Something does not add up here.

We've had front-loaders for decades in laundromats without -as far as I know - this problem.

so what is different?

Yep, we've already had our rubber gasket replaced -- cost $300 bucks. And, the repairman basically told yes everything your article states.

One thing that seemed bizarre; He told us to wipe out the gasket after every use. I told him that's a defect. He told me no, that's what you need to do.

I've advised friends not to purchase a front-loader.

Owners of front-loading washers having mold concerns may want to check out the remarkable research on toxic mold removal done by environmental expert Dr Ed Close. Simply diffusing a therapeutic-grade essential oil regularly would likely result in an environment very hostile to mold.

http://www.secretofthieves.com/mold.cfm/79544

Our front loader has been fine, but we do two things: 1) leave the washer door open for the night after we have washed our last load of the day, and 2) occasionally wipe the door gasket. Honestly, wiping the door gasket is kind of like having to clean your stove or refrigerator shelves. No, you don't have to do this, but after it awhile it gets nasty if you don't. Is this a defect? I don't consider it to be one. More like common sense. Of course, the manufacturers will eventually end up putting big stickers on the door that tell you to clean your door gasket because of all the customers who don't think they need to maintain their appliance. For those who don't want to spend twenty seconds wiping off their door gasket, go back to the top loader. I for one love saving water and electricity.

I have had a Whirlpool front load washer for over a year with no mold problem. It has a cleaning cycle that uses chlorine bleach and I run that once a month.

I've had a Front Loader since April. My laundry area is in outside in my garage. I researched this before buying and am hoping for the best. I use 3 Tbls of HE detergent, Affress once a month, I wipe it dry religously after loads and leave the door open for several hours after using.

We recently bought a Frigidaire front load and matching dryer. I was shocked to learn that the manual tells you to leave the door open to help prevent mold.

I would never have bought a front load had I known. I wipe the seal groove occasionally looking for mold. After six months I have found none.

We also have problems with the washer buzzing all the way through the washer cycle. After many calls to Electrolux / Frigidaire our local appliance seller finally replaced the control board behind the panel. Still buzzes. I’m waiting until this unit dies so I can buy a real washer. I tell everyone who will listen not to buy a Frigidaire washer / dryer.

we have a GE Adora front loader. after washing towels and then using them after bathing i noticed our towels smelt quite bad. previously i had noticed mold developing on the dispenser tray but never related the two. one day i pulled the tray out to clean it and noticed that inside around where the tray fits was very moldy as well. after cleaning the tray and the inside with bleach,the smell on the towels was gone. our rubber gasket has not been a problem,we do dry it and leave the door open for a time. the real problem for us was with the dispenser (detergent etc.)

...details on this "problem" seem very sparse -- not near enough to draw any broad conclusions.

I switched to an LG front-loader two years ago -- and don't have the slightest hint of a mold problem (..nor any other problems) Plus, I'm in hot/humid Florida where mold should flourish if there was a design problem. My little laundry room is inside, off the kitchen.

Front-loaders have been around the U.S. for many decades, if there's a genuine problem -- it's very unlikely caused by the basic 'front-loader' design.

Many American homes have their washer/dryers in the attached garage -- that's an 'almost-outside' environment... which might contribute to a mold problem (?)

Also, the special low-suds detergent required by modern front-loaders... might somehow contribute to a mold issue (??)

I'm confident the good folks at Consumer Reports can solve this one... with a bit of logical detective work.

Well, duh! You're supposed to leave the door to the washer open when you are done with it. You know, so it can air out? What do you expect will happen if you close up a damp area? I bet if you leave a top loader closed up and damp inside the same thing will happen.

And you're supposed to run a cleaning cycle every now and then, too.

I have finally been successful in having my "stinky" front loader washing machine replaced under the maintenance protection agreement I had purchased. It was a huge pain and it was clear that Sears did not want to do this. Our problem is that our machine did not contain a heating element and, because the machine is located quite a distance from our hot water heater, and the machine uses such a small amount of water, our machine was never run on the "hot" cycle.

We had service people tell us to run vinegar, change to a different detergent, run draino....

Of course we were also advised to purchase Affresh at a cost of $9.00 for 3 tablets. Since this isn't mentioned in the owners manual, I didn't feel obligated to go to this additional expense but actually did try it without success.

Good luck.

I've had a Neptune for 7 years now. Around year 5.5 I started noticing a funky smell and tried all the recommended treatments with limited to no results. I finally discovered that it had to do with the detergent I was using. I had switched to Wisk HE and that's when the problem started. If I use Cheer HE or Tide HE I don't have the problem. NOTE: I have always used half the recommended amount and clothes still come clean. 10 months later, don't do any of the recommended treatments anymore and still no problem.

I purchased an LG front load washer and dryer in March of this year. My owner's manual clearly states that the water reservoir at the bottom of the washer should be emplied twice a month, and that you should wipe the rubber door gasket after every use. No, I didn't know this before my purchase, and yes, it is annoying to do, but I still love my machine and my water savings. I wouldn't recommend my machine to a person who would have difficulty getting down to floor level...I have to sit on the floor to drain the machine. I found out if you don't do it, it will eventually leak.

Wouldn't the frequent need to run a "special" hot water cycle with bleach tend to negate the reason for buying a front loader in the first place -- to save water and energy?

I have a Maytag Neptune that is about 10 years old. I complained when I first got it that there is water left in the system when the washer is empty. I was told by Sears that is the way that it was designed. I wash the top of my washer after each load. I wipe the inside if it needs it. There is a damp smell when you open the washer. I use chlorine bleach in my washer about twice a week. I believe the rubber seal that is attached to the tub is a design flaw. It does not allow the water to drain out of it completely. I called about a month ago to have the seal replaced - they replaced the brush attachment on the drum instead. I called again to have the seal replaced - it is 10 years old and was becoming moldy and collecting debris. They were not going to change it. Then the technician discovered there was a leak in the back. I have now researched my model - MAH3000AWW. I guess since my extended warantee was with Sears, I was not in the Maytag system. That model had a class action suit back in 2005.
Now I am not sure what washer to get to replace mine. I love the front loaders, but the highly rated ones by Consumer Reports are in Class Action suits.
I believe that it is a safety issue that washers should not be left open as a mandatory requirement. Just like when you get rid of an old refrigerator, you are supposed to remove a door, what happens if a small child goes into an open washer and becomes trapped.
You should not have to dry out the inside of a washer after use.
In fact, the manufacturers should design a Heat only function to dry out the washer after the washer program is over. This could be a button to push when the laundry is done for the day.

My house has always had a top loader. Never had I or my mom had an issue with musty clothes or mold and NOoooo we we never, never, leave the lid up. I agree with Chris, that's a safety issue. I have a front loader for use at work at my salon. Its older, no mold issues but I bleach towels and linens with hot water every day and would never think about leaving it open over the weekend to dry out, that's just stupid to have doors left open. I still prefer my top loader.

We had the same problems with our front load washer until my husband found the web site www.smellywasher.com. We ordered their product, cleaned our washer last November, and haven't had a problem since. We do leave it open when it isn't in use now and we also keep a towel handy to wipe out the gasket. We also learned that liquid detergents used in the dispenser, HE or not, encourage mold growth. So does liquid fabric softener. We now put powdered HE detergent directly in with the clothes, we use vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser, and then use dryer balls in the dryer. I've seen stains that I'd given up on disappear. No "dryer fresh scent," but our clothes are clean and soft. And our washer doesn't stink.

I can't in the absolute least understand what you people are complaining about! I have had my fl washer for one year now and it is absolutely the best thing ever! I love it.
I love saving electricity and water!

Update, well its 1.5 years now, and my washer works well. I have noticed the electricity and water bills have been a bit less. Yay!
I clean the gasket and leave the door open after each wash. This is just great.

Update. 2.5 years with my Front loader. My towels kind of smell and I think I am leaving the load too long in the washer. I will have to get there sooner.

Update. 3+ years. My laundry room stinks so bad. Its awful to go into my laundry room. I think its making my clothes stink. I will wash them with a bit of vinegar and/or bleach to see if that helps keep that smell away.
Gee the washer is good. I sure am saving money and it was well worth the $1000.00 I spent on it!

Update: 4 years.
I hate this washer. The money I have spent on cleaning it, running empty wash cycles with affresh and hot water! My water and electricity bills are back where they used to be. My husband couldn't stand the smell of his shirts any more and took the machine apart. Every piece of the machine that carried water is covered in black gunk and/or mold. It stinks so bad!
I did everything I was suppose to as I loved my machine... and it reeks! It is a stinking moldy disgusting-ness piece of crap.
I have spent more than 500.00 in cleaning aids, maintenance/repair technicians, and affresh tablets.
We are throwing it out. Today I went to find a top loader at the store. This poor lady was looking at buying a FL. I told her to research it, and google "smelly front loader" before she bought.
Ha! Maybe I saved her some pain... I sure hope so.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND LG FRONT-LOAD WASHERS!!! We have an LG front-load washer that we purchased in 2005. About a year after we purchased the washer, we started smelling a terrible odor. I can relate to the other individual who stated that their towels smelled particularly bad. Our towels smell okay when we remove them from the dryer, but the instant that we use them to dry off and they get wet, they smell terrible. I've tried bleach, an expensive miracle wash product that I purchased on-line, and Affresh tabs. We clean the seal on a regular basis (even using a toothbrush) and always leave the door open after our last load. Keep in mind that nothing in the owners manual mentions that this is required maintenance. In addition, I use HE detergent. I don't use liquid fabric softener. Nothing works to remove the odor. The last straw was last month when I started getting flecks of grey stuff all over the towels and clothes that I washed. I've contacted LG, but they haven't been much help. I filed a complaint with the BBB and a rep from LG offered to extend our warranty to cover a "courtesy clean". When I received the paperwork from LG about this extended warrant, it expressly stated that items not covered included cleaning. We have also contacted the retailer from whom we purchased the unit since we had paid for a 5-year performance guarantee when we bought the unit. They sent out a repairman who didn't even touch the unit and told us to use Affresh. After trying the Affresh, our washer still smelled of mold and our towels still came out with flecks of grey sludge. I have absolutely no confidence in front-load machines now and I would not recommend LG to anyone due to the poor response that I've received from them.

My Maytag Neptune fl washer is about 5 or 6 years old now and unfortunately I still can't afford to replace it. Not only do I have a mold problem and have to constantly wipe it out, it also beats my clothing half to death! Towels come out with snags and pulls all over them, and one in a while it also manages to rip holes in jeans or other heavier clothing.
I missed the class action suit because I failed to send in my warranty card. Maytag told me it was my tough luck and hung up on me.
No problem. I let everyone know that Maytag is a worthless piece of garbage.

I have had my front loader for 3+ years now and I have had bleach spot problems on my clothes. I have to wash a load of whites with bleach then make sure I put in a load of whites with no bleach to clean out the system as to not bleach the next load of colored clothes. I leave the door open after each wash so I don't get the oder.
I also have to re-spin my clothes after some loads because it won't take any water out. The repair man said it was because of the soap and the amount I was using. Go figure.

I miss my top loading washer.

"Posted by: Larry Gross | Aug 28, 2008 8:20:52 AM
Something does not add up here.
We've had front-loaders for decades in laundromats without -as far as I know - this problem. so what is different?"

Great point! We had an ASKO front loader from 1996 until 2007. NEVER any water retained in the washer or the gasket. We did always leave the door of the ASKO ajar to dry, but never any mold or odor problems. With the Bosch, we noticed after the first wash that water remained standing in the gasket, which now has become slimy and is growing mold.

My daughter-in-law bought in March a Whirlpool Duet. Now, there is black mold growing on the gasket, and their clothes, towels, etc, smell like mildew after being taken from the washer. It is terrible! The only thing Whirlpool has offered is the Affresh tabs, which are not helping.

Something really needs to be done to force these manufacturers to acknowledge the problem with the gasket design and whatever else is causing the water retention problem, and make good on these terribly expensive machines.

I have been living with this same problem with my Whirlpool Duet Front Load Washer, purchased November, 2006 for the past year or more. We had been blaming the smell on sewer gas from a dry trap in the drain of the tray we installed under the washer in case of leaks. We have it in a second floor bedroom closet. Everytime I did a wash, I would preceed it with a 4 l. container of water down the drain. Since this did not help I thought I would check on Google to see if anyone else had the same problem. I was astounded by how many other dissatisfied owners there are out there! I hate the idea of replacing it as it was a real swine to lift the dryer on top of the washer. I really would like a solution that I could use without having to remove it. I also have awful smelling coloured towels. All along I thought it was the material in the towels that was decaying. What an eye-opener!

Is there a contact number or web address for where we can get involved in the class action suite? Please email me if you know of something.

Stinks- I bought the Bosch front loader-water saver-But mold -black yak soon aware

I purchased a Bosch front loader about a year and a half ago. I hate the way the towels smell. I have never left the door closed when not in use and I always immediately remove the clothes when the load is finished. Saves a lot of money on water. My water bill went down approximately $60 per quarter. I do not see mold on my gasket and I wipe the slime around the rubber occasionally. I guess I will have to start doing this after every load. My son just got married and I recommended to him not to buy one. I used the cleaning tablets and I feel that they did nothing. I also run about two loads of laundry per week with bleach. I feel that nothing helps the problem. I just bought borax yesterday and am going to try that the next time I wash towels. I read the blogs about people talking about front loaders in laundromats. Those washers are totally different. They use a lot more water than the front loaders that you buy for your home. As far as getting your clothes cleaner, I see no difference. They are probably less clean. How can your clothes get clean with such little water? My advice, don't buy one, unless you have about 8 kids.

My front-loading washer is a Frigidaire and I have the same problem. I had no idea what the black stuff was on the rubber seal. I have been running the washer with bleach and drying the glass since i bought the washer a little over a year ago. I still get the mold, but I didn't know what it was. Also, My computer room and laundry room are in the same room and I have times that I will be on the computer and my eyes will tart to burn and water really bad. I didn't know what it was from, so maybe now I know?

