Should I leave my washer door open to reduce odor?

Good Morning Friend,

I understand you have an odor in your Frigidaire Affinity washer, model# ATF7000E. Please try cleaning the inside of your washer by trying the following:

• Before cleaning the washer interior, unplug the electrical power cord to avoid electrical shock hazards.
• Dry around the washer door opening, flexible gasket, and door glass. These areas should always be clean to ensure a water tight seal.
• When extremely soiled items have been washed, a dirty residue may remain on the drum. Remove this by wiping the drum with a nonabrasive household cleanser. Rinse thoroughly with water.
• The plastic drum vanes may become stained from fabric dye. Clean these parts with a nonabrasive household cleanser. This prevents dye transfer to future loads.


To prevent the odor from coming back please try the following:

• Remove items from the washer as soon as the cycle ends. Excess wrinkling, color transfer, and odors may develop in items left in the washer.
• Periodically, wipe dry the bottom of the flexible gasket to remove lint and other debris.
• If there are no small children present, leave the door ajar to prevent odor build up and to improve venting of the unit.


I ask that you please follow up with a comment on the post, at your convenience, to advise if further troubleshooting is needed or if your appliances status has changed successfully. Hope this is helpful.

-Best Regards-
WP

If it is inside, it is probably mold growing. Front loaders are much more susceptible to mold growth as they seal up tighter, and we all tend to keep the door closed when it is not in use.
Clean the inner door and bellows surfaces with a 50/50 bleach/water solution, applying liberally, and dump the rest into the tub of the washer. Add 1 more cup of bleach to the tub. Fill all of the dispenser cups with bleach. Run the hottest , longest cycle available with the hottest rinse cycle available. For us, it is the "sanitary" cycle. Run a normal cycle immediately thereafter to flush out residual bleach, and leave the door open. The cleaning along with the air drying will keep the mold from growing, and reduce the odors that these machines are famous for. Leave the door open between loads.

Best regards, --W/D--

Usually when black mold begins to appear on these rubber door bellows, and cleaning does not remove it, you need to replace the bellow. Once the mold becomes imbedded in the rubber, it generally will not come off.


The following link explains step-by-step how to change the door bellow on a Whirlpool Duet series front loader:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3574186-installing_a_door_bellow_on_a_front_load


Replacement parts can be purchased at any of the following web sites:

searspartsdirect.com
pcappliancerepair.com
appliancepartspros.com
repairclinic.com

I have found these sites to be reputable and provide great service. Prices differ between them, so shop and compare. The first three sites I've listed have helpful exploded view parts illustrations to assist you with locating and properly identifying the parts you may need.

This problem IS common, and has been duly noted by the manufacturers. That's why they have have recommended that you leave the washer door OPEN between washes to allow the drum to air out. The following link explains some of the common causes of front loader washer odors, mildew problems, mold problems and how to minimize or prevent them from coming back:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3608512-getting_rid_front_loader_mildew_odor

The number one cause, is associated with leaving the washer door shut all the time. The manufacturer recommends that you leave the door OPEN between washes to allow the wash tub to air out. This can prevent the build up of mold and mildew and will also minimize any odors that may develop. In addition, the constant applied pressure from the glass door being closed can cause the bellow to become stretched and mishapened. Over time, it will fail to properly seal and begin to leak

Also, there is ALWAYS residual water remaining in the drain pump and drain lines. This is NORMAL. Since this is the low point of the drainage system, water will always stay in this area. Leaving the door open will allow the washer to air out and prevent this water from becoming stagnant. In addition, the drain pump reservoir can collect dirt and debris over time. Periodically checking the reservoir will minimize odors. There is a follow on link provided that explains how to access and clean the drain pump.

Only use HE detergent. Using the wrong type of deteregent, or too much detergent can cause the build up of soap scum. Soap scum can also contribute to odor problems. Using regular detergent in these High Efficiency washers will also void any existing warranty you may have.

Read through the links provided and let me know if you have any questions. If the link does not take you directly to the instructions I provided, copy and paste the link to your web browser. I hope you find this information helpful.

www.affresh.com this product has been devoeloped to lessen front loader odors. you NEED to be using an HE detergent. low sudsing ans specifically design for use with front loading washers.

Mildew odor in towels in almost invariably being transferred from the washing machine. The clothes washer must be cleaned first then clean the smelly towels and laundry. To compare washer cleaners watch this video of Affresh and Smelly Washer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua6OJPn0-fU