Anything I can do other than buy a new washer?

[drcmk]

We have a GE washing machine. It is about four years old. It removes stains and clothes look perfectly clean after washing. But the clothes smell mildewy to me, and especially the towels, after washing. I've tried using many different detergents/products without any success. I have run the cycle with just bleach or just vinegar. I have wiped bleach on every external surface and I have removed the fabric softener drawer,taken it apart, and scoured it (it was covered in slimy mildew on the underside). But NOTHING has helped to remove the smell. I am on the verge of taking my towels to the laundromat because I can't stand the smell of my washing machine. It kind of makes the whole basement smell mildewy (at least to my nose). If I buy new towels, they are stinky after the first wash.

Does anyone have any other suggestions about how to remove hidden mildew in this washing machine? This is the last resort before I trash it. Since our stove/oven had to be replaced last month, I'd really rather not buy another brand new appliance this year!

 

[dawnn12]

Is it a top or front loading one? i just googled it and alot of different ideas come up. i had a problem with mine(top loading one) and it helps alot by keeping the lid open between loads and i had to clean the fabric softener cup really good hth

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

Mine smelled after it was not used for over a week (we had been on vacation)
I used Tide Washing Machine Cleaner and it worked for me.

 

[seashoreCM]

For a front loader (disadvantage?) it seems to me that you would need to run several loads consisting of several towels and lots of bleach. This is in order to splash much bleach containing liquid onto the underside of the topmost part of the chamber in which the tub spins.

Bleach without towels would clean the lower half of the chamber but not the upper half.

Splashing the upper half of the chamber occurs mainly during the spin portion of the cycle when the water being spun out of the clothes goes outward in all directions. This is a small fraction of the total time so it may be necessary to repeat the process.

Also, bleach strong enough to do this cleaning job may also be strong enough to shorten the life of the towels, so you may want to save a few old towels for use only for this cleaining operation.

(Front loaders whose outer chamber rotates with the tub, or which don't have perforated tubs or outer chambers, don't have this problem.)

 

[daemom]

Not sure if we determined that this is a front loader yet, but I had a similar problem with my front loader--it was ONLY the towels that picked up a mildewy smell. I ran cycles with bleach and vinegar (not together ) and I made sure that I took care to wipe the back portion of the seal. I read somewhere that using powered soap would take care of the problem......it did! I don't know why but since using powder I haven't had the problem and I no longer wipe the back of the seal like I used to. Try it for a few loads and see if it makes a difference.

 

[drcmk]

Not sure if we determined that this is a front loader yet, but I had a similar problem with my front loader--it was ONLY the towels that picked up a mildewy smell. I ran cycles with bleach and vinegar (not together ) and I made sure that I took care to wipe the back portion of the seal. I read somewhere that using powered soap would take care of the problem......it did! I don't know why but since using powder I haven't had the problem and I no longer wipe the back of the seal like I used to. Try it for a few loads and see if it makes a difference.

I do have a front loader. I'm supposed to use HE detergent, which is usually a liquid. But maybe I will try that.

 

[daemom]

Tide has an HE powder so I'll bet some other brands do too. I still use just a small amount of the powder. Good luck!

 

[malibuconlee]

I had the same problem with towels. Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda. I put about 1/2 a cup or so in with the detergent and no more funky smelling towels. I did try vinegar and it helped, but this works for me.

Wal-Mart sells it in the laundry aisle near the dryer sheets and dyes next to the Borax.

 

[mrodgers]

Arm and Hammer Washing Soda as was mentioned or Borax. I think Borax might be cheaper. It treats the water. This is a common complaint about front loading washers. Ever since adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Borax to the wash load, the mildew smell has disappeared. We've had front loading washers for 12 years now.

 

[Maddle]

Is it only the towels picking up the smell? or do other items get stinky too?

 

[drcmk]

Is it only the towels picking up the smell? or do other items get stinky too?

The towels are the worst (and I rub them against my face more, too). I feel like some tee shirts pick up the smell but not all of them. My bras smell mildewy, too, but I think it is because they hang to dry in the laundry room with the smelly washing machine.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Mine smelled gross as well. I bough the tide washing machine cleaner and used it. It has a really strong chemical smell. I used it once, it said to use it 1x per week for 3 weeks to eliminate odor, then 1x per month use to keep it clean. Right now it smells like mold with a chemical coverup after 1use.