We bought the SAMSUNG front-loaders in January. Much to our dismay we have been having the problem with mold, too. IT STINKS! Our laundry is right off the garage and the smell of mold just about knocked us down everytime we entered the house. We had no idea about this problem when we bought our machines. It has been very discouraging, not to mention we spent quite a bit extra for them.
I finally called the company about 6 weeks ago. The representative told me to run 3 empty loads with bleach, and a 4th load with water only. Then she instructed me to wash the drum with a mild detergent. It seemed to work. By the way, I always did leave the door open when not in use.
Now, I try to dry out the gasket after using the washer. But, I don't think that is the only source of excess water. I think there is water under the drum that does not empty thoroughly. Every now and then, I run bleach only through before I start a new wash day. It is sort of a pain in the ... NECK.
I don't recommend front-loaders to my friends and family. We never had any problems with the top-loader washer that we had for 19 years.

It's not only front loaders! I bought my Whirlpool top loader about 4 years ago. After a little over 1 year I started noticing the smell. Whirlpool had all kinds of excuses, one even said I should be using the HE detergent. All other techs and repairmen said I don't need to use that.I almost always leave the lid up, too.
When I needed service, the tech took the washer apart and you could see the mold on the outside of the plastic drum!! They suggested using vinegar and hot water washes or bleach and hot water washes once a month. A waste of time and water! It helps a litlle but really the only way to clean it is to take apart the washer!
I had my old Whirlppool washer for nearly 20 years and never had this problem. I think it is their poorly made products!

My repair man told me to run a cycle once a month using automatic dishwashing detergent. I really never asked why but now I'm thinking it's to keep mold and smells away. My laundry smells fresh right after washing and drying but soon after begins to smell. This is particularly true of towels and washcloths. I've tried putting the laundry in different places after washing and drying thinking maybe it was the closets but it smells no matter where I store it. Now I'll try the automatic dishwashing detergent suggestion to see what happens.

After reading post from Anita Mann, dated August 28,2008, I am interested in learning how she had her front loader replaced by Sears. I also have a Sears front-loader and have experienced a myriad of problems, including the mold. I have had their repairman out several times in the 3 yrs. I have owned this machine and they are useless. Each one giving me a different answer for the same problems. My machine moves all over the floor and I have to constantly bleach it to remove mold. I have had a cough for 2 months, now I'm wondering if it is related to the mold in the machine.

After reading post from Anita Mann, I am very interested in learning how she was able to get her washer replaced. I have had a myriad of problems with shaking, mold and insufficient cleaning with my Sears front loader. I have had repairmen look at it several times over the past 3 years--each one giving me a different answer to my problems with the bottom line being I am doing something wrong. If there is a way I can get them to replace it, I would love the information.

Thank you, Gemma

I used to love doing laundry. Now it is nothing but frustration due to the front load washer we purchased. It does not save me time or money and my clothes stink. The last load I did, I washed three times to try to get the clothes to smell good enough to throw into the dryer. I also don't appreciate the need to leave the door open between loads. It doesn't matter. I do it religously and everything still stinks. The other feature of my Frigidaire that I don't care for is the timer. Why did they bother to put on a timer if it never is accurate. Some of the longest minutes of my life have been waiting for that last minute of my load to finish (which often can take ten minutes). Anybody want to buy a used front loader?--CHEAP!!!

I have had a Whirlpool Duet for several years. For most of those years I did at least two loads of
laundry a day, with one load in hot water with bleach. After I quit working and my daughters moved out for college my laundry was significantly reduced to about 4-6 loads per week. I started to notice at that point an unusual smell in the washer and on our clothes. When I couldn't get the nauseating stink to go away I started looking on the internet for others with the same problem.
I found out what the problem was, called Whirlpool and was told my washer was too old, out of
warranty, and had never been repaired so they couldn't help me. I was also told they were not aware of the problem and had never had a similar complaint. My reply was to google "whirlpool
smells bad" they could see for themselves over 10,000 web sites with complaints. I was still told
"sorry". I wish there was a class action lawsuit, but even better, PLEASE fix the problem!

We purchased a Whirlpool Duet based on the CR evaluations and its price. I had read about the mold problems, so my wife and I have carefully followed the Whirlpool recommendations. For the first two months we had no problems. Then we left for a 2 week vacation and when we returned, our washed clothes smelled like a sewer. We have had top loading washers for years with no problems. There is obviously a manufacturing defect that the companies don't want to admit. Not only do these things cost hundreds of dollars more than a top loader, the requirement to run a cleaning cycle with hot water and/or buy Affresh from Whirlpool will obviously reduce any savings you have in water usage or electricity bills.

My advice to anyone looking for a new clothes washer is to pass on the front loaders.

I have mold problems too. I wipe, leave the door open, it's not in my basement, I use bleach on a regular basis and yet the washer smells. I've had this front loader for 5 years, within the first year it started to smell. I like how the washer washes and how little water it uses, especially with a well. I am looking forward to the day it dies and I can remove the stinky beast from my house!

I have a Kenmore Front Loading Premium Washing model 41744082400
serial XC 51502974, it is in our laundry room, not our garage. I hate it. When we get a new washer, it will be a top loader. I do several loads a day and leave the door open all night. I hate it because of the mold, it won't go away. Our clothes have to be washed several times w/bleach for colors and Oxyfresh to even think about getting the smell out. Whites are washed w/bleach. Washing a load w/no clothes and wiping down w/bleach doesn't take mold stains away! The other day I took a flashlight to check out the mold, my finger pulled back the "lip" which is not easily accesible, it has some holes along this lip and all along this lip and in the holes there is mold buildup. This can't be normal, since this isn't even a place people normally would "clean". It just makes me sick to thick of it! I would never ever recommend a front loader to anyone, ever.

I have many problems with mold and mildew smells with our Whirlpool front loader. My clothes stink. My towels stink. I've purchased Affresh-doesn't work. I've bleached-doesn't work. This is ridiculous. I've even paid our county money to come out and test our water-and no, it's not our water that's the problem. We had someone come and look at the washer and he said, "it's just the way they are." "Nothing you can do about it." I WANT A REPLACEMENT!!!!

We purchased a Whirlpool Duet a year ago. A month had not gone by before we noticed the musty smell. We had switched to a fragrance-free detergent because of skin irritations caused by the chemicals in most detergents. I came to the conclusion (erroneously) that "if you wash your clothes in fragrance-free detergents they will smell musty."
When the area of our house that our washer is in started smelling musty, I did a search on the internet and it became clear that the problem is with the Whirlpool Duet. Leave the door of my washer open after washing each load? Forget it Whirlpool! How about you come getting my washer and either fix it so it works like a washer should or refund my money and remove this flawed equipment from the market?

I have never had more problems with a washer and dryer before.I have a Whirlpool duet. Not only did my clothes start smelling of mold (and my daughter has asthma), but the area where you pour in the detergent gets black mold. So instead of saving $ on water and electricity, I have to rewash my clothes, which sometimes doesn't change the smell of the clothes. I have had to throw out clothes that I couldn't get the smell out of. Also, the water drips into the washer even after my clothes are done washing, sometimes so much that I have to run the drain/spin cycle, using more electricity.This causes me to run the dryer for more than one cycle. I also have problems that are displayed as troubleshooting codes (more than one has come up, quite often) which I contacted Whirlpool service about and they weren't much help.This is supposed to be a timesaving, energysaving machine, but it doesn't hold up to those standards.

I have gripped about the why my white clothes and the FACT that my white have little GREASE MARKS on them and I purchased my Maytag Washer from LOWES and my HUSBAND and I have questioned the employees and know there names and there were no answers and my HUSBAND has been VERY SICK for the last 1 to 2 years and NO ONE HAS gave us any answer them the had to have a repair out last Thursday and I have been working on this issue to find out how to get this MOLD out of my WASHER and I has lost HUNDREDS of DOLLARS worth of clothes and DR. BILLS and my husband is self-employed and we have LOST several DAYS from work and according to what I can find online the Class ACTION LAWSUIT has all ready been SETTLE and it is to late to FILE and I FEEL that since Lowes didn't not explain to us that we needed to run cleaner thru the machine on a Monthly base that they shoud furnish us a brand new FRONT LOADER because I have had Back SURGERY and that was the reason we bought it......but since we were NOT told about having to run a cleanner thru it and that MOLD would be a PROBLEM! MAYTAG OWES MY FAMILY FOR ALL OF OUR LOSES AND THE PAIN THAT MY HUSBAND HAS GONE THRU AND USE NOT KNOWING THIS WAS MAKING HIM SICK SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE IS EVERYTHING MY HUSBAND HAS GONE THRU AND WE HAVE SPENT THOUSAND AND THOUSAND OF DOLLARS AND UNNESSARY MRI's AND DR THAT CAN'T FIGHURE OUT WHY HE HIS STAYING SO SICK.......I THINK WE SHOULD ALL STICK TOGETHER AND MAKE THE PAY UP PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT jeffreymomdad@yahoo.com

We recently purchased the Frigidaire Gallery Series Top Loading washer and dryer. The pro is that they look good. That's about all. I started noticing a moldy smell but my bofriend didn't. We thought it was just me and the odd things that occur with pregnancy. It had nothing to do with my being pregnant. The clothes smell and so do the towels. I wash them every 2-3 days because they absolutely can not be used more than that. We had a repairman come out to take a look at a problem we had and he mentioned this ongoing problem. he said we should use less detergent, leave the door open, run an empty wash regularly and other suggestions that others have noted here. Having to do this does not make it energy efficient since we have to do the wash more frequently and run an empy one regularly. Considering this is an old problem I would only think the manufacturers would do something about it. Perhaps if there was a major recall they would be forced to do something for the consumer. I'm ready to return and go back to the front loader.

Mold forming in the washer must be related to the design of some models. At home, we have a Whirlpool Duet front loader and constantly fight the mold issue. Wiping/leaving the door open, running bleach, cleaning the gasket and using HE just sort of marginally deal with the problem.

We also have a nice motor coach that is equipped with a stackable Splendide Ariston washer and dryer. It's an Italian make, used in small apartments, RV's, etc. The front loader is similar in almost all regards to the larger home models, except that it is a little smaller. Yet, in a year's worth of fairly heavy use, we have never had to clean the gasket. I check it, but it's just never moldy. Go figure.

We love the way the Duet at home washes and like the fact that it is energy and water efficient. Nonetheless, we're getting ready to buy a washer for a place in Florida and wouldn't take a front loader if the manufacturer rebated the whole purchase price!

Well, here I am. I just paid my yearly subscription to CR because I am researching Washers & Dryers. Why am I looking? Well, my TOP LOAD Maytag (late 90's model) doesn't seem to be getting our clothes clean. When we fold our laundry it seems fine but when you step out of the shower and put the towel to your wet skin...YUCK!! I see all of these pretty FL machines and thought they would be the answer...Dang it!

So, since I am reading all of this stuff about mold I decided to investigate my Maytag. Sure 'nuff. under the lip of the drum I found black gunk all around the edge. It was worse closer to where the water dispenses. I have now filled the tub with hot water/bleach and wiped the mold out with a rag.

Having read all of these blogs let me say the following conditions exist in our case:

My wife often overloads the machine.

She primarily uses Cold/Cold ('cause her mother told her it would preserve the colors longer)

We use liquid detergents (whatever is on sale)

We rarely use bleach

We have 3 daughters so our machine runs almost constantly.

We never leave the lid up

Is there anyone who has found a solution or can offer an alternative? We have just purchased a condo, which will require stacking washer and dryer (because of the limited space).

I have looked at the possible models -- Whirlpool, LG, Bosch, Miele. It appears that the first three have many logged consumer complaints and I do not like the idea of the mold and I am horrified at the resulting stink. I wonder if the Miele just has not enough consumers to detect the problem and it too is affected by the water/mould issue.

If there is anyone who can provide some insight I would like to hear from you.

Thank you for taking an interest in this comment.

Well, I just bought a new Lg front loader and dryer.So far I love them.

I just want to say that my old premium Kenmore Elite top load washer also had smell issues.I never could figure it out though.But It would smell like rotten eggs.And my towels also developed a smell.My washer often had a cycle run with bleach and hot water.And I always left the lid open to air out the machine. So when my washer and dryer broke down I decided that nothing would do except a new Lg set.I did notice that the rubber gasket on my washer has drainage holes. The Model that I bought also has a cycle called "tub clean".This is a cycle that you run about once a month with some bleach. Well I will know what to watch out for.A friend of mine has had her Lg for a while and has never noticed a problem.I hope that they have figured out what was causing the problem and fixed it.But I still say that top loaders can be just as bad.

I have a 7 yr. old Kenmore FL washer that stinks. I've had repair people in & out of warranty try to remedy the problem. They've said leave the door open, run bleach, & wipe out the dispenser tray. The book says not to leave the door open, as a safety precaution to animals or children, my cat did once jump into the open machine but I caught her. I've tried to clean the trays but you can't get all the way back into the cavity without taking the whole machine apart, and I'm not about to do that. I haven't noticed the gasket or machine being moldy but the cavity where the tray sits is very moldy. We do keep the door open & I run chlorox & hot water once a week to lessen the smell, but it still stinks, especially if the door just rests against the opening. I use the proper detergent, Tide He, and minimal softener. I've not heard of any lawsuits but I do feel it is a design flaw and should be addressed.

My front load washer is a Miele and it has the same stink problems described here and I have tried all the solutions described here to no avail. SERIOUSLY wish I had my old top-loader back. We spent a small fortune on this Miele. We've had it for one year and I detest it.
Front load shoppers take note: Your clothes will stink and so will your laundry room. The water savings is not worth the nastiness.

