The washing machine smells terrible. I have cleaned every trap and filter as well as the detergent compartment regularly. I clean, dry and leave the door open after each use. I researched the problem on-line and have tried the commercial solutions. I have never had such a problem with my maytag top loader. My daughter in law has a front loader (not Asko) and has never had a smell problem. I am really regreting purchasing this expensive machine. Do you have any solution? My machine is WL6511XXLW

How to Remove Mold and Mildew from Front Load Washing Machines Today...

How to Remove Mold and Mildew from Front-Load Washing Machines

Front-load washing machines are notorious for collecting mold.
I've had my front-loading washing machine for about four years, and it has some great advantages - it's quiet, fast, uses less water and detergent, and gently tumbles (rather than yanking) my clothes. In general, I've been so pleased with it that I was shocked one day when I opened the door and was nearly knocked unconscious by a fetid blast of moldy-smelling air!
How could a machine that's so wonderful, suddenly turn so horribly smelly?

Gaskets hold moisture.
The answer is in the way the machine is designed. Front-loading washing machines have watertight, airtight doors that seal with a rubber gasket. That rubber seal traps moisture in the machine and also provides the perfect nooks and crannies for mold and mildew to grow.
Top-loading washing machines, on the other hand, have a rather loose fitting metal door that easily allows the tank to dry out between loads.
The problem isn't helped by our laundry preferences. High sudsing detergents and liquid fabric softeners leave behind residues and films that invite mold growth. Cold-water cycles and mild, eco-friendly detergents don't quite blast away residues like their environmentally-unfriendly counterparts.
So, to keep mold at bay, front-load washers need just a bit more maintenance than top-loading machines.

How to Get Rid of Mold and Smells in Top-Load Washers

If you've got a stinky front-load washing machine, here's how to get it smelling fresh again:

Cleaning gasket on washer.

• Clean Gasket: Use a rag or towel to clean the rubber door gasket on a front-loading washer with either hot soapy water or a spritz of mildew cleaner. Make sure to wipe underneath and around it as well. Be prepared for some slime and gunk, and possibly a stray sock or two!
• Clean Dispensers: Remove the detergent dispensers and give them a good scrubbing. If they don't come out, clean them as best you can, using a bottle or pipe cleaner to reach back into the crevices.
• Run Cleaning Cycle: Next, run an empty wash cycle on the longest, hottest water setting (or a tub-cleaning cycle, if you have it). Add one of the following directly to the wash tub:
  • 1 cup of bleach.
  • 1 cup of baking soda.
  • 1/2 cup of powdered enzymatic dishwasher detergent (such asCascade Complete).
  • A commercial residue-busting washer cleaner (such as Affresh orSmelly Washer).
  Commercial cleaning pellets.
  
• Repeat Cleaning Cycle: If the problem persists, repeat the cleaning cycle and consider trying a different additive. It might take several cycles to get the smell out.
• Professional Help: If you've tried every way to clean your front-load washer and it still smells, you may have mold growing back behind the drum, or possibly a clogged drain or filter. A qualified repair person can dismantle the machine and clean it for you, or you can unplug the machine and carefully explore and clean it yourself.

Preventative Maintenance

Once your machine is clean, follow these tips to keep it that way:

Allow washer tub to dry.

• Air It Out: If possible, leave the door of the front-load washer cracked open to allow it to dry thoroughly between cycles. However, you shouldn't do this if you have children or pets who could be tempted to climb (and possibly become trapped) inside the machine.
• Remove Loads Promptly: Be sure to remove wet clothes as soon as the cycle is finished. Set your washer to beep when it's done, so you don't forget.
• Choose Detergent Wisely: Choose low-sudsing detergents specifically made for high-efficiency (HE) machines. When possible, choose powder over liquid; liquid detergents are usually higher in suds.
Clean washer dispensers.

• Use Less Detergent: Read the labels and use no more than the amount recommended for each load. Experiment with using less detergent, until you find the minimum amount necessary (sometimes just a spoonful) to get your clothes clean.
• Avoid Fabric Softener: Liquid fabric softeners leave residue that contributes to mold in front-load washers. Instead, use dryer sheets or dryer balls to soften your clothes.
• Dry Gaskets: Use an old towel to wipe around and underneath the door gaskets and the inside of the door on front-loading washers. Ideally, you should so this after every cycle, but at the very least it needs a periodic wipe down to remove any water or mildew trapped in the folds.
• Use Bleach: About once a month, run a hot water bleach cycle. I usually take the opportunity to throw in work towels, fabric shower curtains, and muddy gardening clothes, along with that nasty gasket-cleaning towel.

Good Luck

First i hope you have cleaned out your filter. For the smell: Switch from liquid to powder detergent, no fabric softner, not necessary. Clean the big gasket with detergent and run a half load (without clothes of course) very hot cycle with 2 cups of vinegar only. Leave the door open whenever possible. This helps in drying out your washer and preventing mildew. Shut your wall water valve after your wash


Click helped if really helped.

