My washer smells like poop!? why

As you may well know in Europe we have been using front loaders almost exclusively for 15-20 years now. New European machines now only have one fill valve (which is cold) because the machine heaters are so efficient it is greener not to have a hot fill. Generally as a result, machines have a build up of 'soap scum' within the soap box, outer drum and fill and emptying pipes. Bacteria including e-coli builds up within the machine and so manufacturers recommend a boil wash with bleach only every three months. To save yourself money a cap full of white vinegar poured directly into the drum followed by a boil wash does exactly the same job and is a greener alternative. The soap box can be easily removed and washed out by hand.

Here is the reasons why it smells and some facts about how to address it..

McClatchy-Chicago Tribune Newspapers
September 12, 2008
By John Ewoldt



Appliance repairman Paul Flynn of Savage, Minn., was getting calls from customers suffering allergic reactions to their foul-smelling front-loading washing machines. During nearly every $150 service call, Flynn found mold and mildew inside the inner tub.

Flynn got to thinking about his experience cleaning metal lathes and kitchen grills in the Navy, and in 2002 started working to perfect a granular, citrus-based product for washers. Since last year, Flynn has been selling SmellyWasher online, filling 75 to 100 orders a day for shipments worldwide. He's sold about 20,000 of the $16 bottles, enough to quit his job as a repairman.
But besides selling a product, Flynn also educates consumers about solving the problem before it occurs at his Web site, SmellyWasher.com.

"The whole reason this problem exists is the fault of the detergent manufacturers," Flynn said. "They tell us to use too much of their detergents."

Consumers who own front-loading washing machines should use only about one-quarter of the recommended amount of high-efficiency, or HE, low-sudsing detergent. Standard, non-HE detergents in front-loaders are too sudsy.

Why don't top-loading machines have this problem? Less efficient top-loaders that use more water typically flush out excess suds, soil, detergent and fabric softener.

Class-action lawsuits against manufacturers such as LG, Whirlpool and Maytag have been filed, alleging mold and mildew problems in front-loading washers.

Some suits have been settled while others are pending, affecting hundreds of thousands of consumers, said Rob Shelquist, a partner at the Lockridge Grindal Nauen firm in Minneapolis.

According to Whirlpool, the low water use and airtight seals on HE front-loaders create the potential for odor-causing mold and mildew. Whirlpool has its own anti-odor product, Affresh, which sells for $7 for three treatments. SmellyWasher is more expensive than Affresh initially ($16 for 24 treatments), but Flynn's product lasts a year.

SmellyWasher can be used as a preventive monthly or less often if smaller amounts of detergent are used. Affresh is also used monthly, but a $7 packet of three tablets lasts only three months. Flynn's product will remove musty odors from towels or clothing, which Affresh does not claim to do.
Getting rid of problem
To eliminate odors, Smellywasher users should put a capful of Flynn's product in the detergent dispenser, select the hottest water temperature and the extra-large load to fill the empty washer with the largest amount of water. Let the water agitation start and then stop the washer and allow the solution to soak for two to four hours. Repeat as necessary and allow to soak overnight if needed.

Flynn said that the product works best in hot water. Consumers might want to run the faucet closest to the washing machine until the water is hot before starting the process or turn up their water heater temperature until the load is finished. (Remember to turn the temp back down to avoid scalding.) Flynn offers a money-back guarantee. Stubborn cases of mold and mildew might require five to seven treatments.

Susie Thymian is such a believer that she now sells SmellyWasher in her own store, McGinnis Appliance in Morris, Minn. Thymian had blamed the musty smell from her towels on her teenagers, who often leave wet towels in a pile in their bedrooms. Her kids' solution to the stink was to use more towels. Thymian's answer was to use more bleach in the laundry, but nothing got rid of the mystery mold odor until she found Flynn's product.

Only a few of Flynn's customers are from Minnesota so far. Most come from regions with higher humidity. Sharon Turner, who lives in steamy San Antonio, said SmellyWasher worked after several cycles. "I was ready to throw out my plush towels and my front washer. It saved my sanity."

Link to this article..http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-smelly-washer_chomes_0912sep12,0,7369054.story

The qoute to this answer was I can solve this, I am just going to throw an idea your way to check and see if this might not be the problem. I think it would depend upon where your drain hose is located and a top loader washing machine always has some water left in the hose, you might check your plumbing drain in your house and see if there is what is called a trap on it, a trap is what you have under your kitchen sink that is the elbow on your drain line, this keeps sewer gases from coming into your house, I have done alot of home repairs, and if it can be screwed up, you can bet I have seen it, and also fixed it, good luck.

BEST THING TO DO IS WHEN THE UNIT IS NOT IN USE TO LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN WILL CAUSE LESS MOISTURE AND RESULT IN LESS MILDEW THIS IS A ISSUE WITH ALL FRONT LOADERS WHEN A DRYER IS IN THE SAME ROOM HEAT CAUSES MOISTURE AND MOLD AND MILDEW WILL DEVELOP ON TUB BOOT