We have the same problem with mold with our front-loader Frigidaire. We bought it several years ago. I've often complained to my husband for folding dirty towels as they still smelled. I realize now that it is a mold problem. As for leaving the door open - we can't do that - it's a safety hazard for small children and pets. I will never purchase another front-load machine. My next task is to contact Frigidaire to see if they will replace the baffle. The shear number of complaints and problems I've read coupled with the severe nature of the issue of mold should be driving these manufacturers to resolve this issue via recall. Why have consumers not seen one yet?

I have had an LG front loader for about 3 years, and have been dealing with the moldy smell for at least 2. I have tried leaving the door open, wiping the gasket with bleach, running the washer with bleach, etc. Nothing seems to hekp. I contacted LG directly and was told to go to Home Depot and purchase Whirl Out. When I asked what they were doing to adress this problem, the rep. told me that "they are working on it". Too bad that so many of us have spent upwards of $1000 for such an inferior hunk of junk! I am ready to haul it out to the curb and go back to a tpo loader. I am probably spending more on my utilities since I have to constantly run this rancid thing just to be able to get ride of the odor for a short time. Disgusting!

I found the cause and the solution to the moldy, sewer smell in my front loader. Actually there are two causes.
After about a year and a half there was a sudden increase in moldy smell. Someone who posted above used "sewer" smell. It is close.
By the way. When I first got the washer, Sears came out ,on a recall, to replace the drum gasket which keeps socks from going to the wrong side of the drum. They really take care of their stuff!
Solution 1. Clean the pre-pump strainer. (Have large towels ready. Don't worry, you can wash them later). This is for the Sewer smell problem.
If you take the lower front panel off (you need a hex/allen wrench) you will find a removable plastic cover on the drain pump. It has a grip so you can turn it counterclockwise and remove it. Expect lots of water to run out. How much? 1 quart minimum up to a gallon or more if you have a sock in there like I did. Don't take it out all the way. Let as much water as you can absorb with your towel (shop vac works good too). You can tighten it again during towel changes.
The first time I did this I found a moldy rotten sock and some gobs of moldy lint. The washer took a long time to drain and sometimes flashed an error message about the drain.
The smell was almost gone and after a couple of large loads with bleach and foaming soap and Oxyfresh and simple green and.....the machine smelled almost perfect. But, the clothes still had a tinge of that moldy smell especially after using a towel the second day.
So after a couple of months and the smell had come back somewhat and I'd renewed my maintenance contract (late) I called Sears to come and maintain it. I took the lower panel off again, cleaned the screen and left the panel off so that they not simply say the screen was dirty and maybe look for something else to clean.
They didn't. In fact they told that I was going to void the warranty or some other crap if I did that. It’s my washer, ass. Besides it’s out of warranty.
So the sears guy says we are using the wrong soap, or too much of it and recommended those Afresh tablets. They kind of work...kind of. Still a smell, and growing.
So, I took the whole damn thing apart.
Solution 2. This might actually void your warranty but there is no way they could know. And if your warranty is no longer intact then who gives a damn anyway.
This is a time consuming pain in the butt. Not recommended for the non-mechanically inclined but not impossible by any means.
BUT WAIT TIL THE END. THERE IS AN EASY WAY.
There are lots of screws and most of them are the same so the job is mostly time consuming. It does take some strength if you go it alone. If you want instructions email me.
Once apart, I found the source of the problem. I took pictures and will send them to you if you request. shawajoe@yahoo.com

Older washing machines used metal drums and metal tanks (the thing that holds the water around the drum). They were strong because they were made of metal. New washers have plastic tanks. They are not as strong and on a front loader hold the drum suspended horizontally from the back of the machine. To make that back wall of the tank strong enough they "honeycomb" it rather than making it a solid piece. The amount of material saved by not making it solid is about 1 gallon. How do I know?
When I looked at the recessed areas of the honeycomb I saw some lint. "Dang", I thought, "not enough to cause a bad smell." Wrong. When I filled the honeycomb with bleach and washed it out, and washed it out and washed it out, I found the honeycombs were deeper than I expected and made a good reservoir for this crappy smelling lint. Each load (depending on size of load) gets a fresh injection of mold and the lint in the water settles into the honeycomb recesses adding to the problem. The slow accumulation bring the problem on, well, slowly. The Afresh pills kill some of the mold but the reservoir is still there.

Anyway, I ended the problem by filling in the honeycomb area with about 1 gallon of fiberglass resin.
A couple of problems:
1. The resin smells like plastic and for a couple of weeks the wet clothes had a plastic smell. The dryer removes all of the smell and it is not noticeable now. The clothes smell wonderfully fresh! Like clean laundry if you can imagine that!
2. The fiberglass didn't really bond to the tank but rather was friction gripped in. If I was to do it again I would put retentive screws through the walls dividing the recesses for better retention. Or add the rest of the gallon on a second pour to bond all the combs together. Or find some other more retentive material. I am not sure what it would be. As a result of the poor bond I lost a piece of fiberglass from one of the recesses and it made some loud banging noises. So I took it apart again (it took only about 2 hours only this time) and cleaned everything up but didn't have time to refill the newly opened space so I got to thinking...
See, I noticed that the tank in every other place was clean. Mainly because it is smooth with no recessed areas but also because there are holes in the drum which lets water spray out against the tank during the spin cycle. There are no holes in the back of the drum. So, the only water that gets back to the honeycomb recesses is water that sloshes back there on the wash cycle and it usually carries lint. So I drilled holes in my drum in the back to allow a stream of water from a power nozzle on my hose to get through and clean them damn recesses…I’ve only got one recess now. (More if more fiberglass comes out in the future).
If you want a picture of the holes I will email them to you. I put two holes per each concentric set of recesses so I could see better. I suppose one would have worked. I really think that a couple of BIG holes would be better but I thought clothes might get snagged in them. What I plan to do next is make a huge hole in the back and then screw a cover over the holes when I am not using them. That is my next step.

A side note. When I disassembled the machine the rubber sleeve coming out of the tank to the pump strainer has an accordion like flexibility. I took that off and cleaned slime from inside of it too. The plastic ball belongs there so be sure to replace it.
And yet another note. Washing machine detergent does not cause mold or moldy smells. They foam some and the HE detergents foam less. In my opinion the foam will clean those damned recessed areas but too much and the foam could get into places like the pressure switch tubing but I doubt it would cause much of a problem. Just my opinion.
Finally, I am a dentist, I am not an appliance repairman though I do like to tinker. So anything I do to my machine may not be good for your machine. It is not something I have been trained to do. Do it at your own risk. I can give you dental advice though….

ok i bought a ge washer and dryer last summer and my girl friend loved it and bought hers right after.all of the sudden my son and daughter and i broke out and have been itching so bad we have been to the dermotologist and dr several times with no help.we have changed our bath soap and laundry soap to free and clear i alway hit the extra rinse,i dont have or see or smell any mold ,but the itching is driving us nuts.we have had every lotion perscribed,i think its what ever the put in the soap for the low suds.so we thought it was just us then i was telling my girlfriend and she laughed and her they are going threw the same thing,he husband has woke up with bloody sheets from itching can some one explain or tell us something?

I have a LG front loader washer that I have had problems with odor in the clothing. I fine myself using extra fabric softeners that becomes very expensive. Please don't leave them in for an half an hour after they have finished then you have to wash again. For the price I paid, I shouldn't have this problem. I wish I would have kept my top loader. I have also replaced parts to stop the leaking, but it doesn't work.

I have had the LG Tromm front loader since 2005 and I have the exact same problem, my whites are a disgusting gray color and then there are the mystery gray splotches on the whites. Also, the towels smell is the worst. After a shower you want to feel clean and you are faced with this disgusting moldy smell. For the amount of money the machines cost, we should not be having these problems and then have to perform monthly maintenance on the machines! I noticed the newer front loaders have added the "Basket-Clean" function. Does this really work??? I am wondering if that is done on a very regular basis, does it REALLY solve the problem? I need to replace these with something new but need the stacking units because of space in the bathroom. Consumer Reports does not rate the Stacked Laundry Centers and I was wondering which one is best with the top loaders. I just wish those units looked nicer.

I purchased a Bosch Next 500 series in May 2008 and about 8 weeks ago I noticed my clothes, and most of all, my towels had a bad odor. I ran a cycle with bleach, used the tablets, wiped the gasket really good with bleach, leave the door open, which makes me extremely nervous with a 19 month old and to no avail my clothes still have a bad odor. Now I have mold in the rubber ring that I can't remove. I am so disgusted with this washer!!!! Why is the manufacturer's not doing anything for the consumers? This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed for the safety of our families. Is this mold toxic???? Good question!! and we are washing our clothes, our babies clothes in this crap!!

Mold is a problem if you eat it or spread it on toast, but hospitals and surgeries are NOT packed with people suffering from the deadly black mold. It's just the latest bandwagon to push a few more people into full-blown OCD. Relax.

I am getting ready to purchase new appliances for our new house that is almost built. I am seriously considering not purchasing front loaders after all the problems people are having. Does anyone have a success story with front loaders?

We have the LG washer/dryer also and have a good bit of dark grey/brown funk on the inside of the door seal. For those of you having specks on the clothes, have you cleaned the pump filter behind the small access door on the front of the washer?

Open the door, pull the hose out and drain into a bucket, then unscrew the filter and clean it out.

We still have the funk on the seal but trying what I can to remedy this.

OKAY, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THIS "RESIDUE BUILD-UP" IN FRONTLOADING WASHERS! I'm convinced that's the politically correct way of saying mold and mildew will build up! We purchased our Whirlpool duet FL set in Feb. '08 after having a Kenmore toploading set for 18 years that never gave me a seconds trouble until it died finally. Not one service call,NEVER had to spend so much money on buying tablets to clean it, NEVER had a mold issue, NEVER HAD TO DO EXTRA CYCLES TO CLEAN IT, and as far as I'm concerned I wish I still had it!!! Yes, I left and leave the doors open to dry out because it's a "no-brainer" there could be an issue, but.... here's what I've been dealing with:

I've been sick and diagnosed with CHRONIC SINUSITIS recently and on my 6th round of antibiotics since Aug. 13th. (3 1/2 months). Literally finish one round of antibiotics to get well and then be sick within a few days and would be right back in the Dr.s office again getting put back on another round because "the first round just must not have gotten the infection" (sarcastically). Now I'm am scheduled for a catscan because my ENT specialist can figure out what's going on and this 6th round of antibiotics is for 3 weeks and I'm still having more symptoms everyday!

I went to a natural food store a couple months back and the told the owner what was going on and asked if there was anything I could do because I was desperate to get rid of this "INFECTION"! The first question she asked me was: DO YOU HAVE ANY MOLD OR MILDEW IN YOUR HOME????

Well, I told her NO, because we've never had an issue, even in our basement which is completely finished off. BUT.... now I'm realizing that I MUST HAVE THIS RESIDUE BUILD-UP (MOLD) in my FRONTLOADING WASHER, and duhhhhhhh, that's probably why I've been so sick. WE'RE ALL WEARING CLOTHES 24/7, WASHING/DRYING OUR BODIES AND OUR DISHES (OCCASIONALLY) WITH THE WASHCLOTHS/TOWELS, SLEEPING IN THE SHEETS/BLANKETS EVERY NIGHT, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE.........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M CONVINCED THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE STORE WHERE WE BOUGHT IT - "NO WE'VE NOT HAD ANY COMPLAINTS OR PROBLEMS". BUT HERE'S THE CS# FOR "WHIRLPOOL". Totally blew me off!

I SPOKE WITH WHIRLPOOL AND IMMEDIATELY WAS TOLD "THAT MOLD IS ONE OF THE DRAWBACKS TO OWNING A FRONTLOADING WASHER." UGHHHHHHHHHH! WHY WASN'T THAT MENTIONED WHEN WE SPENT ALMOST $1800 BUYING WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A "DREAM SET" AFTER HAVING A SET THAT WAS SO OLD!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS A MAJOR PURCHASE FOR US AND I'M SO UPSET! After telling her what I've been going through, she said, "Oh, we need to report this to the SAFETY department. Let me see if I can get a technician out to see if there's a problem".

Now that I've started googling, I've found all kinds of "KNOWN" problems and even law-suits over this issue. Yes, there are some of you who have never had problems, but what about the rest of us?

HAS ANYONE ELSE THAT OWNS A FRONTLOADING WASHER HAD THE FOLLOWING:
*UNUSUAL SINUS/ALLERGY ISUES THAT CONTINUE ON EVEN AFTER THE "ALLERGY" SEASON HAS ENDED
*HEADACHES
*DRAINAGE IN YOUR THROAT OR SORE THROAT
*FATIGUE/ACHINESS?
GO TO WWW.TOXIC-BLACK-MOLD-SYNDROME.COM FOR MORE SYMPTOMS.

I SAW THIS MENTIONED ON A LOCAL AM NEWS SEGMENT YESTERDAY AND BOY AM I OUTRAGED!!!!!! IT FITS WHAT I'M GOING THRU TO A "T". NEVER HEARD OF IT, BUT NOW I'M DOING SOME RESEARCH! I'm not one to sue or pursue this type of issue, but something needs to be done!

COMMENTS ARE WELCOME AND APPRECIATED!

I'VE GOT THE "TECHNICIAN" COMING SOMETIME TODAY - SOMEHOW THEY FIT ME IN THE BUSY SCHEDULE - THE VERY DAY AFTER I CALL!!!!! I'LL UPDATE THE INFO...

I bought a duet washer and dryer about 2.5 yrs ago. I have never felt as though my clothes were any cleaner and in fact thought even less so since I bought them. I never had to do any cleaning on top loaders and never remember my mother or father doing any cleaning on their machine and my clothes smelled cleaner. I have also not noticed any savings on my water or electric bills although my husband says there is. It also cost an additional $150 to replace the rubber gasket(with my husband doing free labor)as well as money on the tablets. I started leaving the door open a few months after buying it and that seemed to help the visible mold problem but there is still an odor. I recommended to my sister not to buy one because of the aforementioned problems but she did anyway about 6 months ago and has not reported any problem yet. Another little annoyance I had was that the knob broke on the dryer and when I called to get a new one it cost almost $30!! My family has had frequent colds and sinus infections and it is very possibly due to this!!