Maybe I will try wash #2 today.

 

[Maddle]

How are the towels and t-shirts washed?

Do you use hot water? and is it hot enough? Do you use plenty of detergent, and then a second rinse if necessary to get out the extra detergent? Sometimes towels get funny because of the body oils that get imbedded in them (and t-shirts can too.) Also, do you dry the towels on hot?

That's all I've got for suggestions for the towels. If that doesn't work, and the tub cleaner doesn't help....I got nothin'.

 

[sherry7]

I had this same problem with the 1st front loader that I owned. It was also a GE, but I think that all front loaders can have this problem. The most important thing is to leave the washing machine open when you aren't using it. The door is watertight, which means that the air can't get in there to dry it out, which causes mold and mildew to grow in the washer.

Use one of the commercially available washing machine cleaners. You might have to do it a few times since your washing machine already sounds like it has mold and mildew in it. Make sure that you use the hottest water you can when you do the cleaning. Run the sink tap for a couple of minutes to get the cold water out of the lines, before you start the washer. Some washers have a sanitize setting. If yours has that, use it for the cleaning cycle.

About once a month, I run a sanitize cycle on my washer with about a half gallon of bleach. I usually throw a small load of rags in there, which I don't care about the excessive bleach ruining. Speaking of bleach, not all of them are created equal. Plain (unscented) bleach has a higher concentration of disinfectants, since it is actually sold as a disinfectant and regulated that way. The scented bleaches are sold as a laundry product, and not regulated. If you pay close attention to the labels, the scented bleaches are much more diluted than the unscented bleach.

I do not use liquid detergent anymore. When I had the mold/mildew problem I read somewhere that powders were better for front loaders. Powders are available in the HE variety. I use Sears brand powdered myself, but it's available in Tide, Cheer, Gain, etc. Liquid detergent leaves a buildup in the washer, and the mold/mildew feed on it. Also, use less detergent, regardless of whether it's liquid or powder. If you see bubbles in your front loader, you are probably using too much.

As far as getting the smell out of your towels, try using a cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. You can put it right in the fabric softener dispenser. You will not be able to smell the vinegar, once the towels are dried.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Mine smelled after it was not used for over a week (we had been on vacation)
I used Tide Washing Machine Cleaner and it worked for me.

I agree that you should try using a washing machine cleaner. Also, keep the door and soap dispenser open when you aren't using the washer so it can air out.

 

[drcmk]

I agree that you should try using a washing machine cleaner. Also, keep the door and soap dispenser open when you aren't using the washer so it can air out.

We've been keeping the drawer and door open for a while now. Today I used straight bleach, pulled away the rubber gasket and wiped it down and scrubbed out the drawer again. I read the manual and learned that the washer has a basket-wash cycle so I ran that. And I learned that there is a small panel at the bottom of the washer that I am supposed to open and clean out regularly, so I did that. It was also full of yuckiness.

My plan is to buy the powdered detergent and maybe the Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (I haven't seen it yet in a store). Today is laundry day, so I'll know tomorrow if it makes a difference.

My bleach-y smelling hands are making me a little light-headed.

 

[riley2008]

One last thing to consider is what is the quality of your water. If the issue is the water, a new machine isn't going to help. I say this because you seem to have tried many things that will fix the mildew smell at least temporarily and its not working.

 

[Sheaboys]

Front loaders have a thing in front that you are supposed to empty. It gets loaded with junk, stinky water, change, all sorts of stuff. Once something smells mildewy, I empty it, then it is all better.

Does the top loader have this too? If so, empty it.

 

[Sadie22]

If you have not been using the HE detergent or have been using too much HE detergent, some may have gotten on the outside of the drum, causing a buildup. On the other hand, failure to follow the maintenance procedure involving the front panel may have been enough to cause the problem.

We have maintained our frontloader and only use liquid Wisk HE. No fabric softener. No odor problems.

 

[drcmk]

Front loaders have a thing in front that you are supposed to empty. It gets loaded with junk, stinky water, change, all sorts of stuff.

Yes. I have a front loader and I just discovered that panel today. It was sort of hidden and hard to open. But once I got it open, it was, indeed, full of moldy, linty water, and some change and the underwire from a bra. Now that I know about it, I'll check that panel every couple of weeks.

I've done all of the maintenance now, and we are just finishing up the laundry, so I'll know soon if it worked. I won't do the towels until later in the week.