Use trisodium phosphate, otherwise known as TSP (1/4 cup per load). It will make your clothes cleaner, and remove the mildew from the seal area that smells.
Next time, don't buy a front loader.
Source: http://elcheapocooks.com
By El Cheapo from Chattanooga, TN
I have an HE LG washer and dryer. About a year ago, my laundry started smelling like vomit. Only way I can describe. We have well water, a softener, and a conditioner that removes the sulphur odor, too.
I use various kinds of detergent, some with "oxy" power, and fabric softener, usually Gain. Sometimes, I use baking soda booster for my whites and towels. But now I've tried vinegar in the rinse, and lately Lysol or Clorox laundry bacteria killer because some friends suggested I've overused detergent and/or fabric softener and I may have buildup on my clothes from that, which in turn can cause bacteria growth.
I just can't get my laundry to smell clean anymore. and yes, sometimes still like vomit, only after they've been dried, not fresh out of the washer. They smell fine out of the washer when wet.
I had a similar problem when we first got our HE washer. The clothes would smell fine until I got them through the dryer. I tried many fixes but the solution for me was to switch to powdered laundry detergent. My understanding was that the excess liquid detergent gets trapped in the washer and causes mildew problems. The powdered detergent washes out better. It is also cheaper. I get the large tub at Costco and it will last me for months.
I believe there is a product that is used to clean out HE washing machines, like Affresh or Smelly Washer. I might try using that before switching over. And you could see if there is a reservoir somewhere in your washer that needs to be emptied. Look for the user's manual for your specific LG washer which should give you directions for emptying.
Good luck!
Normally when this happens there is a problem in the washing machine called Butyric Acid. This can stay in your clothes and when dried will give you the smell you are talking about. There are a few things you can try. If you can get to the back or the pump on the machine try cleaning this one out.
Now do a boil wash on the machine that only uses a bottle of vinegar and the hottest water you can to run through the washing machine.
If you are having an issue with the pump and to get this cleaned out a box of bicarb should do the trick on this one. You will give it a hot wash with the box of bicarb to flush out and clean out the machine.
I just got a front loader from a friend, but they obviously used a lot of heavy fragrance detergents and probably used more in each wash than necessary. Anyway, after getting rid of the mildew smell, I still cannot rid this machine of the heavy fragrance. I have used, vinegar, vinegar w/baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide w/baking soda, and lemon juice all in as hot a load as this machine will run and still - the heavy fragrance persists. (I've run a total of 8 empty cycles up to this point). I manually cleaned the soap dispenser and the door seal so that they are spotless. I think that there is actually a buildup of detergent stuck to the outer tub which of course I cannot get to. What can I use to rid this machine of the fragrance? (Also this machine does not have a filter so there isn't one to change or clean.)
I use Affresh tablets for the top loader and it works great.
I was told that just running bleach through a wash cycle would work also.
Have you tried leaving the door open for a day or two to allow it to dry out? When I'm done for the day with the washing machine, I always leave the door cracked just so the machine can air dry all night long.
Sometimes if too much soap has been used in the washes, the soap residue will cause a build up which retains odors too.
If your machine has this odor then most likely anything you wash will also have this "smell". This odor problem is the most widely reason so many people dislike their HE washers.
Here is a site that kinda explains why a front load washer "smells".
Front loading washers have had a lot of bad press about developing foul odors. There are many suggestions for how to prevent and/or remove them. This page suggests that cleaning the filter will help prevent a smelly front loading washer.
I read that you can use up to 6 cups of bleach to clean your front loader washing machine on the sanitize cycle. Would any damage happen if you accidentally used ammonia?
Any suggestions as to what I can do to correct this problem. Would you recommend putting it on pure cycle? it is a Samsung.Rinse the machine well. It won't harm the machine, but can harm your lungs and can harm your lungs and the machine if it mixes with bleach. Run a couple of empty cycles thru it to get rid of all ammonia before you use it again for laundry, so that there will be no reside to react with bleach or products containing chlorine. Ammonia should never be used with steam. I have run an ambulance call before where the party inhaled it to the point they had burns inside their mouth, throat and lungs.
My front loading washing machine has black mold. I have COPD and cannot use Clorox. Is white vinegar and baking soda a black mold cleaner?
By Mary
Is there a piece of cloth in the actual filter or is it just mesh on the holes?
By Mike
I have changed deodorants a couple of times thinking the musty smell was my body. Lo and behold! I bet anything it's the buildup from my LG front loader washer. Any suggestions? I've tried bleach on the "clean cycle" and also, vinegar on the "clean cycle". Nothing is helping. I have always left my door ajar per, the Home Depot salesman when we purchased the washer and dryer 5 yrs ago. This odor in our clothes has got to go.
By Glenda R.
I found that using powdered soap caused a build up in the washer creating this odor. Using the hd soap can sometimes stop this problem. They also make tablets you can purchase that will help resolve this problem. I solved mine by running an empty load(with detergent) on the hottest water setting with 1 cup white vinegar and a hand full of backing soda in the washer. I also leave the door open between loads. You can also combat some of this problem by adding white vinegar in your fabric softener spot for your load of laundry. I especially do this for towels. It doesn't make your clothes smell like vinegar.
If your front loading washing machine smells a bit musty or has black mould growing on the door seal, simply use oil of cloves to freshen it up. I make up a 500ml bottle of water in a spray bottle and add 1/4 teaspoon oil of cloves.
I've got a front loading LG washer and what I do is pour bleach in the liquid bleach hole, run your washer on the hottest setting, or if you have one, on the clean tub setting.