We bought a GE WCVH6400JWW washer in June of 2008. Great deal on the washer and dryer, the government rebate covered the whole cost. After each load we leave the door open. We don't have young kids so there are no safety concerns about younger children getting in the tub. But as I said before, our door is constantly open. After the first month the washer began to get that kind of washer "I've been filled with dirty clothes over and over again smell," so I began to research ways to keep the washer fresh and clean. First I found smellywasher.com which I've never tried, but some say it works, others don't agree. I remembered in Sears, while buying the washer and dryer, a display for some sort of washer cleaner, then after googling for a bit, I found affesh washer cleaner. It's made and was developed by whirlpool and a few other companies recommend using it, but GE was not one of them although you can use it in any brand of washer. GE who has a deal with Tide for promotional detergent use in their washers now has a washer cleaner as well that GE recommends, I've never tried it, but it has three tablets a package like affresh but it costs eight dollars a box. At first the affresh tablets were about nine dollars for a bag of three, after using up the three we bought a few more bags at seven dollars a bag, I think it cancels out the energy savings cost for the front loading washers but I feel it keeps ours clean and fresh, and you still save the energy and water but not the cost that would come from those savings; our washer has an estimated twelve dollars a year in energy costs (using an electric water heater) so I'd say energy costs even out. Our washer has a BasketClean cycle, we use the tablets instead of bleach, and if you know anything about front loading washers, these cycles use hot water. After running that cycle once a month I clean out the pump filter located at the front of our washer, it will usually have some lint and maybe a coin or two, I have a feeling many people have a problem there and not the gasket, as that area sees no light and has about a bowl full of water in it every time I clean it out. Other than the affresh and cleaning the filter out we don't do anything else special, we always run a cold wash using regular HE detergent, the washer makes sure the water is at a certain temp. about 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit, I'm guessing, so that the detergent works correctly and effectively, without this my incoming cold water might be at 48 degrees Fahrenheit which isn't a good temp. for detergent to work and so cleaning capability would be drastically less. Front loaders really need HE detergent. I find that for some reason people with front loaders think the rule doesn't apply to them, but it's their loss because HE detergent is formulated specifically for the low water levels in HE washers, without it your washer uses too much water to cancel out the high suds from regular detergent. The clothes shouldn't get as clean either because regular detergent isn't formulated to keep dirt from redepositing on the clothes as it's made to use in high volumes of water where that isn't a problem. We have never used any bleach and/or and other bleach alternatives in detergents or by themselves, we also don't use fabric softener as is sometimes lessens absorbency of fabrics, we use dryer sheets instead. On the other hand our neighbors with a five year old Kenmore HE3t never use HE detergent, even though they think by using less detergent it's the same thing as using HE detergent but it's NOT, but they don't have a problem with mold either. They do use detergent with color safe bleach though and they DON'T leave their washer door open so it seems different things work for different people. We don't use bleach because it's not good for the environment and the dioxins in bleach get into our food and water supplies causing some cancers. It seems that everyone else is using bleach and we're not, yet we seem to be the only ones without a smelly washer, connection? Of course it could be the fact that it's in our basement that isn't heated or cooled during the appropriate seasons. Every once in while someone we'll clean the gasket out because it gets hair in it but it has yet to develop a mold problem. CR hasn't rated the washer we have and apparently on some models close to the one we have, have gaskets that break apart, damaging their test clothes, but our washer doesn't have that gasket or that problem. The washer cleans very well and gets out so much water that drying is quick and efficient. We used to have a top loader with a lower level dryer with just a temp. sensor, not humidity, and for some reason clothes smelled terrible coming out of the washer and towels would smell even worse, the smell would activate when they got wet again. Sometimes with the front loader, the towels usually, will be dripping wet and we just run the drain and spin cycle and it usually rings them out properly, I've observed a few towel cycles to find the problem and it stems from unbalanced loads. Towels get really heavy when soaking wet so when the spin cycle starts the towels sometimes clump on one side of the drum and the washer, with sensors to protect internal parts and the washer itself, will not get up to a full speed, eventually after trying a few times more the washer will end the cycle, leaving you with soaking towels. To fix this just run the load with as many towels as you can so that the load is more easily balanced. This problem often causes long cycle times for front loaders, as they try to extract as much water as they can from your clothes, but even with the long cycle times they are still extremely energy efficient compared to agitator top loaders. Even with all these complaints from other people it seems that our washer is problem free. With a little maintenance and a change in detergents I think we can all save a lot of water and energy by switching to front loading washers. I would recommend one to anyone in the market for a new washer. I will try to update this so reliability and washer stink is accurate and I don' mislead people.

After a year and half of nothing but problems and mold issues, Electrolux is offering to cash out with me! Of course they depreciate and dont consider the cost of extended warranty, or the pedestal. I'll gladdly take the little bit they are offering just to get rid of the thing!

My husband and I purchased all of our appliances for our new home at Lowes. Included in the purchase was a Bosch Nexxt 500 series washer and dryer with pedestals (November 2007). Since I had never used or had a front loader before, I read instructions front to back and all was well for a while. By March, the washer developed a bad smell and our second floor laundry room even smelled. A mold (a black fungus-type growth) growing on the rubber inside the mouth of the washer was the culprit. We got a Bosch authorized representative to come to look at it and he replaced the rubber ring. We were told to use the Affresh tablets. We did this as well as running bleach through the cycle as recommended. Nothing worked. Shortly after, another repair person was sent by Lowes to check it out again. He ran a causic type powder through it and ran different water cycles back to back and then told me to do the same once more after he left. We called Lowes who said the Bosch rep was working on getting us a replacement washer. They offered to replace just the door with a different model door. I was concerned about the warranty when "Frankensteining" a door together. They kept saying they were working on it until we finally called for a resolution after Christmas 2008. We were told that the Bosch folks weren't going to stand by their product and that Lowes would give us a new (different model) Bosch front loading washer. This was yesterday (12-29-2008). Today the brand-spankin' new washer was delivered. It looks used and doesn't match the dryer that we bought originally as a pair. In fact, it doesn't have the manual with it as Lowes told me I could go on-line to the Bosch website to download and print the 88 page report. I am so disappointed by the frontloading washer. I would NEVER recommend them to anyone. Seems funny that in my appliance manual it never suggests leaving the door open and wiping it down after each cycle as the Bosch rep in California recommended when I called her today. For people with children, why would you leave the door open to the washer? There are safety lock mechanisms sold on websites as One Step Ahead to child proof your home. I have my newborn babies clothes that are stained from that terrible mold when they've gotten stuck in that rubber portion of the door. What a crock. Who are these genius engineers who come up with this new technology? I never had problems with my top loader and I regret that I gave it to a charity when we moved to the new house with the new appliances that were supposed to be so much better. It appears that the hype of the HE products turn out to be bigger than the actual quality of the product itself. The bad part is that we pay extra for less quality.

I have an LG washer dryer combo in my small house. We do about a load every other day (two of us) and alternate between running the dry cycle and line drying. Initially we had some trouble with our towels smelling a little funny. We tossed them and bought new ones that started to smell a bit funny shortly after the first wash. I did a little nosing around and found that many people who used Tide detergent were having the same problem. My parents have a Kenmore front loader and their towels always stink when we visit -- I hate that.
We use no-perfume, no-dye detergent (I have very sensitive skin) so there are only a few options for us in the HE variety of detergents. After the switch to ALL, and without leaving the door open or any additional cleaning, no smell in our towels! I told my parents, who then switched detergent, and last visit...no smell in the towels! We NEVER use chlorine bleach but did start using OxyClean at the same time so whether it's the switch in detergent, the OxyClean or whatever I am not sure but our clothes come out clean and odor free without any extra steps. (Parents don't use OxyClean and there is no odor for them either).
Just my 2 cents...maybe it's time to try a different detergent? Looking for detergent in the supermarket yesterday I noticed that literally 2/3rds of the aisle was Tide brand stuff so it might be that most people are using that brand -- the one most people I know grew up with.

I purchased a neptune washer also about 6 or 7 years ago and had to replace the rubber gasket about 4 years ago. The smell I get on my towels and colors is horrible. It doesn't matter what I do to clean it the smell is awful I would never recommend a front loader to anyone. I will purchase a top loader next time.

We purchased the Cylpso Elite Kenmore and it has been the biggest nightmare in MY LIFE! I got screwed in the class action lawsuit and I have had an avg of 3-5 repairs a year including the digital cons. replaced for over $1,400. I now have no machine IT RUSTED OUT TOTALLY, mold, mildew, rust all around my gasket and I do use a cleaner by Sears to run thru the machine every 6 months and it did nothing. Cloths/towels smell, towels fray, rust from under the gasket stained cloths!
I live in a new home that now has to have the wall in my laundry room ripped out from water damage from all the leaking from the machine. Never, ever again! Kenmore is a worthless piece of garbage.! No front loaders ever!

Repair man said the machine is rusted so bad if he replaced my seal more then likely I will have other problems it would be like opening pandoras box. Said he sees it all time with this machine and it is not worth trying to repair he said dump it!
PS He said stay away from front loaders.

DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT EVER BUY A LG FLWASHER THEY ARE SO NASTY AND STINKY AND SO IS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE.I LEARNED MY LESSON WELL I HAD RATHER HAVE A PORTABLE OR WASH ON MY HANDS AS TO BE MADE A FOOL BY LG&WHIRLPOOL.I HOPE THEY LOOSE MILLIONS ON LAW SUITS THEY DESERVE IT.JUST LIKE THEY HAVE MADE MILLIONS ON ALL OF US WHO PURCHASED THESE NO GOOD FOR NOTHING WASHERS.

I have had a Sears Kenmore HE front loader, as have at least 5 friends, for years! Never had mold problems! All you need to do is wipe excess water form the gasket (when u see any)it may be about a tablespoon! And, leave the door open a crack! Personally, I had mold problems ineach of my top loaders in the dispensing containers--and these were virtually impossible to clean out! I recommend front loaders to everyone!

Our GE front loader has developed a weird problem and the GE Help Line offers no help. We use HE detergent as recommended. NO bleach but several items of clothing have been clearly bleached recently. Strangely, only some items are affected. For example, one yellow sock of a pair has white patches. One shirt in a load has been bleached. This doesn't happen on every load.
Called the GE "help" line and they could find neither any previous reports of this happening nor offer a solution. But worst of all, the rep said there was no one to whom she could pass the info so start compiling reports. Reading the web, I know this isn't an isolated instance of this problem, so GE had to have been notified before. But since the rep said she and her colleagues are not instructed to take notes of new and unusual complaints, there is no paper trail. What an awful way to do business.
The rep suggested we call for service - at our expense. That was ridiculous on its face because if she had no documentation or knowledge of the cause/remedy, what info would a service person have?

Next, add us to the long list of people complaining about mold and mildew buildup inside the door gasket. Prevention of the problem is not alluded to or prescribed in the instruction manual. On her own, my wife deduced that leaving the door open until the interior dried was good practice to reduce mold. Ditto for the soap and bleach dispenser. We also realize that periodically we have to wipe the gunk out of the gasket, a buildup that can prevent water from draining and exacerbate the mold factory.
Also strange is that Consumer Reports hasn't mentioned these problems in their washing machine evaluations.

THE BOSCH FRONT LOADING IS GREAT!!! I am a designer and have recommended the Bosch front loading washers and dryers to clients ever since they came on the market and have never had a complaint or a problem with any of them. I know that other manufactures do have issues but the Bosch front loaders should not be grouped in the category of the "problem front loaders". I have the Bosch front loading in two different homes and have never had a problem with either one. The clothes are cleaner and there has never been a residual odor. I have never used bleach because the "power temp" cycle works better than bleach and is easier on your clothing. THE BOSCH FRONT LOADER IS A WINNER!!!

On April 9, 2003 my husband and I purchased a Whirlpool Duet Washer and Dryer set from Lowes in Fayetteville, Georgia. This was a huge investment for us and we anticipated the machines lasting 10-15 years as other similar appliances have. One of the primary reasons we purchased the machines was the ability to wash and dry king size comforters fairly easily. I have severe allergies and must wash my comforter on a regular basis to minimize symptoms. In addition, we have three children and do huge amounts of laundry (several loads a day). The large capacity Duet front loader seemed ideal to meet our needs, so we decided to purchase the set, even though it cost significantly more than we originally were prepared to spend.

Almost immediately we began experiencing mold problems with our washer. I was told by customer service to try using Cascade Complete dishwasher powder in the machine once every two months. This did nothing to improve the mold. It could still be seen and smelled. I’ve tried running bleach through the machine weekly, which also failed to resolve the problem. The new affresh product covers up the stench a bit, but does nothing to eliminate the mold. We have had the gasket replaced, but still had mold a couple of weeks later. We have had the machine serviced in January, 2004 (less than a year from our purchase date), and again in May of 2005. Nothing has helped the mold problem.

My teenage daughter, who suffers from asthma, is constantly complaining of moldy smelling towels (even when washed with bleach). My son, whose room is right next to the laundry room was diagnosed with asthma a couple of years ago. I am very concerned that the mold has contributed to his allergies and asthma.

Our laundry room is in the “mud room” area that connects our kitchen to our garage and our finished basement. Guests frequently walk through our laundry room and often ask about our machines. I have to warn them to never purchase a Whirlpool front-loader. I cannot recall another appliance that I have been more disappointed in. I have made several other appliance purchases over the years and have been very careful to try to avoid Whirlpool/Kenmore/Maytag products

I am quite tired of all of our laundry smelling like mold. I am very particular about my laundry, which is another reason we purchased the set. I had heard that front loaders were more gentle on clothing due to the lack of an agitator. Now I have expensive clothes that look nicer for longer periods of time, but they smell like mold. This is not an acceptable trade-off. I also have king-size bed linens that are free from dust mites, but not mold spores. Again, this is not an acceptable trade-off.

