Musty odor from High Efficiency Clothes Washer

**Drac** · 11th January 10, 12:48 PM

My wife & I have had a front louder for years. The two places we noticed the smell coming from is the drum mentioned above and the other is a mildew in the soap tray from the fabric softner.

A good thing my wife noticed helped with leaving the drawer and door open is to do your last load as whites with the bleach. She does laundry once a week, there's just the two of us.

Jim

**auld argonian** · 11th January 10, 01:27 PM

Seek wisdom in the bowels of the internet:

http://fixitnow.com/wp/2007/06/17/ho...-baby-schweet/

...I have kept a washer and dryer alive for wayyyy past their normal lifetime thanks to this guy.

Best

AA

**wvpiper** · 12th January 10, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

Seek wisdom in the bowels of the internet:

http://fixitnow.com/wp/2007/06/17/ho...-baby-schweet/

...I have kept a washer and dryer alive for wayyyy past their normal lifetime thanks to this guy.

Best

AA

I've read all of these suggestion, but I wanted to know 'proven' methods from x-markers. I leave my door open, wipe the gasket, leave the soap tray open. Since the problem began, I've run hot water and bleach through it, cleaned the scum from the bottom of the detergent tray, but I haven't tried dishwasher detergent. I will probably switch to powder detergent and paper softeners, to cut down on mold growing under the detergent tray.

As I mentioned, I think my problem is a frozen vent, forcing the odor from the vent pipe behind my washer. Warmer temperatures begin tomorrow. We'll see.

**AZ Viking** · 12th January 10, 02:43 PM

Musty odor is from water trapped in the rubber seal around the front door opening. Maytag has solved this problem with a kit that installs a seal with a drain hole and hose so no water is trapped. I don't know about other manufacturers but some may have a kit that should be installed for free to take care of the problem. Don't wait for them to answer you, persistence and determination must be your mantra with them to get this issue corrected.
Good luck