Question to those with front load washing machines....

[claud]

Wow. I'm shocked people don't like their front-loaders. I think there are differences between styles and brands.

I have a Maytag Neptune(it must be almost 10 years old now) and I love it. You can wash comforters, down coats, anything in it. Uses only the amount of water you need. I can open mine after I start it for a period of time. You can do hand-washables. I would never go back to a top-load.

As for the smell. I think it is because water sometimes sits in the front after it's done(at the rubber gasket thingy). If you lift that up after each wash it drains that little bit of water. I'd check to make sure THAT drain in the front is not clogged.

 

[ebwy]

over here in the UK, front load washing machines are what's normal. And I've never had that problem. The one friend who said she did (one out of EVERYONE I know) had a blockage inside the machine caused by hairballs. When a load is done, I wipe around the seal to make sure the rubber won't perish, then leave the door slightly open to air it. Never had a single problem with smell from them.

 

[debilorrah]

Why on earth would anyone buy a front loader if it stinks?

 

[bantylover]

How about the filter. Mine has one on the lower left hand right corner. It gets plugged up and fills with all sorts of stuff. good luck
!

 

[Elite Silkies]

Mine has a cleaning cycle. I do it about once a month with one cup of bleach and no clothes in it. I also wash all of my clothes in vinegar.

 

[xke4]

I've used a European powder soap with no fillers that is designed exclusively for front loaders. It costs me close to $100 a box. Tried it for a couple of years. Tried the liquid stuff you can pick up at a grocery store designed for them. No difference. Use Affresh. Have top of the line washer. Clean rubber gasket routinely (remind me again what we had to clean routinely on our top-loaders) , drain out the drain in the bottom, use vinegar in the fabric softener cup, and I am convinced that it is not leaving the door open that is the main culprit. When you walk past your washer as many times as I do (main floor laundry right at the back door to the coops, garden etc) it makes me cranky not to be able to close the door. It is right up there with leaving cupboard doors or drawers a bit open in my mind. Grrr. I can't see much of a saving in power if I have to run an extra rinse to remove soap residue ( low water usage by the machine) or run it frequently empty on a hot cycle to clean the darn thing. I just might sabotage it and remove a crucial part..........

 

[ebwy]

don't put too much powder in it, check the seal for left-behind water, and just leave the door slightly ajar for an hour after use. That's all we ever do for them, and over here top-loaders are pretty much not available.

Never had a stinky machine yet

 

[Stumpy]

I just wanted to say that all front-loaders are not the same. Some models never have this problem, and I think top loaders may eventually become unavailable.

have a Sears front-loader and have had it for several years, but it does not smell. My mother's is a Bosch and she has a constant problem with the smell. We did an internet search on the subject and I think the solution was to use soda and vinegar in it.

 

[hippichick]

I actually had a Sears repair guy come out about a year ago because of this problem-stinky washer. We didn't know at the time that it was a common problem. We thought something was wrong mechanically with the washer. Of course, they wouldn't tell us this was a common problem when we called to schedule the call. Anyway, the repair man was really nice. He told us it was a problem with front loading washers in general. Something about the water doesn't drain completely behind the tub between washings, and bacteria builds up. He says to avoid this, there are a few things you can do. First, wash only with powder detergent, not liquid. Put the powder directly into the tub with your clothes. He said powder detergent has enzymes needed to break up bacteria-liquid doesn't. Also, leave the door open between washings, as many here have said. Third, once a month, you should run it through the clean cycle. But instead of using bleach or Affresh, you should use plain old powder dishwasher detergent-yes, dishwasher detergent(off-brand is fine). Put it directly into the empty tub. Don't remember why dishwasher detergent, but I do it, and it works. Since doing these three things, I no longer have problems with the washer. It cost me a service call to find this out, which I was not happy about. They could have told me this stuff over the phone, if they weren't trying to cover up the problem-idiots! But, it was definitely worth it-my clothes no longer stink.

 

[jbowyer01]

Wow! I have a front load and have never had a problem, maybe it does have something to do with the brand? I do use vinegar in my softner so maybe thats why mine doesnt smell. Now ya'll make me want to go home and stick my head in the washer and sniff LOL!