I purchased a Sears front loader and have it now for five years. Last year every time a load finished there was this terrible odor. I went on the internet to see if any one else had the same problem. To my surprise it was common to all front loaders. I tired all the recommended things I could find on the internet. After trying them all I got the problem solved. It lasted about four month and has returned. I feel that there is a real disconnect between the people and the makers of the units. If you buy a car and it is defective there is a recall to correct the problem, because it is dangous for the public. The mold is also a danger to the public, but nothing seems to be done about this serious flaw. They still keep making them and selling them knowing the product is defective.

Sorry - long post - new appliance owner with a lot to say!

We just bought our first condo and negotiated hard for the pretty new LG FL Washer & Dryer. After years of apartment living, we were really looking forward to doing laundry (without using quarters!) in our own home, whenever we wanted, throwing a load of laundry in before we left for work, etc.

Well, needless to say, that doesn't happen. We took possession in Feb, and the stacking Washer Dryer was bought by the previous owners last May, so they are less than a year old. When we moved in, we really smelled mold, and thought it was the damp carpeting. My boyfriend wanted to rip out the carpeting that night! He has asthma, and doesn't need any more attacks!

Then we thought it was the tile, and bleached all the grout in the bathrooms.

Finally figured out it's my beloved laundry set, which sings to me when it is done! I love(d) my laundry set soooo much. I used to love DOING laundry.

Now it's disgusting, and it's only been a month! I have run the tub clean cycle with bleach twice, wiped the gasket, wiped all the crannies inside the gasket, dissembled the filter and drained the water out (which was grey), bleached that, bleached the detergant thingy, left the door open. I don't leave clothes in there anymore, so once again, I am a slave to the washer and have to be there when it's done. I don't like the washer song anymore.

I saw some blackish stuff underneath the inside lip of the gasket at the bottom, (after tub-clean cycle with bleach twice!)so I pried it up a tiny little bit (it's not glued down or anything) and sure enough, it is mold. Got in there and bleached it with a toothbrush- still smells.

My towels smell, my clothes absolutely reek, especially when I hang stuff to dry, and my eyes are all red and itchy. People at work can smeel the mold on me!

Our laundry habits- we run cold cycles mostly, don't generally put bleach in with clothes, and were using Tide Free HE, about to the 2 line, which I now realize is way too much. I have switched to Zero HE in hopes that the scented detergent will combat some of the odor, but...no. We don't use fabric softener, just dryer sheets. Oh, and our laundry room is on the 4th floor off our living room hallway, there is no dampness or chill, nor is there too much humidity.

I just called LG, and they recommend Whirlout. My appliance centre has never heard of it, so maybe it's a U.S. thing (I am in Canada) so we are going to try Affresh tonight.

I asked the LG lady what to do if that doesn't work, and she begrudgingly gave me the name of an appliance repair place in town. It had better be under warranty, because if bleach doesn't kill this smell, I don't know what will. Bleach kills EVERYTHING. It can kill the HIV virus, can't it? Why would it be unable to kill mold? That's what kills mold, isn't it?

Oka, I have vented for a bit. (too bad there isn't a MOLD-vent on my WASHER, ha ha).

Just wanted to let everyone know that it isn't only the "older-generation of fl's" that do this, as some sales-people will tell you, and that it doesn't take long to start, either.

I will try all the things I am supposed to try, and keep track, but I am going to keep on top of the appliance store and LG, because if nothing works, I definitely want them replaced with traditional machines, and it's going to take a lot to convince me that they are "cured" of this problem. I'll keep you posted.

I've had a Kenmore (Frigidaire) front loader since 1998. I've always just left the door open. Never molded once.

Of course, after 11 years now, the bearings have worn out (won't spin) and it's not much more to buy new than it is to have them replaced...

Has anyone tried a Staber brand washer? It's a top-loading, horizontal axis washer, so supposedly you get the best of both worlds. Also, it's made in USA-- Groveport, Ohio (a suburb of Columbus). I'd be interested in hearing reviews of this machine as we need to replace ours.

By the way, what is so different about American front-loading washers versus the ones in Europe that people have been using for far longer than us, and apparently without the mold issues? Maybe Consumer Reports can figure that one out for us?

I have an LG front load washer and am having the same problem with the mold and bad smell. I have had it about two years and it only started a few months ago. I have maintained the washer with the Affresh as well as the clorox and nothing seems to help. I have contacted the toll free customer service line and they tell me all the things to do, which I have done already, and still have the smell. Our laundry room is on the main level and is an 8 x 10 room, so it isn't a small space. When you walk into the room the entire room smells of mold. So much for LG....no more front load washers for me either.

at washing machine wizard.com we constantly getting this product (smelly washer) recommended by our visitors. I'm ordering some to try out myself and then will give my opinion (hopefully soon). At the moment i'm very optimistic about what i've been told. People basically say that "it works" , "it easy" "it's quick"

We purchased a Neptune washer & dryer and have had nothing but trouble. They replaced the washer after replacing parts more times than I can count,and the replacement has had to have the rubber seal replaced because of mold. I have told everyone I know not to buy these washers. Dryer is great but washer causes mold and mildew. I would have never purchased this washer had I known that mold grows in these wahsers. My son is allergic to mold......Can't wait until I can dump this lemon in the dump where it belongs. Never again will I buy a front load washer....

We purchased a Neptune washer & dryer and have had nothing but trouble. They replaced the washer after replacing parts more times than I can count,and the replacement has had to have the rubber seal replaced because of mold. I have told everyone I know not to buy these washers. Dryer is great but washer causes mold and mildew. I would have never purchased this washer had I known that mold grows in these wahsers. My son is allergic to mold......Can't wait until I can dump this lemon in the dump where it belongs. Never again will I buy a front load washer....

I have a front loading Kenmore with a moldy smell. I'm allergic to mold and my eyes tear and throat burns when the spin cycle runs. I have tried Affresh tablets and cleaning it with bleach. They didn't help for more than a day. I have been trying to find other solutions online rather than bring out a serviceperson which would be more expensive.
I left the door open, wiped the door, wiped the gasket, wiped the inside of the machine. Didn't make a difference.

I loved the repair posted here:

Posted by: Joseph Shawa | Nov 13, 2008 12:05:46 PM

It sounded like this person really figured some of the stuff out about how to fix these units.

I have found that there is basically some education that needs to happen to understand the front load washing machine. They have been using them forever in Europe...we (US and Canada) are somewhat new to this product and we just need to learn how to deal with them. Two big complaints are mildew smell and vibration. You can buy stuff that you run through the washing machine once a month that cures the whole smell thing...and the vibration can be solved by putting rubber pads specially made for the front load washer under the feet. We purchased our stuff from frontloadtoad dot com...but I would guess some of the other products out there work just as well. Good luck!

I had a GE Frontloader for less than one year. It broke and I returned it to sam's club for a full refund. It never got my clothes clean. We live on a small farm and have dirty clothes. Clothes that were clean to start with like bath towels or business clothes came out fine. But anything with a spot or any type of actual dirt never came clean. Cycles were extremely long. And my clothes did not seem to be spun out any dryer than my top loader. I am now back to a top loader and couldn't be happier.

my lg stinks, run bleach in twice a week, have tried vinegar & ammonia did not solve problem...

I have a LG Front Load Washer I purchased less than a year ago and I am so disgusted. The inside of my washer smells like a dirty fish tank, the smell when you walk by is a septic tank smell and I am now getting slimy black gunk on my sheets, towels and clothes. Wow! What an expensive crappy product. It should be recalled due to the mold problem and the health issues that it can cause. I tried to call the store that I bought it at because I bought the extra warranty and I was told by them that they nor the manufacturer cover any type of odor. I am in the middle of doing the tub clean just so that I can wash a couple loads before I go buy a top loader. I will be throwing this machine away I could not live with myself If I tried to sell it to somebody else. So I will chalk this up as an $1100 loss and move on with my life I cannot deal with it any longer. Very excited for the day that I can take a load of clothes out of the washer without putting my shirt over my nose.

I liked Anita's point. My washer couldn't be any further from the hot water tank- given the fact that it uses such a small amount of water, it will likely never have hot water for the hot water cycle. I have not bought a front loader yet, but am doing my research. I am thankful for my neighbors and friends who are honet about this problem. They also warn that you cannot add close to the wash once it is started and that there is no way to "soak" your clothes, should you need to. I am told to not let your wet clothes sit in a front loader for long or they will smell- and ineveitably, as a busy mom, that happens. There are many energy efficient top loaders that do not have these problems. I am going to check those out before I make a purchase.

I'm thinking of purchasing Electrolux front load washer & dryer. Does anyone one have any opinions, good & bad, regarding this brand? Any problems with mold & odor?

I have finally figured out a solution that is time-consuming but that works for my stinkin' Duet washer. I remove the front-panel (there are three screws holding it on), then unscrew the drain filter and drain out its contents. The nastiest grey mold stuff imaginable comes out. I then pop the filter apart and soak it in a dilute bleach solution. Finally, I take an empty plastic water bottle, fill it with a dilute bleach solution, and spray the bleach solution back into the chamber that holds the filter, to remove the remaining gunk. I then reassemble everything, wipe down the gasket to clean out the hidden mold/mildew, and then run the washer using a product called "smelly washer." This completely does the trick, but I have to do it about every 2-3 weeks.

NOTE OF CAUTION: Once I remove the front-panel, there are exposed wires. DISCONNECT the washer from the electrical outlet to avoid serious injury.

FINAL COMMENT: It is ridiculous that anyone has to do this to get an expensive consumer product to work. I tell everyone to avoid front-loaders like the plague.

I think this site is very helpful for people to document issues they've had related to mold in front loading washing machines. As someone with a top-loader that is starting to show its age, I was originally thinking of a front loader, but now am seriously considering staying away from them. While there may be savings from lower water consumption, the maintenance and headaches are not worth it to me.

It would be helpful if the blog author could compile the results so that potential buyers can determine which models have the lowest number of mold-related complaints, and make educated choices.

I would love to be a part of any class action lawsuit against Kenmore for their chronic mold problems in their front loading machines! I hate, hate, hate the way our clothes smell and have done all the tricks suggested by other owners to get rid of the problem short of taking apart the washer to clean it. Sears knows about this problem and conveniently doesn't mention it to those buying their machines. And when this problem occurs, they are of no help whatsoever.

If anyone has information about a class action lawsuit against Kenmore, please post information!

Thanks

I had a terrible mold problem in my LG front load washer. Nothing worked on it until I found Borax. I believe the mold problem is really the result of hard water. We had a Whirlpool front loader in our previous home and never had a problem with the mold smell. I have had my LG Tromm for 3.5 year and have been extremely frustrated with the mold smell. To the point that I was looking to see if a class action suit was being brought against LG...which it is. My mom told me to try using Borax in my loads. I have been using it now and the mold smell is gone! In our previous home we had a whole house water softening system which would explain why we never had a problem. Borax is essentially a water softener.
Just add Borax or any additive that is a water softener to the loads.

I found a site that expalins a lot about what is going on with the smells. Why it happens and how to clean it out. It is a very easy to understand site. www.nufreshnow.com

they sell a cleaning product you may or may not want but the reasons for the smell are explained and it is not the manufacturesr fault or the detergent maker fault. it is your fault for using too much detergent!

Not a fan of the front loader machines. smelly, yes. and i am a lysol fanatic. you cannot do a "quick" load. the machines are huge and crowd your laundry room. if i win the lotto new washer and dryers are the fist things i would buy, not sure i would even give then away

I BOUGHT A SET WASHER & DRYER LG BRAND FROM SEARS I AM EXPERIENCING THE TERRIBLY SMELLY CLOTHES HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO RID OF THE SMELL. nOT ONE THING HAS HELPED SEARS & LG HAVE GIVEN ME NO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. MOLD SMELL ON YOUR CLOTHES IS JUST HORRIBLE. NO FRESH TOWELS TO SMELL ANYMORE! I WOULD TELL EVERYONE TO NEVER PAY SO MUCH FOR ONE OF THESE TERRIBLE WASHERS!!!

We purchased an LG Tromm front loading washer from Sears approximately 1+ years ago. We have always used the correct HE detergent, and left the door open when not using the machine. The laundry room is clean, dry, and on a second floor - not a basement. There is no indication of mold anywhere in the house - not even a hint on shower tile. None. A number of months after the LG arrived, we began to notice the smells, then see the mold growing in the door gasket. Attempts to remove the mold and stop mold growth were unsuccessful.

A call to LG resulted with them saying they will do nothing, and I should take it up with Sears. A quick Google of "LG washer mold" turned up countless consumer complaints and a class action lawsuit against LG for this exact problem.

I contacted Sears. To make a long story short, after much effort, persistence, some setbacks and unreturned calls, I managed to get through to the Sears Blue Ribbon department, a unit set up to handle customer complaints that are directed through Sears corporate executive offices. This alone did not result in resolution to the problem, and again required persistence, calm, and rational discussion. I was finally able to get Sears to replace the machine.

While I can not say that each outcome would be the same, it is certainly worth the effort to contact the Sears Blue Ribbon department by calling the corporate offices, and pursuing your complaint there.

I purchased my whirlpool duet front-load washer after researching on consumer reports.I luckily read before hand the comments about mold in door gasket. I've had my washer for 3 years and have always left the door open and detergent drawer open when not using. I've avoided mold problems by doing this never really have had to wipe out or run bleach cycle.Rubber gasket does it's job by sealing door from leaking. Only makes sense that if you shut the door when still wet it seals in the moisture preventing drying and thus leading to mold formation.

