Why does my LG top load washer have mold in the detergent area?

Saturate an old cloth with white vinegar. Alternatively, you might use petroleum jelly on the cloth to remove the mold.Pull the gasket out gently with your hands to reveal the mold and mildew buildup inside the folds of the gasket.Wipe the mold away from the gasket with the cloth. Continue working to wipe away all mold from the folds of the rubber gasket.Dry the folds of the gasket with a dry cloth when you finish removing the mold.Repeat this procedure at least once per month to prevent mold and mildew from forming. If you notice mold occurring more frequently, clean it off when you see it.

Tips for Preventing Mold & Smelly Problems:

• Always leave the door and dispenser unit slightly ajar after the laundry is done. Front-load washers and the detergent/softener dispenser drawer must dry out.
• Never leave a wet washload in the washer overnight; remove it when the washing cycle is complete and leave the door open.
• After a load is done, always rotate the drum with your hand to see and remove all items. Some could be sticking to top or sides of the washer drum.
• Use softener sheets in the dryer instead of liquid softeners in the washer.
• Liquid detergents may leave less residue than powdered formulas which may not dissolve properly.
• Use less than the recommended detergent level for your load. Too much detergent can cause a residue build up. Experiment until you find a minimum measurement that delivers a clean wash. This is also a money saver.
• Occasionally wash some loads such as whites, linen and towels in warm or hot water to help flush out wash residue.
• Always clean your washer as per your product manual. High efficiency front-load models have a cleaning cycle and it's imperative that you periodically run this cycle as directed.
• Check the gasket just inside the door opening and remove any visible debris. You can also wipe it to speed the drying process.
• Always use HE detergents with high efficiency front-load washers. Specially marked HE laundry detergent is low sudsing and is recommended for these low-water washers.
• If this advice was helpful a vote with the thumbs up would be appreciated. Thanks.

Have you tried cleaning your washer? I had a similar problem before and it is mostly caused by my brand of powder detergent. Detergent residues somehow confuses the functions of the system. I switched to an HE liquid detergent.

You can try cleaning your washer. Run an empty hot water cycle and add one cup of distilled white vinegar. It will help dissolve detergent residues as well as molds and mildew.

Source: http://www.washingmachineadvisor.com

The moldy odor in this front loading washer (and most other front loaders, too) and the clothes washed in ti is due to the way the washer are built. There's almost always some water that doesn't get pumped out all the way. The water along with detergent residue left inside the machine is the perfect combination for mold growth between wash days.

First stop feeding mold. Stop using "regular" detergent in it. By regular, I mean anything that isn't an "HE" type. You've got to use the types designated as "HE" (High Efficiency). They suds up a lot less, and due to the significantly less water our front loaders use, actually leave less soap residue (that is a large source of the mold and musty smell) behind the tub of front loading machines. I use only about 1/2 of the HE detergent recommended on the bottle and get very good results.

Second, kill off existing mold. Run a clothes-less wash consisting of bleach and HOT water only 1 X week. This should be the last load run whenever the machine will be idle for a couple days or more.

Third, always wipe dry the inside of the tub, detergent & softener dispensing areas, the gasket around the door - particularly the bottom. Again, this is best after the last load is complete.

Fourth, leave all doors open or slightly ajar to allow for air circulation.






Some products that are designed to rid odors from your washer.


Finally, to remove the existing mold smell from the machine, one or two initial treatments (followed by regular treatments) of a product called "Affresh" (or equal) as directed. Some people have good luck with vinegar, too.

I hope this helps and good luck! Please rate my reply - thank you.

you would need to take out the whole drum assm....in other words you will need to dismantle the whole unit.....first thing first get lysol aerosol spray and spray around were there is mold.....i would take the unit outside and then spray it.....becuase once the mold have been disturbed it will find another place to live on......next u will need to use front load HE detergent......when you wash your laundry....start with the cold water clothes first then the last loads use hot water so it will wash clothes and disinfect at the same times...
lastly after all luandry have been washed ........open washer door over night so it can air out.......if not opening it at all the water and detergent that sits over night can cuase mold buildup and foul odors.....the gaskets are air tight and can not evaporate when door is closed.....
if your house has a/c i would put a fan in front of the washer over night..............

a feed back would be good if this helps anybody.....
my opinion........
the older top load washers are better..............

Hi,
Mold growth is a common problem due to tight seals and poor drainage.
Pull back the rubber or plastic around the tub or basin to reveal the problem. You should also check your detergent dispenser as this is another common area for mold growth. Remove any visible mold. You can use a solution of water and dish detergent or bleach (1 part bleach to 10 parts water). You could also use bleach wipes to do this depending on how stubborn the mold is.
Because of the set-up of the washer, mold can also tend to grow in pipes, traps, and outside the drum where you can't see it.
You can run an empty load on the hottest water setting with 1 cup or more of bleach. Run an empty load on the hottest water setting with 1 cup or more of vinegar. Use a product designed to attack build-up from detergents and fabric softeners. Call a repair man to service the parts of the machine you can't see or attempt to do it yourself
However Mold needs moisture to grow. Leave your washer door and detergent dispenser cover open in between loads to allow for complete drying. This will dramatically decrease or eliminate the problem.
2. clean the machine monthly to stay away from the problem.
3. Switch to powder and/or low-sudsing detergent.


Let us know if you need further clarification else please accept the solution.
Thanks for contacting fixya.com

Use some detergent plus baking soda and mix it in with the water--rub it around (with an old toothbrush) to loosen the mold. Let sit for a while, then wipe water, mold, and cleaner away. Finally, rinse with clean water and wipe dry. Leave the door ajar to air out after each wash. It will help to remove the standing water each time. Don't poke a hole in the seal to drain the water out, because water will then run out of the bottom of the washer.

The brand of your front loader is not that material on this issue. What is happening is that your old top load washer may have used as much as 45 gallons of water per cycle, while some front loaders use as little as 12. Because of the low water use, you must cut back on the additives you are using. Use only 1 tablespoon of HE detergent (even less if 2x or 3x detergent) per load. If you use fabric softener, use only 1 teaspoon per load. Odor on clothes after wash is indicating that the detergent and or softener has not been fully rinsed out. If you throw a load of washed towels into your machine and start a cycle without any soap, then stop the cycle, you should not see any suds. If you do, there is obviously soap left in the clothes. With bath towels, the towels are used to absorb clean water off a clean body. They do not need soap when you wash them, and never use fabric softener on towels.
If your washer is a LG WM-1832 it has a assessable filter behind the access door on the lower left front of the machine. Clean that out first, and if it has a tub clean or sanitary cycle use that cycle (if not, use hottest longest cycle available) with 3 Affresh tablets or use whirlaway to clean out the washer outer tub (the not visible tub that holds the water). You might want to use another cycle like that with bleach to head off mold or mildew growth. Use of proper amount of detergent and fabric softener should really help the clothes odor issue from then on. Also check the tub seal at the bottom of the door area to clean out any lint from drain hole areas to help prevent water from remaining in the tub seal area.

The mold problem is from too much detergent usage.  Manufacturers recommend only 2 tablespoons of detergent per wash to avoid any mold issues.  It may not say it in the owners manual but it is from the manufacturers themselves.

The front door seal stays moist an will grow mold. The mold smells and must be removed from the seal. To remove the mold you will need to remove by manipulating the seal to get under it. The mold will stink up you towels and other fabrics that have much of a pile to them. I have run my laundry with an oxygen sanitizer that I use to clean beer brewing equipment. This is the only thing that gets the smell out. Sears has a service flash on this but no solution. You might try leaving the door open so the seal can dry.