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Front Loader Mildew & Odor


jsrock516
By Guru jsrock516
Rank: Guru
Rating: 94%, 1920 votes
posted on Apr 14, 2008
FixYa! (100)

This advice is for preventing or getting rid off that awful mildew smell associated with front loader style washing machines.

The first thing to do is to CHECK IN AND AROUND THE RUBBER DOOR BOOT (called a bellow) for small articles of clothing (like socks and underwear) that may have gotten lodged in behind the rubber. Pull the rubber back where it meets the wash tub and look behind it. It is common for small items to get stuck here, become forgotten and start to mildew. You should check this area after each wash and clean it periodically to get rid of the formation of soap scum, mold, and mildew. HINT: When you get ready to wash a load of towels, take a dirty towel and clean the door boot thoroughly (including the areas behind the rubber). Immediately place the towel in the wash and run it on a sanitary cycle. This way you eliminate the need for cleaning rags.

PERIODICALLY RUN THE WASHER ON A CLEANING CYCLE. Place the washer on the hottest setting you have (usually a Sanitary cycle) with nothing but bleach in the wash tub. Some newer models actually have a “Clean Cycle” available now just for this purpose. This helps keep the wash tub, drain lines and pump sanitized.

CHECK AND CLEAN THE DRAIN PUMP FILTER. Accumulations of debris in the drain pump filter can also cause odors. HINT: If you own a shop vac, pull the drain hose from the standpipe at the wall and pull a vacuum on the line. This will drain any residual water left in the tub, pump and drain lines BEFORE you remove the drain pump cover. This will prevent a messy clean up later.

LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN IF POSSIBLE. When not in use, leave the door open to allow the tub to air out and to keep mold and mildew from forming on the door bellow. I know this may not be desirable in some households with small children. If too much mildew forms on the rubber and it cannot be removed, replacement of the bellow may be required.

NOTE: This problem is common with front loader style washing machines. The doors on these machines have an air tight/water tight seal that is great for sealing the washer during the wash cycle, but can be terrible for collecting small garments and for not allowing the tub to properly air out when not in use. Following these simple preventive measures can go a long way towards preventing harmful mold and mildew, and towards extending the life of the door bellow and pump.

Comment by jsrock516, posted on Apr 21, 2008

Thank you for your feedback. I never said leaving the door open would evaporate the water. Leaving the door open allows the wash tub to air out and helps prevent mildew build up. This can help get rid of the "musty" odor many consumers complain about. Standing water can be caused by the small holes near the bottom of the bellow where it meets the wash tub becoming clogged with soap scum. That's why it is recommended that you check this area after each wash load and clean periodically.

Comment by jsrock516, posted on May 03, 2008

kburns7274,

Using the wrong type of detergent, or too much detergent can attribute to the build up of soap scum. Which, in turn, can lead to some foul odors. In addition, since this washer has a tight sealing door and little light gets in, leaving it shut can attribute to the build up of mold and mildew. Which can also lead to foul odors. There's also a small amount of water that remains in the wash tub, drain lines and drain pump after washing. This is normal, but sometimes this water can sour, which can attribute to the same problem. I'm not saying what I have recommended here is an ABSOLUTE fix to everyone's problem, but I can assure you that it does help. It worked for me and has worked for many others. I personally own a Kenmore HE3t and follow the same routine for my own washer. Other than replacing a worn out bellow once, I haven't had a problem with it in over 8 years (now I may have jinxed myself). I do value your feedback and hope you find a resolution to your problem. I agree that there's some things about this washer that the manufacturer doesn't always tell you. Good Luck to you.

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Comment #1

posted on Apr 29, 2008

kburns7274
By Apprentice kburns7274
Rank: Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes

We purchased our Kenmore front loader when they first came out. Shortly after, maybe 6 to 8 months the most horrible smell you have ever smelled began to linger from the laundry room. I am not kidding when I say I thought there was a dead animal or rotten meat somewhere hidden in the laundry room. When we finally realized where it was coming from, I immediately contacted Sears. They gave me the same run around about the bellow, so I did exactly that, cleaned it out, looked for something stuck, and nothing. I have called them back several times with the same problem and now they are telling me that it is my fault because I put too much soap in the dispenser and the "suds" error appeared on the LCD. What a bunch of *.!@! Consumers are paying top dollar and getting nothing. I leave the door open, I wipe out the bellow and now I have to make sure to run a cycle of bleach through the machine before I start laundry. Then after that, I have to make sure that I run a load of old cleaning towels first, because the bleach is now ruining my clothes. What a headache. I thought I had done my homework before buying the front loader, but I guess I didn't search through google well enough. I will never buy a front loader again, and probably never buy a Kenmore product from Sears.

However, I will try your suggestion of the drain hose. That is something that no one ever suggested.

Extremely disappointed.......

Comment #2

posted on Apr 20, 2008

Stormy Hawke
By Apprentice Stormy Hawke
Rank: Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes

With only two fairly clean adults in the house, I use the front loading Kenmore only a few times a month. I had irremovable dirt streaks on whites which I finally found were being deposited from scummy build-up inside the bellows seal. I also have to use a syringe to remove at least a 1/3 of a cup of water still standing in the bellows. Leaving the door open does not evaporate this much water. I don't believe that the amount of water used in these machines is enough to acutally clean clothes. I'm planning on replacing this machine with a Fisher Paykel top loader because of the design of the agitator. I also long for the old style of top loader that allowed me to clean the filter myself!

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