I really appreciate this site because I am ready to purchase a new washer and dryer and I was hooked on this fancy looking front load. One thing I have learned from experience is to NEVER buy anything when it first hits the market because all the kinks that will arise. I wonder if the engineers of these fancy front loaders will fix this problem. I know I would have been extremely upset to spend all this money on a washer and deal with all this extra B.S.
I usually just wash and dry with no extra care on my old washer and dryer which is what I want with the new ones I purchase. I do not want to do all this extra care maintenance on appliances (hell I already hate doing laundry).

I hate our new LG Front load washer. Our clothes/ towels always smell like mold. My husband had to have it, so he should do all the laundry.
I would never recommend fr load, traditional washer have been around for long time. Some thing should not change.

I will never buy a front loader again because of this issue. Nor will I ever deal with Bosch. They have horrible business practices. The collar holds water and does not drain which causes mold to form. This mold is next to impossible to remove. With this " high efficiency" washer I have to run four cycles for each load of laundry. I have to run a bleach load first to try to get rid of the stink (never really goes away) then wash, then spin and then drain cycles and repeat for each load. This washer has ruined my handmade baby blankets and many articles of my and my childrens clothes with streaks of mold that does not come out. When you call Bosch they tell you to leave the door open. Thanks, you do not think I have been doing that. They basically said unless there is a lawsuit they will not do anything. My opinion is do not buy this washer you will regret it.

Does anyone have a problem with additional oily stains showing up on their clothes after being washed by a front loader? I have a frigidaire, and I would never by another front loader. Big waste of money!!

We are a retired couple and have had an Asko front loader washer (model 6461) and dryer (T731) for four years. We have had absolutely no mold problems even though we wash only four or five loads/week on average. These are small capacity machines and probably would not work for many families, but I highly recommend them for smaller families. Clothes are very clean, and there are no smell issues. Each load requires two tablespoons of HE detergent.

We purchased our Maytag Neptune some years ago...have not looked it up. Probably 2002-2003. From the onset I noticed I cold hear water and see water sittting in the gasket. So noticed mold, or black I assumed to be mold. Laundry had a musty. moldy mildew smell. Tried bleach and Solumel and anything else. Made certain door was left open. Never was made aware of Class action suit. Last year finally took time to call maytag. They said call a tech and have them look at it at my expense. Never suggested any leagal action had taken place. I missed the deadline anyway. They did quickly say" no design flaw" which I thought was strange.
We have a person in this houshold who has sensitivity to odors, scents, pollen, mold, mildew.
For the price of the unit this should never happen. I do not have time to follow up with mfg when I purchased someething in good faith with good money...for a good product! NOT.
What can I do if I missed the legal venue? anyhting to be compensated?

I agree and have had the exact same disappointing experience with LG as Kerry has. Nobody ever told me that we had to do anything other than normal service, after paying 600+ and having a machine not work after 2 years, I am very disappointed.

For those of you saying you don't understand what the rest of us are talking about, just wait a little. Our Maytag Neptune was mold free for over 4 years when one day (of course, just after the class action lawsuit was settled) I noticed mold growing on the seal. I did everything I was told by Maytag. I used Fantastic to wipe the seal, I ran bleach cycles with hot water, I use HE detergent, I leave the door open. The mold grows. I try affresh, I try smelly washer, I try white vinegar, I try bleach directly in the tub....The mold grows. Once you get any mold, in my experience, you are done for. I've hung on to this machine way too long. My friend had the same problem with her Maytag replaced it with an LG, mold again, but only quicker this time. My mother was advised to replace the moldy seal in her Neptune with a black one, I guess so you can't see the mold growing, for $300. The repairman I talked to said that's just cosmetic, the real mold is in the inside drum where we can't see and replacing that, well just start over. I struggle with whether I could keep it at bay with a new machine or if it is inevitable. All of the care and cleaning instructions were not readily available when I purchased last go around. I wonder if I should give up and go back to a top loader. Why hasn't any company been able to figure this out?

I bough my wife a GE front loder two and a half years ago, over her objections, and have had it serviced twice and had another appointment for today which I cancelled after she researched the 'stink' problem which seems to be inherant in all these models. The answer appears to be paper towels, an open door and/or special stench removing chemicals. We have our house on the market and one of the selling features is that the piece of crap washer and matching dryer go with the home. As does the smell which permeates the entire second floor. I'm thinking of getting an antique wash board and going down to the creek once a week and doing the laundry on a rock.
Do yourself a favor and stick with what works--top load washers. Or put your overpriced, energy efficient, water saving nightmare out on the front porch along with that couch you can't get the trash men to take and let the evening breeze take the moldy stink over to the trailer next door!

looking for help from david R posted a comment on june 24 2009 about problem with lg tromm he contacted sears blue ribbon department we have contacted sears they say no such thing.could anyone help with problem

Any area that has connection with water is bound to be hit by the mold problem.The laundry room is definitely one of those.

Almost all of these posts are about the mold problems with FL washers. Anyone have problems with the bearings going prematurely on your washer? I've had a Kenmore FL for only six years, and the bearings are shot already. The technician fears the spider arms are also broken, too. He recommended that I use it until it won't spin anymore and then replace it, because the repair will cost nearly as much as a new one. Anyone else having this problem with their FL? Any advice? This seems an AWFULLY short life span for such an expensive appliance! If this is going to happen to the next one in 5-10 years, I may be going back to top-load.

We have suffered from the mold smell in our Frigidaire washer since shortly after it was purchased despite cleaning it with a variety of products and always leaving the door open.

I certainly don't mind maintaining equipment, but this is a serious problem because of the toxicity of mold. Also, when I clean my washer, I find the mold is heaviest under the area of gasket that I can get to. I can only imagine how bad the mold is under the area of gasket I reach to clean.

Unfortunately, I purchased a Frigidaire Affinity ATF700 in late 2007 (didn't start using it until April 2008). Stupidly, I was swayed by the pretty blue color (I know, a ridiculously girlie way to choose an appliance!) It collects water in the gasket in the front, in the detergent drawer and it leaks out the bottom of the front door every time I run it. It is an expensive piece of junk as far as I am concerned. I leave the door open all the time now, which makes maneuvering in my very narrow laundry space difficult. I also wipe out the gasket and the door with an old wash cloth, but it still stinks. Grrr. Very frustrating! The matching dryer is fine...

I have an LG steam washer. I love it. I wash pet stuff, rugs, clothes, everything and I don't have a mold smell. Everything comes out so clean. After I wash the pet bedding and rugs, I wipe down the door then fill the bleach dispenser as directed and hit the tub clean cycle which washes away everything. I have been very pleased. We replaced a Maytag Neptune when we bought the LG so I definitely know the mold smell and problems. There was no escaping it with the Maytag. I couldn't wait to get rid of it and donated it to a no-kill dog shelter. I hope there are others who like the front loaders.

I purchased two Bosch Nexxt front loading washing machines about 3 years ago and will not buy them again. I have black mold on both machines rubber gaskets...I use the HE Tide, leave the door open, use the right amount of detergent yet, nothing seems to prevent the mold from appearing nor can I remove it. My house runs on a de-humidfier so humidity should not be an issue. Bosch customer service is not helpful...they just give standard advice. Next time I purchase a washing mashine, I will go back to basics. Something like the top loader that I had before these that worked for 15 years without fail (and mold!)

I have had a Frigidaire Gallery front loading washer for 12 years. It took quite a few years for the smell to develop, but eventually it started to smell like the sewer and I was checking vents and drains looking for the problem. I had never heard that the front loading washers themselves were the problem. My problem was the gasket around the door. It had all sorts of gunk under it. I had no idea this would happen and there was no mention of it in the owner's manual. Since discovering this, I have cleaned out the gunk and wiped it down with bleach. Also have used Afresh, but didn't see any difference with that. My clothes never did smell, just the washer. It's 80% better now, but not good enough. I am disappointed to hear that this type of washer still has this problem -- or worse. You would think that in all these years it would be solved. I did read that one brand was putting Microban in the gasket to keep it from molding. That's probably a good idea. I need to replace my set. I hate the matching dryer even more than the washer, and am hoping to have better luck this time. That is why I am researching. The dryer pinches the clothes and leaves rust streaks. This is even worse than the moldy smell from the washer. I need a stacking set because of space limitations. I hope to find something better. Wish me luck!

We bought what we were told were high end, front loading, very expensive washing machine and dryer by GL. The washing machine has been causing a horrible smell in 5 rooms (only the laundry room is small – the rooms are larger) in our house every time even one load of laundry is done. When I smell it, I get a bad headache. The smell lasts for up to 8 hours after the washing is finished.

The smell is even in the drain now. Somehow, even though there is an elbow in the pipe, whenever we run the water in the laundry sink that the washer drains into, we now get the same horrible smell, just not as much of it.

I am worried it is going to make our 4 year old son sick

Since we wear and use the laundry that is washed and dryed in these GL machines, I am worried it may be the cause of my breathing problem (I am 44 - the cardiologist has not found any issues with my heart, I just can't catch my breath recently after running a short distance). It seems as soon as face towels get wet, they smell bad.

We REALLY do not want to run these machines in our house anymore nor run our clothes through these machines.

My wife never leaves laundry in the washer. She always watches the machines run and then moves the laundry from the washer to the dryer. So we know for 100% sure its not caused by us leaving the wet laundry in the washer after the washing is completed.

We purchased our Neptune washer, dryer and stands from the Goodyear, AZ Maytag Store on 06/17/07. We also purchased a 5 year warranty. For the 1st 6 months the machine was perfect! Everything that our salesman told us it would be. Than our clothes started smelling like they were being washed in sewer water with no hint of detergent whatsoever. We went into the store where we were advised to reduce the amount of soap, once a month run an empty load with Affresh tablets, vinegar water in the tub, chlorine bleach in the tub, at the end of the weeks laundry cycle take a dry towel & dry out the door seal and leave the door open to air dry until we are ready to use the machine again. We were told to clean out the soap dispenser @ the end of each week's laundry cycle which we have done. We have tried every he recommended detergent on the market @ developed alergic rashes due to the use of some of them. I am now suffering from chronic yeast infections & have tested negative for diabetes. The Dr. said that it could be mold related. We have been into other stores that sell the same product & asked them what to do but we have already tried it ALL! We paid over $2,200.00 for these machines for our laundry to smell like filth. I am a professional & am required to meet with developers, builders, contractors & residents to coordinate building permit requirements for our City. It is embarrasing when I get looks & people ask 'what is that smell?' when I know that it is my clothes. I expect some action on Maytag's part to exchange these machines for ones of equal or lesser value. I heard about Consumer's Best Buy reports on similar complaints from other consumers & the pending lawsuit. I am choosing to give Maytag the benefit of the doubt and the chance to resolve this issue directly before contacting the Better Business Bureau and my local news company to get the resolution that I as the consumer deserve. We recommended other friends & family to the store that we purchased these appliances from when we were still in the 'honeymoon' period with these appliances. We have since recinded our previous recommendations and will continue to do so until this matter is resolved. I have asked that Maytag please give this correspondence the attention that it deserves.

I have had two top loaders; the infamous Maytag Neptune ( I was part of the lawsuit and received their worthless settlement - enough said about that miserable episode). When I went to purchase a new washer, I discovered that washer size has expanded over the years and with the door configuration and layout in my laundry room, the only size that would fit was the Frigidaire front loader. I was assured this would not mold. GUESS AGAIN!! Yes, I leave the door open and wipe and use bleach and do EVERYTHING I'm told to do. I am 56 years old, not a stupid person, do not use too much detergent or any of the other things I've read that may cause this issue. I am at a loss trying to explain to my husband why I want/need another washer when this one is not even two years old. Frigidaire is absolutely NO HELP and I refuse to pay another penny to repair a front loader. Thanks for letting me vent. Now, does anyone have any great ideas for a top loader?

Everyone in my family has had a red itchy full body rash for months. My son has had the rash for over six months. We have spent thousands of dollars on allergists and dermatologists including extensive allergy testing. Two of us are allergic to mold and have recently discovered mold in our 18 month old LG front load washer. My doctor agrees with me - GET RID OF THE WASHER IMMEDIATELY! We will pursue the class action law suit but not wait for customer service at LG or Home Depot to solve the problem. I will never buy an LG appliance again. I am so disappointed because we purchased a Consumer Reports "Best Buy" and it has become a serious health issue.

Same experience with my front load washer. Mold and everything stinks. Ready to toss it.
Slightly off topic, what is currently the best high capacity top loader?? I want one with a proven reliability (and mold free) record. Thx!

LG FRONT LOADER I HATE IT! I AM COPYING AND PASTING LISA S. 'COMMENTS FOR IT IS VERY VERY TRUE, DO NOT BUY LG FRONT LOADER WASHER!!!!

'DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT EVER BUY A LG FL WASHER THEY ARE SO NASTY AND STINKY AND SO IS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE.I LEARNED MY LESSON WELL I HAD RATHER HAVE A PORTABLE OR WASH ON MY HANDS AS TO BE MADE A FOOL BY LG&WHIRLPOOL.I HOPE THEY LOOSE MILLIONS ON LAW SUITS THEY DESERVE IT.JUST LIKE THEY HAVE MADE MILLIONS ON ALL OF US WHO PURCHASED THESE NO GOOD FOR NOTHING WASHERS.'

I bought an LG front loader 14 months ago. I HATE IT. The machine has a horrible smell so bad that I have to leave the back door of our house open to air out the smell. I have tried the bleach and "clean tub" cycle routine, but it still reeks. DO NOT BUY AN LG FRONT LOADER!!!! I HAVE COMPLAINED TO LG WITH NO HELP WHATSOEVER. This is totally disgusting...I totally regret spending the money on this totally crappy machine. DO NOT BUY AN LG WASHER!

Thanks for all the info on FL machines. I'll be looking for a new top-loader, hopefully one with metal parts, not plastic!

