I’m about to do some work to see what I can find, but I thought I’d ask here first in case this rings a bell with anyone.
We have stacked laundry machines, Maytag brand, that are about ten years old. For some reason, the washing machine drum has a musty, mildewy smell. If we wash laundry in it and don’t immediately dry it, the laundry takes on that smell. If we dry it immediately, no problem.
We use well water that is clean and tasty. It does leave minor calcium deposits on the showerhead, etc., but they are minimal compared to others I have seen. The dryer vent is short and is not clogged. Because we are on a septic system we rarely run bleach loads. We use various brands of liquid soap, whatever they’re selling.
I’m about to roll the thing out on the deck, lay it on its side, and look underneath. Not sure what might be there, but I can’t think of anything else to do.
Replies
You can ask here.
http://www.bobvila.com/BBS/Appliances-1-C18.html
I have seen it mentioned before. IIRC it is built up of soap scum. But don't remember where.
You might try to run a couple of max fill cycles with nothing but washing soda and one with a couple of gallons of white vinegar before adding the water.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I think BillHartman is on the right track.
Never had any smells in our washing machine, however, there is one load every week with chlorine bleach -- that may be killing off the nasties.
Have you tried leaving the lid / door open when you are finished washing to let the tub dry out?? Would probably need a day or so.
Just a thought.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
I'd start here: http://applianceguru.com/Sounds like a pretty common problem.. and I WOULD recommend a cup of bleach every so often in the wash (it won't hurt your septic a bit).
I have/had the same problem.
I ran a full load of very heavily bleached water.Just be careful not to let it spin too early or you will end up have a mess on the floor.
Don't ask how I know!!!!!!!!
Just lift the lid often until it has emptied enough.
This is a more common problem with the new front load washers but the bottom line is you need to run a load with clorox every other week or so. I just pour a cup in the drum and run it empty with cold water and it clears right up.
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"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Bleach load and status report forthcoming this evening...
WATCH THAT SPIN CYCLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"No doubt exists that all women are crazy; it's only a question of degree." - W.C. Fields
We have had the same issue and we are on on city water. We leave the door open after washes, seems to solve the problem.
Mike
Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.
With top loaders the problem sometimes in an article of clothing that has gotten stuck in the outer basket. Otherwise, lint/soap/scum buildup as has already been mentioned.
David - Maytag in particular has had a problem, especially with the Neptune series. Call them - I think they may have a gasket/seal replacement kit.
Jeff
We've got GE profile. Same deal. The problem is with water splashing around the insides and on the rubber gaskets, but not draining back out again. It just sits their for days until your next load. Alge and mold grow. Impossible to get rid of, as far as I can tell.
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
If your hair looks funny, it's because God likes to scratch his nuts. You nut, you.
http://blogs.msdn.com/johnmont/archive/2004/09/15/230169.aspx
We have Sears HE3T (made in Germany by Whirlpool?) - no problems
Jeff
Edited 9/17/2007 7:57 am ET by Jeff_Clarke
We got the same machine and same results.
look for a buildup of lint between the inner and outer drums.
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I have Transcended the need for Pants....
oooohhhhmmmmmm......
How does a guy "look" between the inner and outer drums? There is no opening from the top even if I tilt the agitator in different directions. There is a flange around the top that covers the gap (and does have some dirty lint sitting on it). It seems like I'd have to flip it on its side and drop the whole drum assembly out. Oh yeah, I'm *really* looking forward to that.
Ran the bleach load, but my wife immediately tossed more clothes in there so I didn't get a chance to sniff. No point in, uh, sniffing a bunch of my work clothes from last week.
FWIW this is a problem I have recently noticed, in the past few months. Lived in this house with these machines for 4 years, and my nose has worked the whole time.
How does a guy "look" between the inner and outer drums?
lift the top cover of the machine...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Which sometimes comes loose by removing a couple of screws from the upper back, sometimes comes loose by first removing the front.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
some slide forward or backwards and then lift...
others just lift..Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
That part's left as an exercise for the student.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
I'm on my third set of those w/d's - after every load, dry the rubber gasket, & lift it up at the bottom & dry the inner layer. I keep an old washcloth hanging next to the machines so it's easy. I also dry the glass.
Leave the door open, or at least not latched. This is a particular problem in the summer.
Running some bleach from time to time is good, too, as others have suggested.
my niece bought top of the line maytag washer and dryer and she had the same problem with the washing machine. the maytag guy told her to always leave the door open after she is done and the last wash should always be with pure bleach. what kind of bs answer is that. i think she got rid off it. i personally have a whirlpool washer which is 3 years old and had 3 major repairs. maybe next time i try kenmore. good luck.
Kenmore = Whirlpool (Bauknecht) so now what? ;o)
Jeff
Edited 9/17/2007 11:15 pm ET by Jeff_Clarke
Also = White-Westinghouse + Frigidaire...They are all identical. The guy who installed mt first set told me to wipe the gasket & leave the door open, about 1975...first set lasted at least 15 years & were still working fine when we moved & I sold them.
Second set bought about 12990, & only lasted until circa 2003, but went through a couple of bad moves. Third set going strong...I've never had a problem with bad odors, probably because of the wiping - open door routine.
My sister and her husband got a free upgrade to a different gasket setup on their machine.
Mine has a "super sanitizing" cycle, where it heats the water to 185-degrees. I run the towels through on that cycle with a little chlorine bleach, as the last load, and leave the door ajar when I'm done so things can dry out. Thus far no problems.
dave run some borax laundry booster in your washes its not bleach, and is color safe bleach kills active stuff but not the spores borax kills the spores borax added in will leave the clothes and the washer smelling clean washer pump always has some water in it, think about the leakage when you move one as soon as a wash load is done, that water is "cooking" walmart carries borax next to the bleach my best laundry tip good for scrubbbing tubs and tile, polishes, non-abrasive