent residue in that load!! [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]5. Need I even mention this? Use ONLY “he” liquids for a front-loader! I can’t imagine why either can’t be used in a top-loader but over-sudsing a front-loader with too much soap / detergent or the non-“he” stuff - even once – seems to start a chain reaction of bad odors.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]6.Try “odor-neutral” detergents. Those perfume additives are also of concern to skin-sensitive people – those with allergies – so use neutral-smelling cleaners and be done with ‘em ![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]7. Spot-treat the worst-of-the-worst dirt – and let them sit while you sort and kill a half-hour or so … then do them in a load with about 1/8 to 1/4 cup of ammonia. I like the lemony-smelling stuff. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised … A little Oxy-Clean in the white clothes and you should have the freshest-smelling, cleanest clothes ever. And ammonia rinses PERFECTLY clean – unlike a detergent with those dirt-releasing “surfactants” (surfactants make water “wetter”). [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]NOTHING will really freshen up super-sweaty clothes – like those from an afternoon working in the summer sun outdoors – like a little ammonia.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]9. Worst stains you’ve ever seen – maybe oil-based? Spot -spray with – are you sitting down? – WD-40 and allow them to sit a while. You might wanna do this outdoors, too …[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Then, spot-treat with liquid detergent, rinse under a faucet and check the results. You can try another shot of WD-40 if necessary but some stains just won’t come out … unless you’re prepared to use a pair of scissors![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Finally … 10. Got a BIG load of super-dirty clothes you almost wish you didn’t have to even deal with?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Then don’t.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Take 'em to a commercial laundry - in a plastic trash bag - and use THEIR super-duty machines![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Big, bulky items that might not even FIT in YOUR washer - or damage it in an off-balance spin cycle - will get swallowed up in a second by a commercial machine.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Hey, it’s worth a couple of bucks to save YOUR machine and most of these pay-wash sites even have a “drop-off, we’ll wash-and-fold them” service.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

48

Our waters tested every year by my son in law who works at a lab. Also, were on city water.

HOWEVER, Clyde Ohio, a neighbor or ours, has the HIGHEST cancer rate in the nation for children, and today they stated that they don’t know whats causing it.
SOooooo, I drink bottled water, whytake a chance.

Rich

49

[SIZE=3] ok if you have your washer is plummed direct into the sink try and get the waste pipe i bit higher or buy a 1 way valve 90% get dirty water running back into the washer through there sink…[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]next think to do is pour half a bottle of bleach in washer and put it on a 60 degree wash this will solve your problem…[/SIZE]

50

you should do an empty wash using lysol at least once a week or if doing wash only once a week then every other week. this eliminated my problem

51

run the washer through its cycle with no clothes using only liquid lysol. if washing clothes only once a week you can do this every other week. if more then should be done once a week. this eliminated my problem:)

52

Lysol? WOW! What a fantastic idea! NEVER even crossed my mind … but you’re EXACTLY right!

THANK YOU!!!

54

I had same problem with mine. It was the water drain hose that was stuck to deep into the drain. [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Was touching the water inside the drain pipe.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

55

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Affresh[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]According to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) put out by Whirlpool they state that the ingredients are: Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Carbonate Peroxyhydrate (another name for sodium percarbonate), and Boric Acid. They further state that proportions of these ingredients are confidential. The MSDS further gives the pH as 10.5-10.7 with a 1% solution. Therefore it has the potential to corrode the aluminium of the spider should the required concentration be reached.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]When all else has failed to get rid of the foul odours it has to be considered that the odours are originating from the build of ‘crud’ in the recesses of the spider. Even after the fastest spin small quantities of water and contaminants will remain in these recesses, on the shaft and on the spider. As the water evaporates the ‘crud’ will start to fester and smell. The only sure way of getting rid of it is to strip the drums down. Not an easy task for most people.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

56

Is Affresh safe for septic tanks?

57

sorry you will never get rid of this smell all front loaders keep a little bit of water beneith the wash basket for some reason I don’t know why. These he washers have been problem prone from the start have had so many issues and really expensive to fix good luck

58

I used a cup of white vinegar when I had that problem a few months ago. I think it happened because I was using cold water all the time. Ran the vinegar on hot for one cycle and problem gone. I always leave the door open after washing and once a year clean out that trap, but only had the smell problem once. WP Duet model. I don’t use that special HE soap because it is more expensive and the Arm and Hammer liquid soap does the job for us. 3-4 loads a week, 4 people.

59

[quote=JaneWEllis;11365]Hello –

I see mold inside the large rubber ring (the seal) at the opening of my washer and it’s hard to scrub off, even with bleach. Will the product some of you have mentioned (Affresh?) reach that mold if I use it? Thank you for help on this; it’s driving me crazy.[/quote]

I had the same problem with my Front-Loader however, mine was a Maytag (irrelevant). I tried literally EVERYTHING to get rid of the moldy smell and yeah, the smell was getting in my clothes too and almost impossible to remove. After a few months of dealing with this, I guess we started getting to where we didn’t notice the mold like smell in the clothes but other people did. Thankfully, my family was honest with me and wasn’t embarrased to tell me the truth that ALL of our clothes had began to smell moldy. At this point, I simply said to myself “NO MORE” and replaced the rubber seal around the lid/door opening of my washer. The smell went away immediately and the seal wasn’t that much money, I believe a year ago it was $35.00 (Maytag Brand). If you decide to take my advice and replace the seal, be sure and use a cleaner for removing mold in bathtubs and showers around where the old seal was, after removing the old seal. Otherwise, with mold being what it is, it might take out the new seal too. GOOD LUCK!
Sincerely “LINK-82”

60

W0W most of this forum centers around this “Affresh”, I wonder if the manufactures of “Affresh” are “Aware” of this. (hmmmmm)

61

We fought the same problem for a while. Then on a hunch we spent a few dollars more for a more expensive laundry soap. Problem went away.

We switched to liquid Tide. I’m sure there are other well recognized brands that will solve this problem as well.