Consumer reports needs to stop recommending these front loaders. It is a wide spread problem that the manufacturers are unwilling to resolve. No wonder there is a class action law suit going on:

http://www.murrayfrank.com/CM/Custom/LG-Electronics.asp

I bought a LG Front Loader and have "sour" smelling laundry now. Stop recommending this poorly designed product now!

Mold is the LEAST of your worries. That can be cleaned

I have just spent 2 weeks working on a GE front load washer. It is made by Frigidaire as is the Kenmore. My advice is stay away from front load washer unless you are going to spend over 1500.00 for just the washer. At that price you may, may, get one that will last 10 years.

I will absolutely guarantee that most , if not all front load washer under $800.00 will fail within 4 years.

Number 1 problem is the bearings that hold the tub will fail due to detergent getting into the bearing and washing the grease out. The washers come with cheap bearings made in China. The seal is poor quality also.

Number 2 problem is that the tub, which is stainless steel is held to the bearing shaft by an ALUMINUM spider bracket which will, unless somehow the builder defies the law of chemistry, corrode due to electrolysis. ( look up what happens when you place two dissimilar metals in a soapy( Ionized) solution).

These can problems are VERY WELL DOCUMENTED on repair boards across the web.

Honestly, if they had used stainless steel for ALL the tub brackets and better bearings I bet that these things would last 10 years - no problem! but the cost would be about 200-300 more

That is why I say, if you are going to get a front load washer please spend twice what you want to on the 1st one. You going to spend that amount in ten years anyways if you buy the cheaper one twice.

PS. I spoke with GE about the tub on mine, which does have a 10 year warranty on it. But you have to pay someone to come out and fix it which will run you around 200.00. They WILL not send a tub out to a customer - even tough it is warrantied

GE's price to me on the tub is $419.00 as I explain my problem to the customer service person she assured me that there were NO complaints on these washers and that I should stay away from repair web blogs. When I told her I was going to be buying 5000.00 worth of new stuff for my second new home and GE was not looking too good for the bussiness, she said that she could sell me the TUB for 125.00. I said that that was fine and I would go ahead and order the tub.

From 419.00 to 125.00 sounds like they KNOW they have a problem with these washers.

Good Luck

Do NOT buy a LG front loader washer! Mine not only stinks but leaves stains on my clothes, I can't tell you how many items this washer has ruined! I called LG customer service and all they can says is wipe the drum down after each use with vinegar.

Where ever there is a water supply there could be a leakage and hence formation of molds unknown and unseen.This is an extremely nice coverage which makes us aware of the problem and how to deal with it.

I have owned both front loaders and top loading washing machines. I do agreed that front loaders needs a bit more care and maintenance compared to a top loading washing machines. However, considering how energy efficiency a front loader is, I wouldn't advise anyone to ignore it totally.

We have a LG washer/dryer purchased in December 2007. We soon learned the door of the washer had to be left open so the unit could completely dry out. Great, the 24 year old Amana set, that still worked, was carried away when the LG's were delivered. About 4-6 months ago we noticed a smell. Mold is now growing in the washer. We now have learned we have to mix up some hone products to try to kill/clean the mold up. This issue is in the DESIGN of the unit and not our upkeep. DO NOT buy a front load unless you want to spend time battling mold or trying to keep mold from growing.

This is quite a worrying thing...front loading washing machines are to be carefully handled in that case,I feel sorry for you with so much laundry and four children and now the mold problem.

We have a Kenmore HE3 which we bought in 2005. The mold is horrible!! Smelly. As investigate the affect mold has on people I am just shocked and astounded that Sears has not recalled these! I did not know that many of our health problems were due to mold... now, I considering having my home tested for mold. Has is spread? What kind of mold are in these washers? The Black mold has very serious affects, to the point that you have to have special clothing to remove it from your home! Does anyone know what type of mold you have? My daughter had her tonsils out... since mold affects your immune system and truly believe now that it is caused from the mold. Now I am wondering if it is in my pipes or gaskets that in the walls? Is it in the air of my house? Daily I wake up with headaches, a symptom of mold. You can't see it in your clothes, pillows, comfortors etc. So, it makes sense that in the morning after you have been sleeping with all this mold you are worse! I am reading about many law suits but it is the outcome??? I called Sears and the first 3 people I talked to claimed to know nothing about it! HA!!! So not true. I finally got a person on the phone who said they were aware of it and have a service person coming out and I am hoping it will be fixed. But now I am still concerned, one if it really will be fixed and the mold won't come back? And, how do I know if it isn't else where in my home? Do I throw all my clothes away? Trust that washing them will really get it out??

We've had a Frigidaire Affinity for 3 years and had the mold problem right from the begining. We've had the gasket replaced under warranty, always leave the door open, wipe it down after use and it still smells.

I have found that if I put Clorox in a spray bottle (without diluting it) and spray the gasket, you can keep the mold at bay. The key is to make sure you pull the gasket back, especially where it gets tucked into the front of the machine. Spary all the way around, especially the top.

"Smelly Washer" also helps and can take the smell out of clothes, but spraying the gasket thoroughly is the key.

That being said, we'll be buying a top loader sooner than later.

Our Kenmore HE3, 5yrs old has always had a musty odor and mold in the dispensing tray. Our solution was to leave the door open and pull the tray out when not in use. This worked UNTIL TODAY. The fill valve failed and filled the tub with water which spilled out the open door and FLOODED OUR BASEMENT over night. Same thing would have happened if the door had been closed because it only locks after a cycle starts.

THESE are poorly engineered machines and all need to be recalled and redesigned. The concept off saving water and energy is not factual. If you have to run extra cycles to clear mold - you are not saving water or energy. The energy we have wasted cleaning up the spill more than offsets any saving.

We as consumers are guilty for the problem. We purchase items based upon looks, novelty and the idea of being energy efficient. We should demand better products for our money.

The only thing "Green" about front load washers are the mold and extra money they cost.

I hate our new LG Front load washer. Our clothes/ towels always smell like mold.

I would never recommend a fr load. Traditional washer have been around for long time. Some thing should not change.

I wish I had found this blog before. Someone suggested spraying Lysol. I was SO Frustrated!

I wish GE would replace it. All they did was send me two bottles to add after I have done my wash. It didn't help.

When it was time to get a new washer, I religiously read what Consumer Reports had to say -- as I usually do with major purchases. It's been 2.5 years and I do not have a mold problem, but I have plenty of problems with uneven loads causing the washer to walk halfway across the room! I THINK CONSUMER REPORTS SOLD US A BILL OF GOODS and this isn't the first time -- I HATE my dishwasher, which washes dishes WORSE than my teenager!
I THINK THIS IS A WATER-SAVING CONSPIRACY -- as long as they can claim that the "usual" cycle saves water, any lousy performance is acceptable. WHAT ABOUT HAVING TO RUN A RINSE-N-SPIN CYCLE after the machine once again gives you a load of sopping wet towels? If this thing is so super & large capacity, why can't it handle 3 bathtowels, one bath mat and a couple of hand towels? My MAYTAG top loader purchased in 1978 performed a lot better than this stinking thing! CONSUMER REPORTS - LET'S HAVE SOME HONESTY, EVEN IF IT SAVES H20 & ELECTRIC. P.S. the Maytag took only 30 minutes for a cycle. This stinkin GE takes a minimum of 43 min. for a "fast" cycle and 1 h 21 m for "regular." You think I'm saving much on electricity?
Now I've vented and I feel so much better.
Thanks

I am so thankful I found this blog. We have a Maytag Neptune that's about 8 years old and we have had every problem that everyone else has had (yes, I read every single comment posted here): terrible mold, smelly towels/clothes, trying affresh, bleach, vinegar, fights with repairmen, etc. The last straw was the black oily spots on clothes - ugh! Like someone else mentioned, it really was fine for the first 4 years or so, but it's been a nightmare since and we have had it! We're buying a top loader this weekend. Obviously, the front-loading technology is extremely flawed!

I too will never buy a front load washing machine again. Purchased a (very expensive) Bosch front load machine in 2006. It has been smelly for over a year; mold that cannot be cleaned off on the rubber seal, etc. When I called the consumer information number on the manufacturers guide, the rep hadn't heard about a moldy smelling washer and told me to run bleach through the machine. Of course, bleach didn't work, and neither has leaving the door open, or wiping the water off the seal after each load. Now trying out the Tide and Affresh products mentioned on another website (and instead of using liquid HE detergent switching to powdered HE detergent).

We have had a Kenmore front loader w/d for nearly two years-I was warned by our neighbor about the mold problem, but really wanted the high efficiency washing machine-well, we got it-and the mold too. How disappointing to think you are being environmentally conscientious but instead end up with mold in your washing machine and a foul smell in your clothes-not worth it. Perhaps Kenmore and the others put the cart before the horse, more testing should have been done to avoid misleading consumers.

Some of these front load machines have aluminium (Al) spiders connecting the spin drum to the drive pulley.
Aluminium is corroded by, amongst other things, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) otherwise known as ‘bleach’, Sodium carbonate, Sodium percarbonate, (these later two I found listed on the contents of a popular laundry aid), sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) (this one is sometimes used as a stabiliser in ‘bleach’ but I did not find it listed on the two containers of ‘bleach’ I found in our house).

To demonstrate what ‘bleach’ can do to aluminium just find a piece of scrap aluminium, without any coating, or remove the coating and let it sit in air for a couple of days to develop the naturally occurring oxide coating, then put one drop of ‘bleach’, straight from the bottle, onto the aluminium and leave it overnight. The following morning you should have a nice little pile of corrosion products on your aluminium. This is what can happen to aluminium components in your washer, albeit at a much slower rate because the ‘bleach’ is diluted.

To check if any of your laundry products are harmful to aluminium perform an Internet search for the material safety data sheet for the chemical concerned (e.g. Sodium Hydroxide Material Safety data Sheet).

I know these spiders are fitted to some ‘Kenmore’ (manufactured by Frigidaire) machines, some Frigidaire machines sold under their own name, and some GE machines. Very likely there are many others. Additionally any aluminium component in the water area is susceptible to the same corrosion.

This information has been passed to Sears and Frigidaire.
Sears advise that the information ‘will be passed to the appropriate departments’ but have refused to pass any further information on to us.
Frigidaire have assured us that they use only the best quality materials and that they will pass on the information to their design engineers, the very people who would have specified aluminium in the first place. Hardly re-assuring.

My wife and I have two Sears 'Kenmore' washing machines built by Frigidaire.
I recently had to tear down the old one (8 years old) because of bearing failure. Nothing to fantastic there, those bearings take one heck of a pounding. In addition to the failed bearings and failed 'spider shaft' seal, likely caused by the bearing failure, the brass sleeve on which the lips of the seal run was scored, by the spring in the seal, rendering it unserviceable.
What I also found on dismantling the machine was a build up of a deposit, resembling powdered detergent that had got damp and 'clumped' adhering, quite strongly, to the spider (a shaft [of steel], and aluminium hub with three spokes) which attaches to the stainless steel inner drum and the driving pulley. This ‘deposit’ would not flush away, as powdered detergent, being soluble in water, would have. I took my pressure washer to ours but still did not get it completely clean. Whereupon I discovered that the aluminium portion of the spider was quite heavily corroded towards the centre with almost no corrosion towards the outer third of the spokes.

At first I thought this was galvanic corrosion caused by the steel of the shaft and the aluminium of the hub. There is quite an informative paper on Galvanic Corrosion, use ‘Yahoo’ and search for ‘UN1001 Reactor Chemistry and Corrosion’ and open the link that gives ‘un1001_Galvanic Corrosion’, the authors are Lister and Cook. The ‘deposit’ though had me puzzled until I researched corrosion of aluminium and discovered that it is normally corroded when immersed in an aqueous solution with a pH value below about 4.0 or above about 8.0 (nitric acid is apparently an exception). Common household bleach (sodium hypochlorite NaOCl) is a strong alkali. I placed a drop of bleach, straight from the bottle, on an undamaged section of a spoke from my spider and a drop of vinegar (acid), which my wife favours, on another arm and left them overnight. The following morning there was nothing left of the vinegar and no signs of damage to the spider. Where the bleach had been was a small pile of a whitish powder, which resembled the ‘deposit’ and was also, for the portion immediately adjacent to the spider, quite difficult to remove.

Numerous detergents are alkaline, they have to be or they would not work, also alkaline are numerous other laundry aids. Reference to the ‘contents’ labels on the containers and the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on the Internet will give more insight. In addition to ‘bleach’ I have found sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate in laundry products in our house. Sodium hydroxide, which is sometimes used to stabilize ‘bleach’, is also strongly alkaline, and corrosive to aluminium, it was not listed however on the two ‘brands’ of bleach I found in our house.

For some time prior to the bearing failure my wife had been complaining of a ‘moldy mildewey smell’ coming from the washer and leaving an odour on our laundry, particularly the towels. After I rebuilt the washer, new drum and spider, they are not available separately, together with new bearings and seal, it ran a lot quieter, no surprise, but here is the kicker, according to my wife ‘no smell’. Conclusion, the only thing different is no ‘deposit’. Now does the ‘deposit’ itself cause the ‘smell’ or does it collect undesirable compounds that cause the offensive aromas? I don’t know but it is certainly ‘food for thought’ particularly when I found two references on the Internet to people stripping their washers down and getting ride of ‘deposits’ which cured their ‘smell’. The odours, I fear, will return unless the owners alter their laundry habits.

To see what corrosion of aluminium can do perform an Internet search “Why Kenmore Front Loading Washers Fail” and watch the short video. I do not agree with the comment that it is galvanic corrosion between the spider and the stainless steel drum, should this have been the case one would have expected the spider to be corroded adjacent to its connection to the drum, that is at the outer end of the ends. Neither do I believe the deposit the gentleman showed to be caked detergent for the reason stated above (mine would not flush away).

Good Luck

I bought a GE front loader a 1 1/2 year ago for $700.00 on sale. Nothing but problems!! 3 gaskets at $175.00 each. Broken belt. Then it started on fire. Now I bought a top loader for 300.00. So I did my math I don`t think it`s worth want you can save on your water bill!!! I WILL NEVER BUY A FRONT LOADER AGAIN!!!!

