| I have a problem with my washing machine, it has a musty/mildew smell inside the machine itself. My clothes smell fine and my towels do also but afer you use the towels they have the same smell to them as my washing machine and of course once you use the towels you smell like the musty/mildew smell. My washer is fairly new, approximately a year old and I have tried numerous things to get the smell out. I've used bleach, baking soda, cleaning products especially for mildew smells, almost everything imaginable but the smell still exsists. I've never left clothes in it for a long period of time and I myself have no idea how the smell got there but if any one has any suggestions or has any clue as to why my washing machine would smell the way it does please contact me. Thank you to whoever has an answer or even a little help for me, it is greatly appreciated. Latisha from Grafton, WV |
| Answers: |
| Washing Machine Smell |
| OS (Guest Post) |
| I have a Calypso by Kenmore. I had drainage problems and had to call for service (it took three service vists for Sears to fix this problem). Anyway, I also had a mildew smell in my washer and I asked the senor tech about it. He said it was from detergent buildup around the drum. Apparently, the down side of water saving machines is that they have detergent buldup inside of them around the drum. He said he knew of know solution to the problem. I hope to annually get someone to take apart the machine so that I can clean the drum in addition to following other suggestions posted. |
| Washing Machine Smell |
| Post by Ruth Counter |
| If vinegar and bleach and baking soda haven't worked, maybe you could try a load of Cascade dishwasher powder, although I don't know what effects it might have on washer parts. I can't think it would be worse than vinegar or bleach. One last thing, try running smaller loads of your towels and putting them through a complete second time using vinegar in place of soap and regular rinse. Sometimes just super rinsing is good. we use way too much soap. |
| Washing Machine Smell |
| (Guest Post) |
| I have left a load of laundry in the washer and it smelled musty as well. I rewashed the clothes, but the smell remained. I solved the problem by soaking the offending laundry in the washer (which also smelled) 1/2 box of baking soda mixed with a washerful of water and 1/2 gallon vinegar. I set the washer to agitate for five minutes or so and then just let it sit for 24 hours. Then I reset it to agitate and let the washer run through a regular cycle. The clothes smelled okay, but I still put them through another regular wash with a little detergent. Hung the laundry to dry outside and left the washer lid open. All is fine now. Hope this may help you too. You could probably use bleach instead of the vinegar, but My laundry was colored. |
| Washing Machine Smell |
| Sandi (Guest Post) |
| Latisha, Try using a cup of vinegar in your rinse water instead of any liquid fabric softner. It also helps colored clothes not to loose their color as quickly. Sandi |
| Washing Machine Smell |
| Post by Vi Johnson |
| If you use the same laundry soap all the time try changing to a different brand. JUST DO NOT RUN THE WASHER WITH CLOTHES IN IT THE FIRST RUN THROUGH! You'll be amazed at the dirt/scum that comes loose. Then run a second time before washing a load of clothes. By adding white vinegar to the rinse water twice a month, it will keep the towels from having a fabric softener build up. And they will be more absorbent. |
| Washing Machine Smell |
| Post by sandra johnson |
| Vinegar is good for just about anything! I just bought a little book on ways to use vinegar and I just yesterday, poured two cups of white vinegar in my washing machine to clean it out. I don't know if it did but it smells good! I also pour a cup of vinegar in my dishwasher and run a short cycle. The other night I poured white vinegar in the rinse compartment to see if it would make my dishes and glasses look better and it did! I have a water softener system but sometimes the dishes don't look as 'sparkling' (lol) as they should. The vinegar did the trick. Vinegar is an amazing liquid and after reading that little book, I will be using vinegar to clean my house instead of harsh chemicals. It's also good to eliminate odors, gets rid of mold and mildew, sooths insect bites. What amazed me about vinegar is that cats and racoons hate the smell of it!!! If you are tired of these animals getting into your garbage cans, pour vinegar in a spray bottle and spray your cans. You can spray diluted white vinegar around your yard also but don't spray it on your plants or flowers because it will kill them. By the way, vinegar kills weeds too and it's cheap! |
| Washing Machine Smell |
| Post by Holly |
| I had that problem and it turned out to be the scent from the ALL detergent many years ago. I kept on doing Clorox washes and wondering why they didn't work. And then I figured it out! |
| Washing Machine Smell |
| Josh (Guest Post) |
| I'm having the same problem with my kenmore 70 series top loading washing machine. I will try the vinegar, bleach, and baking soda ideas. However, I am a little concerned about the idea of trying vinegar and baking soda as the chemical reaction is probably quite familiar to those of you that have children that have made one of those fake volcanoes. - It mixes and foams everywhere! |
| Washing Machine Smell |
| Dee Steer (Guest Post) |
| Thank you for all the tips, I'll try the vinegar first and get back to you with the result. |
| RE:Fix for Washing Machine Smell |
| Jeffie2003 Jeffie2003 (Guest Post) |
| I have a Whirlpool/Kenmore top loading washer about five years old. For the past few years I have battled a rotten sock odor in the machine. Last week I could not take it anymore. I tore the blasted thing apart and discovered I didn't have a rotten sock. Rather, I had a buildup of lint between the washbasket and the water barrel right about where the top waterline would be with a full load. Obviously, when the lint stays damp it begins to rot and viola', odor. The area in question cannot be reached unless you disassemble the washer. I am not a professional Washer mechanic. So, if you go this route, please consult qualified personnel. Good luck. |
| Washing Machine Smell |
| pattya at nc.rr.com (Guest Post) |
| I have the Nexxt Washer and we have the same problem with a musty/mildew smell. I have been fighting with Bosch over this because it is because of the tight seal and because it holds water. My clothes are beginning to smell as bad as the bath towels. I would suggest contacting Bosch and have it documented before the warranty is up. I have found (after purchase) that most of the front loaders have this problem. there even are some class action law suits out there. |
| Washing Machine Smell |
| Ann (Guest Post) |
| I AM SO REVOLTED. I just wiped the inside of my washer (a high-efficency top loader by Kenmore) up under the top, where the "drum" meets the top part, and was DISGUSTED to find a gross brown film all over it. I must have used 30-40 wipes to get it off. And I think it's probably in places I can't reach. Our towels smell sour too when they get wet. So if this is mildew, it's probably all over our clothes. I am so grossed out. It makes me want to contact a washing machine technician just so they can take it apart and I can clean it. So I'm posting this in case the smell you all are having is due to actual mildew in your machine, which can't be washed out because the water doesn't get up into those crevices. Gross gross gross. I do leave a wet load in it overnight sometimes, so it's probably my fault - never again! I live in FL where mold/mildew grow EVERYWHERE. Hope this helps somebody. |
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