Is Your Front End Washer Making Your Clothes Mildew
Find Out Why Your Laundry Smells
I called the front end washing machine manufacturer and the representative didn't do much in the way of helping me resolve this issue. More than anything he tried to persuade me to buy not only a new front end washing machine but also to just buy a whole new set; the washer AND the dryer. I have only had the set for about a year, so, I knew that wasn't going to happen.
I tried running a wash cycle with no clothes, just water and bleach, and that didn't alleviate the problem. I also tried making sure that I got the wet clothes out of the dryer as soon as the cycle was complete. That didn't seem to help either. It wasn't until I had an epiphany of sorts that realized what the problem may be.
Every month or so my husband would pull out the dryer and remove any lint that had been trapped in the hosing. I thought to myself, I wonder if a build up is what is causing the foul smell to my front end washing machine. So, after so begging and prodding to make DH get off the couch, turn off the Wii, and come in the laundry room to do it, we found the mildew culprit.
If you are having this same problem; mildewed clothes and mildew smell from your front end washer you should try this.
1. If you look under the door there is a part of the machine that is held on by 3 screws at the bottom of the washer. My GE front end washer has the drawers at the bottom. Pull out the drawer and unscrew it. You will see where the three screws are holding it into place.
2. After you have removed the drawer you will find a kind of circular piece that has a handle on it. Turn the handle and pull out.
3. After you have finished gagging you will notice that the smell is coming from large chunks of lint, hair, pennies, receipts, etc.
The hose was so clogged up that I almost had to leave the room while my poor ole hubby pulled out stinky glob after stinky glob. Of course dear husband taught me how to do this myself next time. But, I politely declined and now he checks this each time each cleans out the dryer hoses.
Some other tips that I have found to reduce smells is to of course remove your clean laundry from the front end washer as soon as the cycle is done and to also leave the door to the front end washer open when not in use. If you have a laundry room that is closed off from sight this is feasible. If your front end washer is in plain sight, maybe keeping it open when company or small children isn't around will work for you.
Trust me, if your clothes are mildewed for unknown reasons, you may want to try the above out. You will be amazed at what you might find in the hoses of your front end washer.
If you have a front end washer not made by GE I can only imagine that the techniques described above are roughly the same. Check your front end washing machine owner's manual to find out how to perform this on your brand/model of washer.
Published by LDP
Freelance writing View profile
- Consumer Product Information: Kenmore 44102 Front Load WasherThe Kenmore 44102 is at the beginning of front load washers. Find out if the cost savings is worth buying the energy efficient front loading washer. Read an unbiased review before you make a purchase.
Bosch Nexxt Series Front Load Washers Searching for an efficient front load washer that you can afford? Bosch Nexxt offers a series of washers in a variety of price ranges and styles.
General Electric's HydroWave Washing Machine: A ReviewThis GE washer cleans clothes very well! For only $249.95, my "scratch-and-dent" unit's a real "steal"! Even at regular price ($369.00) it'd still seem worth it, but I'll reserv...- Why I Don't Own a Front-Loading Washer: A Tongue-in-Cheek DiatribeFront-loaders are as "un-American" as cricket and kidney pie!
- Everything You Need to Know About High Efficiency (HE), Front-Load Washing MachinesCompared to top-style loaders, the newer front-load models save you money in energy, water, and detergent costs and get clothes cleaner while treating them gentler.
- Noisy Clothes Washer?
- GE Spacemaker Washer and Dryer Electric Laundry Center Review
- All Small & Mighty Free Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent Versus Tide Free Liquid Lau...
- Tide Laundry Detergent Vs. All Laundry Detergent
- Review of Arm & Hammer Essentials Laundry Detergent and Fabric Softening Sheets
- Product Review: The Kenmore HE2 3.5 Cu. Ft. Super Capacity Front Loader Washer
- Natural Laundry Solutions
- Prevent stinky laundry
- Front Loader Washing Machines
- Mildewed Laundry
8 Comments
Post a CommentMost amazing to me is the fact that this relatively simple procedure is completely left out of the manual or any troubleshooting procedures on the manufacturers' websites. I was ready to drop big bucks on a service call before I found the trap. They must make a LOT of money charging people for this service.
Great to know I am not alone....I haven't had a fresh towel since right after the thing was bought. I had even purchase detergent by Tyler that was $78 a gallon because I was so desperate. I have kids and their clothes can not smell. It helped a little but not enough. I want my old reliable back.
Most FL washers use aluminium spiders. Aluminium is corroded when imersed in an aqueous solution with a Ph value above about 8.0 (alkaline) and below about 4.0 (acid) most laundry aids, including HE detergent, have a pH above 8.0 bleach, in my view being the worst, therefore normal household laundry pracices lead to corrosion of these aluminiun spiders. The products of this corrosion harbour stagnant water containing traces of laundry aid and soil which leads to mold and mildew forming, hence one source of the smells.
Additionally some of these spiders have recesses close tothe hub which retain soiled water even after a fast spin again leading to the formation of mold and/or mildew with consequent foul odours.
Changing brands likely will not help.
I have had the same problem with smelly clothes and the terrible order in my GE FL washer. I have the extended service plan and have contacted GE and gotten nowhere. I have done all the maintenance issues to get rid of the smell with no success. GE CONSUMER RELATIONS SAY THIS IS NOT A DEFECT BECAUSE THE WASHING MACHINE STILL CYCLES THROUGH. They do not consider the mold smell to be a design defect. HOWEVER, I have found a website that is looking for people that have this same issue for possible litigation. GE refuses to take responsibilty for a design flaw and its up to us to resolve this. As a united front, maybe we can have this issue resolved.
Im attaching the link if anyone is interested.
http://chimicles.com/case/ge-front-load-washer-potential
Thank you sooooo much!!! We've noticed our towels smelling for several months from our Kenmore washer and had no idea what was causing it. My DH just cleaned out the "trap" and found pens, pennies, etc...what a mess! Thanks for the fix!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
we've noticed a slight smell for a while... sudenly horrible is an understatment!...
Relativly new GE front end, removed the 3 screws... found a big white screwplug... unplugged it, and wow... the stuff I found ina little trap/screen thing amazed me....
thank you again for this article!....
wow I really didn't know what was causing the smell. Thank you , now I have to go gag and clean mine out.
AHA! I thought I was "hallucinating" this smell in my mother's relatively new LG front-load washer. Or, I thought it was the special laundry detergent building up. Great, informative article!