We have been having a huge problem with this as well. Ours is an LG washer, although it sounds like an issue that is affecting many front loaders... the inside bottom of the gasket has turned black and stinks of mold. The bathroom that it is contained in smells strongly of mold all the time. It is gross.

We keep the door open after washes and try to clean it with bleach and vinegar, but nothing helps.

Saving on water is great, but at what expense? There is nothing grosser than having "clean" clothes that smell like mold, which seems to be what is happening to most people. Fortunately most of our clothes are not being permanently impacted yet...but if we do not remove our clothing from the washer immediately they have had a permanent mold smell to them.

This problem is disgusting and it is a disgrace that these manufacturers charge a fortune for these washers and then ignore any problems relating to this.

My husband and I are a young couple who felt that if we spent the extra cash we would be investing in a good-buy and so we bought the Bosch front loader and dryer. A year later, and this is with me leaving the door open all the time and well, I can't always wipe dry the door as I like would like but, I have done everything I can think of to get out the mold, and my towels do smell of it....I am still up in arms on whether this was a good investment or not...but Bosch and all those other companies do need to compensate their customers or at least have the decency and respect to let us know how to get rid of the smell and MOST IMPORTANTLY....THE MOLD!!!!!

I have had my Kenmore HE3 for about 4 years now, always had smelly towels even with bleach/vinegar/dishwasher soap washes, but my biggest problem now is a head to toe rash that the Dr says is from my washer. I dont have the money to buy a new one and dont know what to do. I am about to itch to death!!! Is the mold causing the itching or the soap? I double rinse every load and use All free powder as determatologist suggested.

I can't read through all the messages, but what *finally* worked for us was something fairly simple:

*** ALSO LEAVE OPEN the small detergent & bleach DRAWER ***

This has worked when nothing else has. I was being truly suffocated by the mold smell over the first year or so, and had tried just about everything, but haven't smelled that horrible mold smell since that discovery.

Most of the time, I also leave the main door open at least a little and I think leaving the small drawer open too creates a real **circulation** of the air through the machine which keeps the mold from being able to grow.

(I don't even remember to open the drawer after every single wash but often enough apparently that it still works, plus I also seemingly don't need to clean the rubber gasket or the door itself either.)
Hal-le-lu-jah!

I bought an Asko 13605 Front Loader about 9 years ago and we have never had a problem with mold. Askos are not famous for reliability but it was the only one that would fit in my available space and it makes 180 degree water which was great for all the cloth diapers going through our lives at that time. No bleach needed at that temperature.
It is installed under a counter in our main bathroom and serves a family of five.
As recommended in the owners manual we leave the glass door ajar when the machine is not in use. A fold-down outer door covers the glass door but apparently enough air circulates in there. We have never wiped down the door or gasket.
We had to have the motor replaced about 4 years ago but I rescued it from the repair person. Being curious and handy I discovered the problem was a faulty brush. (I now have a reserve motor.)
Small coins, pins,and other flotsam get hung up in the strainer before the pump, but it is easy to clean out. I do it once a year if I remember to or if I notice water remaining in the tub.
The only place that gets cruddy is the pull-out detergent drawer but it is easy to clean with a brush.
We use a liquid, low suds detergent made by Bio-Pac and no bleach. We wash bedding and some whites in 120 to 160 degree water, but mostly use cold water.
I love this washer. At 1300 RPM it gets clothes very dry in the spin cycle. We line-dry year round here in Connecticut, weather permitting, and never have a problem getting things dry. The matching Asko dryer will probably last forever since it gets used so little.
I am a remodeling contractor and energy efficiency consultant so I see a lot of appliances. I hate to say it but the worst front loaders are from American companies. My advice is buy the simplest models. The more bells and whistles the harder it is to use and maintain. Before buying, ask a local, independent appliance repair person about reliability. You'll get an earful.

Maytag Neptune is the worst washer I have ever owned. Right from the beginning the clothes smelled like mildew. Now after 3 years the bearings and shaft are gone and it sounds like an airplane taking off. On top of all that the machine is throwing "sludge" as the repair guy called it all over my clothes. Maytag says It's my tough luck for not buying the extended warranty and Home Depot totally blew us off and offered to send an "email" to the manufacturer but they are sorry, they can't help us. I am furious and never buying from Home Depot or Maytag again. These lawsuits go back to 2004. Doesn't anyone work at Home Depot to rate these products before they carry them or at least do their homework. This is totally preventable. Do not give your money to Home Depot or Maytag/whirlpool. Don't be fooled by the name. That repair doesn't work because he couldn't keep up not because the product is any good.

I sent letters to Whirlpool and got so many instructions about how to manage the mildew, it was laughable. I haven't seen anyone mention that if you have an aerobic septic system, you are not supposed to use bleach, so forget that idea.

We have had this Lg front loader for about 2.5 years. About 8 months ago we have come down with a terrible itchy, burning rash. We have been to the regular doc, dermatologist, allergist - no one knows what the rash is. I have determined it has something to do with this washing machine. I have noticed a mildewy smell on the towels, but not really on the rest of the clothes. Has anyone else had this?

I take exception to some of the snarky remarks about the mold problem! I have an Electrolux Wave FL. I have had it all of 1 week. I have left the door open between cycles yet I have what looks like greenish black pond scum forming where the door gasket meets the wash tub. I pulled the gasket back and it's under the gasket as well. I can't get my hands in to this area to even clean it. This is not something that can be prevented with leaving the door open.

The service people say this gasket is a known problem and has to be replaced constantly. This gasket is not cheap! This is insane! This is the 3rd frontloader I've had to replace in 2 years!

I have an LG front loader and I would not recommend it to my worst enemy. I absolutely hate it. You have to keep it dry, clean the rubber seal and gaskit. Also, you must drain the water from the bottom and clean the filter. Once you get that moldy smell good luck trying to get rid of it. It suppose to save you money and enengy but running hot water cycles, buying affresh at $9.00 a month and constantly trying to keep it dry is not worth it.

GE is Horrible. Water smells like eggs and I have to drain it all the time. Musty clothes, lots of mold. I'll never buy another front loader again.

What is the purpose of washing clothes if they still smell after washing ? You're spending time, dollars, using up water resources to get stinky clothes. And to pay $400 to $500 more for a top loader and still wind up with clothes that don't smell like they've been cleaned. Are consumers so into using the current "top-of-the-market" product that saves $10 in water and $20 in electricity that they are distracted from the purpose of the appliance in the first place ? To have clean clothes. If they smell funky, do ya think they're really clean ?

I've had more than the smell issue. I've had my $1100 Whirpool Duet FL washer working for 4 of the past 4.5 years. Just after the 1 yr warranty ran out, I had to have the control board replaced for $450 and then a yr later another service call and part replaced for $130 and then 1.5 years later something else for $110. It isn't working again. I'm going to have to pay the city dump to get rid of this piece of crap.

Until manufacturers get the performance of their washers right, front or top load, I'm not going to get suckered into shiny buttons and expensive digital malfunctioning and buy the hefty profit-producing-for-them models. My laundry room may not have the sleek designer look, but my clothes will be and smell clean, and I won't be waiting around for a repair man.

When a manufacturer has to spend dollars to convince the public of excellent repair reputation, it's guaranteed they didn't earn that rep by word of mouth from customers...just the opposite. They gotta spend ad dollars to camouflage their actual repair score as reported by consumer reports. Five years ago Maytag was the worst. Now my personal experience is Whirlpool is crapping-out worse than Maytag.

some help don't use fabric softener all the time. I had a sears 4t elite only lasted 4 years but I was seven loads a day 5 kids. I now have electrolux. it clenas good but I want the meile. it has a honeycomb drum to not snag clothes. a they are making cotton shirts so thin I paid 78. for a lily shirt and it ripped it first washed. dont know wether it was washer or shirt lilly replaced it. first I use persil more expensive but my sons ezema has went away and it was bad 80. creams. the fabric softner is what cause the mold. I use fabric softner sometimes I use it so waterdown just to remove the suds. mostly I use vinegar very little keeps my machine clean and smelling fresh and my clothes they dont smell like vinegar. I have not had mold in old washer or this one and I leave loads in all the time overnight and very rarley leave the door open. good luck hope this help I do run the washer on sanitary one a month with just vinegar

There are some front load washers that are very prone to molds. That is maybe due to their design and engineering. Like if it does not drain properly or if water leaks somewhere in the washer drum, it will result to the formation of molds. This is why it is pretty important to find the right machine. Moreover, keeping front load washers dry all the time is the key to the non-formation of molds. That in addition to running an empty water cycle mixed with one cup of white vinegar at least two times a month to reduce washer smell.

Borax laundry detergent sprinkled in the empty drum between loads took the smell away for me. Spin the drum so the Borax gets distributed. Borax is less expensive than Afresh (which did not work very well anyway) and now the clothes come out of the wash cleaner.

In my experience, rusting around the tumble dry channel is also one of the major contributions to bad smell and odor on clothing, especially on front loaders.

What I did on our Bosch washing machine is to take the cover out and paint around it with water proof paint. Now some expensive models may have already done this, but not in the case of most average priced front load washing machines, so you should check that out.

Regarding the molds, the best way to prevent it is by not leaving your clothes in the machine too long after finished wash. If your model has timer, set it up so you will be around to take the clothes out right after it finishes the spinning cycle.

just bought a frigidaire he front loader as an addon to a frigidaire dryer, and just ahd the guy deliver it sight unseen(big mistake). If anyone on here bowhunts, gunhunts---beware---the gasket IS impregnated with a perfume which DOES get into the clothing. If you are buying scent control clothing(200-400 dollars a throw)its absorbing ickyvanilla-plastic smell from the gasket...and good luck getting anywhere close to a deer. Spread the word. BTW--why didn't they fix the problem they KNEW they had rather than covering it up with a smell like a streetwalker? They are supposed to be sending a new gasket which is not impregnated with the "schtink" as I have come to call it. Keep your fingwers crossed. Frigidaire he's are the Ford Pinto of the washing machine world, I guess.

Our Samsung front-loading washing machine is less than two years old and the inside is full of black mold!!!! I periodically cleaned the soap dispenser as per the manual-but the manual does not mention that mold would grow in the space where the soap dispenser fits. When I called customer service and spoke to 3 different representatives, they claimed to have never heard of this happening!!! I find that really hard to believe. They basically said there was nothing they could do. They said they could set up a service call at my expense. I think it is a poorly designed appliance and it is unacceptable to pay $1,000 for a washing machine only to end up with musty laundry and black mold. I think it is a health hazard and Samsung should address this issue.

Please help, we bought front loader washer/dryer and after a few months it began to get mold. I called frigidare and they gave me the lame instructions as the people above got, and nothing works, and forget about wiping the mold off the gasget, it doesn't come off. My husband and I are on a fixed income and can't afford a repairman. We don't know what to do and about the wheezing and sinuses and itching we've got all that now. Thank you for any help you can provide us with.

Reason why this issue would show up in homes and not a laundromat is frequency of use. In the laundromat, the washer is run frequently enough that nothing is even able to build up inside it. At home, this is not the case.

For the past 1 year i am using my own Front Loader and till to date i haven't faced any problem defined in the post. Front Loader washing machine is the best among other and it really serves a good purpose.

We purchased a GE front loader washer & dryer back in February 2010 and have problems with the washer & not the dryer so far. The model #WCVH6800J1WW literally jumps on our concrete basement floor and hits our rinse tubs and also narrowly misses the side of the dryer when on the High Spin Speed. Dealer was out twice and could do nothing for us and recommended a GE technician so this is what we will do next.

The smell is also a problem. Towels, washcloths come out smelling of mold or mildew. I have asthma and will not tolerate this. My wife and I are approaching 70 yrs of age.

Include GE in your class action lawsuit also.

I have a Bosch fl; its been two years of wiping the gasket and just a month ago an odor started. I do leave the door open and live in a semi-desert environment. I will try different detergents but really need to stick with non fragrance (I know some people like going through their day smelling from eau de Tide and Downy, but I can't stand the stink.) This was a heavy investment to find such a problem. Class action suit?

Bosch front load washer, we have the same problem, smell and mold, and have wrote to the company for help with this matter and they will not do anything. We have always left the door open, and use the hot cycle. It still keeps coming.
We have tried the solutions being sold to combat it, to no avail.
They suggested we get it repaired,we feel like they should pay, but they will not agree too.
We paid good money for this and this is what we get, MOLD!!!!

We have a front load washer and don't like it!!I paid alot for it and now I feel like we're stuck with it.Is there anyway to get out of this mess because untill I figure something out were washing our cloths my hand or at our neighbors.We had our Bosch around ayear and it stinks.

We purchased our Fridgedaire front loader in Oct of 2006. I complained about the "smell" in the washing machine. The repairman came out, looked at the washer and told me it was a design problem. The solution was to wipe out the washer every time I used it. Paying that kind of money for a washing machine and having to wipe it out after every use is nuts! I called Fridgedaire, and they would not address the problem.

Our Frigidaire GLTF2940FS1 washer's door gasket has several seemingly pointless drain holes that fill with a fuzzy and fetid black scum. Drying the seal and leaving the door open delays the growth, but not forever. We've used models in Europe that have no such problems. Our unit retains water, gets smelly, and only does a so-so job of cleaning.

Something needs to be done. It seems most people that have front loaders have the same problem. I have a g e profile and have the same problem with odor in my clothes and I have tried everything. I just purchased mine in Dec of 09

We have a LG front loader washer with all the same problem as stated above. This is odiously a defect and the manufacturer should fix the defect especially if there is a health issue.

I have owned a Meile for 5 years and have not had an issue with mold or standing water in the rubber gasket around the door. I believe the smaller size and construction of the european washer has alot to do with this. I love the washer and would recommend any of the Meile products.