Mold is caught in rubber ring. Clothes smell like mildew or mold if left in for any length ot time after washing.

Hi,
Here is a tip that I wrote about front load washers and the smells that seem to go along with them....

Stop Washing Machine Smell, Mold, and Mildew
http://www.fixya.com/support/r3993813-stop_washing_machine_smell_mold_mildew

heatman101

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.

this sounds like you keep your washer's lid closed when you aren't using it. The water that stays in the tub ( it doesn't drain all the way, no matter how hard you want it to ) will become stagnant and then mold up. That will be the source of the mildew smell. If you want to clean it completely, you need to disassemble it and clean it by hand as there are no methods that I know of to clean it with any cycles on the machine :( Sorry

You need to keep the washer's lid open when it's not being used to prevent this in the future

Joe

Look inside the door to the gray rubber ring gasket thingy. Pull apart the sides and look in. Betcha a dollar to a donut there's mold in there. It's a gross, nasty problem whirlpool customer service doesn't give a damn about.That's where water sets after wash cycles. There are tablets call "Affresh" which can be run with hot water for a cycle to attempt to clean out the mold/mildew. Not cheap, not fair, and probably will only be a start to a maintenance type cure if you've had the washer for awhile. May take some manual labor with bleach as well. NOT a sanitary washer. This is an unbelieveable problem with a washer. Piece of ****.

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.!!!!

Front load washers are notorious for developing mold/mildew to build up because they retain a lot of moisture in the round gasket the door closes into. Wash it down with a 50:50 soulution of bleach and water. You may have to use a brush on the "hard" stuff. Occasionally, run a quick load with no clothes and just bleach through a complete cycle in the washer. After a heavy day's washinh, leave the door open a little to help dry it ou.

This happens when you keep the door shut. Run an empty load with extra chlorine bleach to kill the mold spores. Keep the door open to prevent mold or mildew from growing again.

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.

Hello billpmm,

You are not alone with this problem. Seems that that everyone of the front loader washers exhibit similar characteristics .. the short story is that in order for a washing machine to be a front loader, they need to be water tight .. being water tight, they are also air tight and herein lies the problem.. any water left over from a wash cycle will sit in gaskets , nooks and crannies and eventually develop mold or mildew.. here is a link to product you may find that solves your problem
http://www.smellywasher.com/

or.. you can use the AFRESH tablets sold in Home Depot and other home improvement stores.. in either case.. these products will help rid that musty mold out of your washer..

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.*&^%4