Thursday, March 6, 2008

Dear Chore Whore,

My washing machine has a funky odor. It's a front loader if that makes a difference. Please help.

Anonymous

I have heard about this before! This has helped me get over for my desperation for a front loader. I've heard you have to leave the door open between cycles so it doesn't get musty smelling?

I don't know what you're going to do now. You probably have to move.

Yours Truly,

Chore Whore


13 comments:

Carrie @carrieloves said...

Strangely this is a true fact... leaving the door open between loads will keep that funky musty smell at bay.

Also, moving your clean clothes to the dryer ASAP, instead of letting them rot in the washer, will help, too.

:)

Slacker Mama said...

I leave my front loader door slightly ajar for this very reason. Anonymous should check her Owner's Manual...they usually have a cleaning cycle involving bleach that she could do.

Or she could move. If that's too extreme she coudl just get a new washer.

Rebecca said...

Run a load of towels through and add vinegar. Sounds stinky, but it should work. Then leave the door open between washes.

Ami said...

I second the vinegar. I use it with the last cycle (towels) every week, and then leave the door cracked open, and we've never had the musty smell. Just put vinegar in the fabric softener slot.

Misty said...

I just saw a thing on the news about this...that they get moldy.

I say just move. :)

SWAW Samantha said...

Front loaders SUCK!!!

Not only do they get stinky (mine doesn't though-- I leave the door open), but they also eat clothing.

Mine has put burn marks on my fave sweatshirt (partially my fault because I overstuffed it). It also has sucked up socks (ADULT socks) and cloth wipes (remember I'm crunchtastic) into the pump which costs $75 to fix (however DH now has learned how to fix it on his own thank goodness).

It is a sucky, overly expensive machine of death.

Maddness of Me said...

Front loaders do not suck (but not all front loaders are created equal). It seems like common sense to me (with all that grooved rubber around the door) but you have to leave the door open when not in use. And, move the wet clothes out asap. I have never had the odor with mine. I was planning to but never have cleaned the rubber area every once and a while with Mr. Clean - just because I have heard so much bitching about the odor thing. Leaving the door open has done the trick.

queenstella said...

When is a door not a door? When it's ajar! One of my favorite jokes ever. Carry on.

Fluffy Windover said...

Ugh, yes, we have the stanky front-loader. Ours is a Frigidaire, and I'm thinking maybe it's a design flaw on their part. I have to leave the door open when I'm not using it AND I also put a cup of baking soda in with every load so my clothes don't smell like barnacles.

Julie {Angry Julie Monday} said...

I loathe my LG front loader. I will never buy one ever again.

Maddness of Me said...

Angry Julie, don't be a hater.

Anonymous said...

I was a little leery of front loaders until we moved and had to get a new washer and dryer. We went to this place that gives you a discount on each appliance when you're buying more than one...anyway, hubby and salesman talked me into the front loaders and now I LOVE them. I also leave the door open on mine and it also has a cleaning cycle where you just run bleach through it. Mine is a Whirlpool...love it. MIL, though, has a Kenmore and HATES it. Anyway, there's my two cents:)

Anonymous said...

If bleach, vinegar or baking soda don't work there are many posts that swear by a washer cleaner called smellywasher cleaner.

The website says it's natural, removes odor from towels and clothing too. One order has 24 treatments and it has a money back guarantee.