The cleaning process for your Maytag Neptune front-loading washer, for example, requires some time and patience. Over time, your washing machine will need to be cleaned. It can develop offensive odors through multiple wash cycles. This makes the washing machine less effective at cleaning the clothes you put into it. Maytag offers some sound advice for cleaning your front-loading washing machine.

Pour 2/3 cup of liquid chlorine bleach into the bleach compartment of the dispenser drawer of your Maytag Neptune front-loading washer.

2

Run your Maytag Neptune front-loading washer on the "Clean Washer" setting. Press "Start" to start the cycle.

3

Leave the door open once the cycle is complete to allow the inside of your Maytag Neptune front-loading washer to ventilate and air dry.

4

Look closely at the gray seal of the Maytag Neptune front-loading washer's door opening. This seal can have a buildup of debris or detergent residue.

5

Spray the seal with an all-purpose appliance cleaner and scrub away any debris or residue with a cloth or scrubbing pad. Dry with a clean cloth.

6

Remove the soap dispenser drawer. Press the release lever and lift it out to clean.

7

Take out the inserts and rinse them and the drawer thoroughly.

8

Wash with a mild soap and cloth to remove any residue. Dry thoroughly before replacing.

ALWAYS LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN WHEN NOT IN USE! This prevents the mold and mildew from forming once you get it cleaned.

Clean your machine by using a cotton wash at 85'C without anything in it, and with no detergent.
Also, empty the coin-trap at the bottom left (front of the machine).
Also, remove the detergent drawer, clean by hand. While the drawer is out clean the dispenser area with mildew cleaner.
You can also try using Sodium Metabisulphite (see a homebrew shop). Avoid using bleach as it damages the stainless steel.
In between washes you can leave the inner door slightly ajar to allow it to dry out between washes.

1. Hello. here it is: Use only the proper amount of HE (high-efficiency) detergent in your Duet. Whirlpool has stated that using too much detergent or fabric softener in the Duet can ruin a high-speed spin bearing responsible for spinning the basket. The replacement part is approximately $600. Whirlpool also claims that using too much detergent or softener can cause fungus growth.
   
2. If you have mold and mildew problems with your Duet, check the filter trap. Unplug the washer and remove the three screws in the seam between the door and the bottom panel to remove the bottom panel. The Duet drain pump has a design flaw that leaves about a cup of water in the filter trap under the tub. Clean out that filter with bleach every month or two to eliminate mold problems.
3. Put small items in a mesh bag before washing. There is a good chance they will get lodged in the Duet's filter trap, if you don't. Check the filter trap mentioned in Step 2 monthly to make sure there aren't any small items blocking the filter.
4. Remove your detergent dispenser every month and wash with warm water and bleach to prevent mold buildup. Remove the fungus smell from your washer with Affresh washer cleaner. Always keep the washer door open when not in use.

Clean out the detergent dispenser and the drain trap first

Then

Put a strong solution of washing soda into the machine before you set it away without a load and on a hot wash (Do not put detergent in)

Let the machine do a full cycle and then leave the door open to let it dry out

You may have to do this twice to get rid of the odour

Also try using old fashioned soap powders which contain bleach and soda.

There is a bacteria build up in your machine due to low temperature washing

Make sure there are no leaks from the machine. look behind it and check the water inlet hose and connectors for any damage. Also look under the machine for any water as this may indicate a leak from the internal hose and pipe work and / or water pump. Also check that the outlet hose is completely clear of debris and soap scum build up and check that the filter is clean.

To keep the machine clean of waste build up and to keep any bad odours away
1. Remove all items from the washer.
2. Open the dispenser drawer and 2/3 cup (160 mL) of liquid chlorine bleach to the bleach compartment. DO NOT use more than 2/3 cup (160mL) of bleach per cycle as this will lead to product damage.
3. Close the washer door and dispenser drawer.
4. Select the Clean Washer cycle or a full wash cotton 104 F wash (40 C). DO NOT use any higher temperature as this will cause unnecessary fumes
5. Press Start and allow cycle to complete.
6. After the cycle is complete, leave the door open slightly to allow ventilation and drying of the washer interior.
7. Repeat the cleaning procedure monthly

go to walmart and but these tablets that is suppse to clean out washers i think they should be down in the laundry soap aile

remove the front bottom panel.
there is a trap down there just before the pump. mine was a cylinder with a handle to unscrew the cap/filter.

clean this out every 6 months..

All DW that I know of will have water sitting at the bottom.. it keeps the seal moist..check your drain line make sure its clean and not clog... when your DW goes into drain listen to see if its drainning like it did when you first used it... I'll check back later..