My Front Load Washer Smells. What Should I Do?

So I have this expensive front-loading washer / dryer combo with the fancy drawers on the bottom. These things are awesome — they save water, they save energy, they look cool, all of the detergent, softener, bleach, etc. fits in the neat drawers — so what’s my problem?

The washer stinks!

For the first year or so everything was fine, but then I started to notice a heavy, musty, mildew-type of smell inside of the washer after not using it for a while. I also noticed the smell in our clean towels after drying off with them.

What is going on?

I did a search online and found that this is a very common problem with front-loading washing machines and also found a bunch of ways to help fix the problem. I’ve tried just about everything listed here, and the smell is almost gone now. Go through this list and see if any of these suggestions will help you:

1. Always leave the front door open when not using the machine — this allows air to circulate and helps slow the formation of mildew.
2. If you have an exhaust fan in your laundry room (like you do in your bathroom) make sure you run it when doing laundry. This helps keep the humidity levels down and fights mildew.
3. After all wash loads are done, make sure you dry off the rubber gasket located inside the door. Just use an old towel and dry off all the rubber surfaces you see.
4. Once or twice a month, run an empty cycle with the hottest water setting you have and some liquid bleach to clean your machine. Many machines have a self-clean setting just for this purpose.
5. READ your owner’s manual. Most people never look at the manual, and they miss out on some important information from the manufacturer. For instance, most manuals will tell you to follow the steps listed here!
6. If all else fails, you can try some of the cleaning products for front-end washers. I’ve heard good and bad stories about most of them, but the one that seems to have the most success in getting rid of the musty smell is Smelly Washer Cleaner.

Some people become so frustrated with the front-loading washer smell that they give up and go back to the old-style top loading machines. Just follow your basic maintenance tips and you won’t have to give up your cool new washer!