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
My father was admitted to an aged care facility recently and I pick his washing up every other day, some of which is soiled. I soak the soiled things and then put everything in my front loader. I am worried about cross contamination/infection. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about what I could do to prevent this as I use the machine for my own washing, it needs to be something simple and inexpensive. Thanks in advance.
run it through with hotest water and 1 cup clorox and just a bit of detergent with highest water level that will kill any germs inside the basin or in the drainage tubes. do this each time each time after you know you washed items prior that were soiled.
I have a front load washing machine and on the rim when you open the door, it gets moldy. I never saw such a thing on the regular top load machines.
How do I remove and prevent the recurring of the mildew and smell that has formed in the fold of the rubber seal around my front load washing machine door? I am on a septic system and therefore cannot use bleach.
By Diana from Sequim, WA
How to clean mold from a front load washing machine?
I have a Sears Kenmore HE4T washing machine. How do I remove the gasket (for cleaning). Is there a filter, and if so, how do I remove it for cleaning?
By Greg
I have a front loading washer and after each cycle is finished, I can spin the tub and hear water sloshing.
I wash urine absorbing pads and I can never rid the washer of the smell. I can do twenty empty loads with various odor reducing chemicals and nothing helps. I've tried everything short of tossing it out the door? Do all front loaders retain water under the tub?
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.
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 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.
Is there a piece of cloth in the actual filter or is it just mesh on the holes?
By Mike
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
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.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.
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".
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!
