Does your washer, and more importantly everything that gets washed in it, have a foul odor? The most likely culprit is M-O-L-D!! We need to start by saying that this problem is much easier to prevent than fix. Once mold has taken over, it can take a while to eliminate. The good news, however, is that it is possible.
First, let’s discuss why this happens. Front-loading washers are high-efficiency 
(HE), which is excellent! However, since they use less water than traditional top-loading machines, the rinse cycle doesn’t always rinse everything out. Especially if you’re not using the HE soaps, using too much soap, and/or using liquid fabric softeners.
The residue that is sometimes left, creates a friendly environment for mold, which can take over quickly because of all the moisture in the machine. Also, the rubber gasket inside the door has folds and little places where water can linger, causing mold and mildew to build up. You can bet that if you put your nose in there for a sniff, it isn’t going to smell “laundry fresh!”
Okay, so you have a stinky washer…now what? Well, you have a few options. First, there are products on the market, specifically “washing machine cleaners.” We can’t recommend any particular one, but some people have used them with success, and some have not had great results… it may depend on the severity of the problem. Another thing you can try is running an empty cycle with 3 cups of bleach in the hottest water setting and then running another empty cycle with a half gallon of white vinegar, again, in the hottest water! This should produce immediate results. Using hot water helps to dissolve and remove residue. (Many people regularly wash in cold water, which can lead to increased residue again, because of the low water volume in these machines).
If your machine still isn’t completely fresh, you’re going to have to tackle the dreaded rubber gasket! Okay, so it’s not that bad, but you’ll have to get your hands in there to clean it out! Put on your ever-fashionable yellow dishwashing gloves and wipe the gasket with warm water and either diluted bleach, “pine” disinfecting cleaner, or one of the “oxygenating” cleaners. Once you’ve cleaned all the folds, wait about 10 minutes and then wipe it down again with a dry rag to remove the cleaner…after all, keeping it dry will help prevent new mold and mildew!
There are several steps you can take to avoid this unpleasant 
situation. We advise you to leave the door open after use to get air in there to speed up the drying process. Always make sure nothing gets in while airing out. Also, try not to let clean loads sit in the washer for too long… If you can, try to use dryer sheets instead of liquid fabric softeners (again, the residue), wash your “hot” load last, and periodically wipe down the door gasket with a cleaner.
One last thing. Always use high-efficiency detergent! All you need is about 1 tbsp.; Too many suds not only create soap residue in your machine, but can damage it!
Need some help? Fill out the form on our main page, and one of our customer service representatives will contact you to schedule an appointment with a technician.
