Our Front Load Washing Machine Smells?

[scarps]

OK, a bit off camping topic, but SWMBO very very frustrated as our LG Front Load Washing Machine has developed a rank stillwater smell that she's tried everything to get rid off, but it's permeating the clothes in every wash now.  Somewhat they come out smelling worse after a wash. (bring on the comments:-)

After researching on the net, it seems like it's a common problem with no real solution.  I'm thinking the old water isn't all clearing itself out of the drain post wash and then sitting inside somewhere and creating a swamp.  Do I need to throw an alligator into the wash to stir the bottom up a bit.  (and no, I'm not going to nor have I washed my winch rope in there)

Calling on the collective intelligence and ingenuity of the Myswag collective - HELP!

Unhappy Wife Unhappy Life - no rank comments please:-)

[Scruffnz]

is there some kinda restriction on the outlet/hose preventing the water all getting away? an uphill bit of hose thats  not draining away and flowing back in  after machine has stopped?

[Hoyks]

Start with the easy things;
I had a front loader for several years and it never went smelly, we even lived in Townsville where everything else got a nice layer of mold on it, but the machine was fine.
When not in use we would leave the door unlatched and the hose was at a good height so there was minimal water washing back into the machine after the pump stopped. Instead of having it dump down the side of the laundry tub, you could try hooking it up to one of those barbed fittings on the 'S' bend, that way the pump has less head to push the water against.

Have you pulled the lint filter out and cleaned any hair/lint/gunk out of that?

Run it through a hot wash with a triple dose of nappy sanitiser?

The Bendix machine we had you could take the back cover off the box, remove the drive belt and then undo the clamp on the drum to get right into the space between the drum and the water proof outer bit. You might have a small piece of cloth stuck in there that is moldy.

I had to strip the machine after the concrete weight on top of the drum broke lose and it flogged it's self to death and split the drum , not due to smells.

[Mace]

is there some kinda restriction on the outlet/hose preventing the water all getting away? an uphill bit of hose thats  not draining away and flowing back in  after machine has stopped?

Trying to find our Samsung manual!

In it there are specific directions as to how the drain hose should be placed and how high it should be.

Hoyks  has some good ideas.

[fuji]

If I can find LG manual i will ring you

[baldheadedgit]

Yes there is a fix Scarps... we had same problem here.. i'll check with the boss when she gets out of the shower... it does involve leaving the door open once it is fixed... give me 10 mins and i'll ask her..

[baldheadedgit]

PS.... a hint from what i do remember... Door Seal.. 

[baldheadedgit]

Ok... here we go..  
Simple fix according  to you know who.. 

 1 Run a Hot wash machine empty... !

2 Clean door seal, every last little bit of it.. that is what is creating the problem..
Seal will need to be wiped clean after every day's use..
Then when not in use leave the door ajar so it dry's and air's properly
May have to run hot wash a couple of times to get smell out of machine as its now rite thru the drum..

hope it works for you guys

BHG

[speewa158]

Dose it do any other party trix  our stands in the corner till its time to wash the cloths 

[scarps]

Thnx All and BHG. There's several things I like about you guys. 1 - pmsl most days on here. 2 - there is actually a lot of intelligence in the group once we get past the great jokes and humour:-)

[baldheadedgit]

Dose it do any other party trix  our stands in the corner till its time to wash the cloths 

OOOH... are we refering to washing machine or "you know who"   cos if it's the later i'm gunna dob you rite in it.. 

[noel_w]

You need to sit in front of the machine to make sure the door is dry.  Do you have a "chair" to sit on. 

[Rumpig]

My brother who fixes washing machines for a living said it could be Detergent/fabric softner build up in machine or staying wet from not draining properly, so check for a blocked drain filter like someone has already mentioned above aswell as give it a good clean

[scarps]

You need to sit in front of the machine to make sure the door is dry.  Do you have a "chair" to sit on. 

got stacks of camp chairs:-) Want one?

[scarps]

My brother who fixes washing machines for a living said it could be Detergent/fabric softner build up in machine or staying wet from not draining properly, so check for a blocked drain filter like someone has already mentioned above aswell as give it a good clean

thnx, yep that's what we were thinking but pulled the back off this morning, took one look and said "yeah no" aint got no time for that:-) call the man in the white van.

We're currently running napisan through with several hot washes to see what that achieves as well as cleaned the seal as BHG suggested.  Will let you know.  Just can't handle having a smelly winch rope:-)

[Rumpig]

thnx, yep that's what we were thinking but pulled the back off this morning, took one look and said "yeah no" aint got no time for that:-) call the man in the white van.

We're currently running napisan through with several hot washes to see what that achieves as well as cleaned the seal as BHG suggested.  Will let you know.  Just can't handle having a smelly winch rope:-)

maybe do a couple of runs with just the hot water and no napisan aswell, the no detergent of any kind may help dilute any build up that may be there?

[grafy82]

Another tip is to run vinegar instead of fabric softener as this eliminates a lot of smells. The reason clothes feel hard/stiff is due to small amounts of detergent/ fabric softener left in the clothes. The vinegar helps remove it all, leaving your towels/clothes feeling soft and fluffy

[westvic]

Another tip is to run vinegar instead of fabric softener as this eliminates a lot of smells. The reason clothes feel hard/stiff is due to small amounts of detergent/ fabric softener left in the clothes. The vinegar helps remove it all, leaving your towels/clothes feeling soft and fluffy

and use a mix of vinegar and water to clean the door seal

also, as others have said, leave door open between washes

these two things fixed the same problem in ours a couple of years ago

cheers,
Steve

[IanC]

Another tip is to run vinegar instead of fabric softener as this eliminates a lot of smells. The reason clothes feel hard/stiff is due to small amounts of detergent/ fabric softener left in the clothes. The vinegar helps remove it all, leaving your towels/clothes feeling soft and fluffy

x2.  Wife never uses fabric softener.  Always puts white vinegar in the conditioner (?)  thingy.  Never smelly.  Apparently very good for cleaning out the left over powder that builds up in the fabric?  Also rinses the dog in diluted white vinegar stops doggy smell.

And also very good on fish and chips!!!

[lino6]

Did you try laying the drain hose on the ground to let any of the water still inside the machine drain out? Usually the pump won't get all of the water out after a cycle, but if you lay the hose down gravity will drain the rest out.

Other than that try running some petrol through it (but can you video that and post it up for is when you do) 

[Mace]

Newer models have a drain hole in the lower door seal to prevent water lying there. If you don't have a drain hole you need to get rid of excess water after every use. Leaving door open helps.

[Bad Scott]

Other than that try running some petrol through it (but can you video that and post it up for is when you do) 

Diesel is better. Lubricates the seals

[scarps]

Thnx Mace for keeping up with the intelligent replies.

As for you other two, expect nothing, then not disappointed:-)

[haywas]

Hi, according to a man in a white van that looked at ours, a cup of epsom salts with a hot (empty wash) may assist.

[Bad Scott]

Scarps you can put it on cycle and hop inside to see where the problem lies