I have a residual mildew odor from my washing machine??

My daughter's front loader did the same thing, and she cleaned it with a bleach and water solution, then rinsed with water. we were told that you have to keep the door open to keep it from molding and mildewing.

Towel mildew odor is transferred from the washer to towels and clothes. The washer must be cleaned first. After cleaning the washer and towels washing habits must change to stop mold smell from returning.

Washing machine mold / mildew is caused by:
#1 cause is overuse of detergents. Detergent companies are notorious for instructing to use too much detergent. Especially with soft water or when using liquid detergent no more than 1 tbsp of any detergent should be used.
#2 most common cause is using fabric softener because it's dispensed in the rinse cycle and will coat the inside of the outer tub with residue that is a food source for mold to grow.
#3 using only cold water for washing is fine but makes preventative maintenance very important. A weekly hot soak will dissolve odor-causing residue from inside your washer.
#4 not using the washer. If the clothes washer isn't used very often maintenance is especially important. If leaving for a vacation it's a good idea to clean your washer. Do a search to "remove washer odor" to read just how big the problem is. There are all natural washer cleaners that will also remove mildew odor from towels and clothing after the washer has been cleaned.

Towel mildew smell is being transferred from the washer. The washer must be cleaned first. The problem is not "brand specific" all clothes washers have mold growth to a certain degree. Bleach or vinegar will kill the mold inside your washer but won't remove it or the residue it grows on thereby making the situation worse because it leaves a "base" for more detergent to collect on and more mold will grow.

Washing machine mold / mildew odor is caused by:
#1 cause is overuse of detergents. Detergent companies are notorious for instructing to use too much detergent. Especially with soft water or when using liquid detergent no more than 1 tbsp of any detergent should be used.
#2 most common cause is using fabric softener because it's dispensed in the rinse cycle and will coat the inside of the outer tub with residue that is a food source for mold to grow.
#3 using only cold water for washing is fine but makes preventative maintenance very important. A weekly hot soak will dissolve odor-causing residue from inside your washer.
#4 not using the washer. If the clothes washer isn't used very often maintenance is especially important. If leaving for a vacation it's a good idea to clean your washer. Do a search to "remove washer odor" to read just how big the problem is. There are all natural washer cleaners that will also remove mildew odor from towels and clothing after the washer has been cleaned.

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.



Thanks for using FixYa - a 4 THUMBS rating is appreciated for answering your FREE question.

The following link explains how to minimize wash tub odor, and what generally can cause it:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r513372-front_loader_mildew_odor

I personally own one of these washers and have followed this same regiment since I purchased it new 9 years ago. I have never had a mildew or odor problem. Consumers that are not in the habit of using hot water very often will also run into odor and mildew problems, because detergent alone does not always kill bacteria. It is recommended that you run a "Clean Cycle" from time to time, to sanitize. Some newer models have a clean cycle added on the control panel.

NOTE: It is normal to have residual water in the drain lines and in the drain pump. If you need to clean, or check the drain pump, please follow the advice in this next link:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r385845-checking_drain_pump_in_whirlpool_duet

Debris caught in the drain pump reservoir can often cause some unwanted odors.

If the rubber door bellow develops mildew and mold, use a non abrasive pad (the little green pads are considered non-abrasive) and scrub the rubber with bleach diluted with water (50/50 mix). This will often kill and remove unwanted mold and mildew. If the door bellow becomes embedded with mold or mildew, it may have to be replaced in order to get rid of it.

If you establish and maintain a diligent routine, these washers will not mold or smell. Often what seems to be a dream appliance that is supposed to make your life easier, may actually require more attention in order to maintain it properly.

If you have questions or comments, please let me know. I hope this helps you.

I found that WasherFresh worked better then the Affresh.  What I really did not like is you cannot touch the Affresh tablets, WasherFresh is contained in a pouch and is not harmful to touch, because of the disolving pouch containing the chemicals.  Also after reading the package the chemicals are not harmful to the environment.
WasherFresh removed the odor causing buildup and I now use it monthly as a preventive maintenance.

The following link provides guidance on how to maintain a front loader to keep the mold, mildew and odor away:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r513372-front_loader_mildew_odor

These are recommendations provided by the manufacturer. Most important of all, keep the rubber bellow clean and clear of debris and make sure you leave the door slightly open when not in use. This will minimize the build up of any mold or mildew and allow the tub to air out. The odor typically comes from the the residual water that stays in the wash tub under the basket and small articles of clothing getting stuck in the rubber folds of the door bellow. (I once found 17 socks stuck in a customer's washer and they wondered why it smelled so bad). NOTE: It is NORMAL to have residual water in the wash tub. If you do not routinely use a hot water setting, run the washer on a sanitary cycle about once a week, or so, with a small amount of bleach to get rid of any bacteria. Since some users conserve and only wash in cold water, they do not bacteria get rid of any bacteria inside the wash tub. I personally own one of these washers and have never had any odor or mildew problems in 8 years by following this simple advice. If you have any further questions/concerns please let me know. I hope this helps you.

Meoser,
I've been selling the only available all natural washing machine and towel mold and mildew remover online at smellywasher.com since 2006.
It's now also available at Ace, Tru Value, Hardware Hank and Do It Best hardware stores. One bottle provides 24 treatments and guarantees to remove mold, mildew, or any odor from your washer. After the washer is cleaned it also safely and easily gets rid of the mildew smell from any towel or clothing that the odor has transferred to.
The dark, moist environment of your clothes washer is the perfect place for mold and bacteria to grow. See: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5408971n
We can't change that environment but we can stop the food source for them to grow buy reducing the amount of detergent used and stopping fabric softener use. Go to the blog page at smellywasher.com to read advice on the cause of and cure for washing machine and towel odor.