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Posted on Apr 18, 2008
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Musty mildew smell

My washer has a continuous musty smell. I've called LG and they recommended putting it through the sanitary cycle with bleach once a week and leaving door open for 2 hours after last cycle. This is so inconvenient. Noticed water sits under rubber gasket that seals the door. This is obviously a design flaw. Any suggestions?

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  • Posted on Apr 18, 2008
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It is the same with all the front load machines out there. I do a bleach load once a week and always leave the door unlatched. All washers always have some water left in them. You can also wipe the gasket down with a weak bleach and water mix on a rag it will help also.

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0helpful
1answer

I have had my LG front loading washer for over 5 years. I always leave it open to air dry after I am finished, usually for one to two hours. This past week I have noticed a mildew smell coming from inside...

you might want to try cleaning the washer using 1 cup of Clorox bleach, run it through the white or sanitary cycle, unless your machie has a clean washer cycle like mine does. Hope this helps.

1helpful
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The washer has a musty/sour smell to it...any way to clean it?

There are several things you can do. First you might try filling with hot water and dissolving 1 cup of baking soda. Let it sit for about an hour. Then complete the cycle and when done, leave the top open so tub will dry completely.
Second, you might try the same thing but use 1 cup of chlorine bleach. Let it sit for about 30 minutes and then complete the cycle. Again, leave the top open so the tub will air dry.
Finally, you can fill with hot water and use 1 cup of white vinegar. Let it sit for an hour and then follow the same procedures above.
Once you've run the cycle, you can wipe down the interior edges and under surfaces with a rag that has been moistened with the solution of vinegar or chlorine.
The baking soda neutralizes odors. The chlorine bleach will kill mold and mildew spores. The vinegar is acidic and it too will prevent the mold and mildew from growing.
Once you've freshened the washer, remember to leave the top up after you've completed all the laundry so that there is air and light entering the tub. Mold and mildew do not live well in bright, airy environments. I hope this helps. If so, please come back and comment on my suggestions!
1helpful
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My washer has a sour smell how do i get rid of smell

It sounds like you've got mildew somewhere in the washer. I'd recommend running a cycle, just like you would with a large load of clothes but WITHOUT the clothes, and use a full cup of bleach instead of detergent. You could let the basin fill and then turn the washer off to let the solution soak for an hour or so, and then complete the cycle. Bleach kills mildew...an and bunch of other stinky stuff too. Repeat if necessary.
Good luck!
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1answer

Musty/Mildew smelling clothes...

lg has a known problem with smelly mildew cloths. If you call LG they will tell you its not there problem. Cheapest solution is to wash door gasket with some clorox and then betwen washes leave door open. On the washing supply shelves there is a product you put in the washing machine run a wash without cloths and it does the same thing except it costs $7.If you bought it a t Lowes go back and ***** to store manager my friend did exactly that and got the machinje replaced
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LG TROMM WM2496HSM MILDEW & MUST SMELL

I have had the same problem with mine. I have started taking the rubber seal off at least once a month to clean it with bleach and water. I would not recommend doing this unless you are handy with tools. You might try cleaning the seal with bleach and water while it remains on the machine. Careful to pull the inner sealing lip down to get to the "Slime" behind it. Good Luck
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1answer

My Elite washer has a musty odor. I have run an

The first thing to do is to CHECK IN AND AROUND THE RUBBER DOOR BOOT (called a bellow) for small articles of clothing (like socks and underwear) that may have gotten lodged in behind the rubber. Pull the rubber back where it meets the wash tub and look behind it. It is common for small items to get stuck here, become forgotten and start to mildew. You should check this area after each wash and clean it periodically to get rid of the formation of soap scum, mold, and mildew. HINT: When you get ready to wash a load of towels, take a dirty towel and clean the door boot thoroughly (including the areas behind the rubber). Immediately place the towel in the wash and run it on a sanitary cycle. This way you eliminate the need for cleaning rags.

PERIODICALLY RUN THE WASHER ON A CLEANING CYCLE. Place the washer on the hottest setting you have (usually a Sanitary cycle) with nothing but bleach in the wash tub. Some newer models actually have a “Clean Cycle” available now just for this purpose. This helps keep the wash tub, drain lines and pump sanitized.

CHECK AND CLEAN THE DRAIN PUMP FILTER. Accumulations of debris in the drain pump filter can also cause odors. HINT: If you own a shop vac, pull the drain hose from the standpipe at the wall and pull a vacuum on the line. This will drain any residual water left in the tub, pump and drain lines BEFORE you remove the drain pump cover. This will prevent a messy clean up later.

LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN IF POSSIBLE. When not in use, leave the door open to allow the tub to air out and to keep mold and mildew from forming on the door bellow. I know this may not be desirable in some households with small children. If too much mildew forms on the rubber and it cannot be removed, replacement of the bellow may be required.

NOTE: This problem is common with front loader style washing machines. The doors on these machines have an air tight/water tight seal that is great for sealing the washer during the wash cycle, but can be terrible for collecting small garments and for not allowing the tub to properly air out when not in use. Following these simple preventive measures can go a long way towards preventing harmful mold and mildew, and towards extending the life of the door bellow and pump.



Thanks for using FixYa - a 4 THUMBS rating is appreciated for answering your FREE question.
5helpful
3answers

LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

I have an LG washer that had the same problem. Go to the site www.nufreshnow.com and read all about why this is happening, how to fix it and how to keep it from comming back. A few different ways of cleaning the machine are explained.

The site sells a product that you may or may not need but the explanations are really good.
4helpful
1answer

Foul odor

The first thing to do is to CHECK IN AND AROUND THE RUBBER DOOR BOOT (called a bellow) for small articles of clothing (like socks and underwear) that may have gotten lodged in behind the rubber. Pull the rubber back where it meets the wash tub and look behind it. It is common for small items to get stuck here, become forgotten and start to mildew. You should check this area after each wash and clean it periodically to get rid of the formation of soap scum, mold, and mildew. HINT: When you get ready to wash a load of towels, take a dirty towel and clean the door boot thoroughly (including the areas behind the rubber). Immediately place the towel in the wash and run it on a sanitary cycle. This way you eliminate the need for cleaning rags.

PERIODICALLY RUN THE WASHER ON A CLEANING CYCLE. Place the washer on the hottest setting you have (usually a Sanitary cycle) with nothing but bleach in the wash tub. Some newer models actually have a "Clean Cycle" available now just for this purpose. This helps keep the wash tub, drain lines and pump sanitized.

CHECK AND CLEAN THE DRAIN PUMP FILTER. Accumulations of debris in the drain pump filter can also cause odors. HINT: If you own a shop vac, pull the drain hose from the standpipe at the wall and pull a vacuum on the line. This will drain any residual water left in the tub, pump and drain lines BEFORE you remove the drain pump cover. This will prevent a messy clean up later.

LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN IF POSSIBLE. When not in use, leave the door open to allow the tub to air out and to keep mold and mildew from forming on the door bellow. I know this may not be desirable in some households with small children. If too much mildew forms on the rubber and it cannot be removed, replacement of the bellow may be required.

NOTE: This problem is common with front loader style washing machines. The doors on these machines have an air tight/water tight seal that is great for sealing the washer during the wash cycle, but can be terrible for collecting small garments and for not allowing the tub to properly air out when not in use. Following these simple preventive measures can go a long way towards preventing harmful mold and mildew, and towards extending the life of the door bellow and pump.



Thanks for using FixYa - a 4 THUMBS rating is appreciated for answering your FREE question.*&^%4
6helpful
2answers

Musty smell in washing machine - no obvious water/mold, etc.

1. Run an empty load wih nothng but bleach in the dispenser on the sanitary cycle. (Do this once a month)
2. Switch to powder HE detergent. The liquids cause their own smell.
3. Leave the door open when the washer is not in use.
4. Guaranteed!

Switch to powder HE Detergent.
5helpful
5answers

Smells of mildew and so do clothes

Hi! I have Kenmore Elite 4t and had this same problem: Musty, Moldy smell in washer and on clothes. The Sears Technician suggested that I use a half a cup of Clorox Liquid Bleach and put it in the tub (not the dispenser). NO CLOTHES! Use the longest hottest setting and when it's done clean the inside (underneath rubber tire thingie) and the undernath part of the door with a papertowel. And to always leave the door open. I did what he said with the bleach and it worked. I didn't want to leave the door open because I have 2 cats & was afraid that they would want to go in it, but ended up repeating the bleach thing again because a few days later the horrible smell was back. I leave the door open all the time now and the cats never go in it. They've watched laundry spin around, so I guess they're smart enough to not want to go in it. I have not had this problem again since I always leave the door open and I did this over a month ago. I hope this helps!
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