We have a stinky washing machine, a guy told us to pour vinegar in there and run it with no clothes in it - we did that and it didn't really help. So I took the agitator out and cleaned it (it wasn't really dirty) then we poured a gallon of bleach in and ran it. It seemed to help for the first 4-5 loads now it is starting to smell again. It is a Kenmore model and only 4 or 5 years old. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for any help!

Is the drain stand pipe properly trapped?
Maybe it's leaving standing water inside?

Yeah, Dean the drain stand is properly trapped and no standing water. Just started this a few days ago. We have lived here for about 4 years and this is the first time we've ever had anything like this happen. It's not like a sewer gas smell but more like a musty/moldy smell at first I thought we left clothes in there wet for too long. But we re-washed them and the smell was still there.

Do you think the supply lines could be bad?

Go to Menards and get a box of Washing machine cleaner. It works pretty good, just pour it in and run a cycle. It gets rid of all of the built up dirt in the machine, including the greyish slime you would see if you pulled the agitator out.

Go to Menards and get a box of Washing machine cleaner. It works pretty good, just pour it in and run a cycle. It gets rid of all of the built up dirt in the machine, including the greyish slime you would see if you pulled the agitator out.

This stuff works. But I have a cheaper solution. Go buy a box/bottle of Tang ( the stuff we used to drink as kids) and dump half of the bottle in the washer, then dump the other half in your dishwasher. Run both and you will be amazed at how clean they are.

Makes ya not want to drink Tang ever again.

If its a top loader you should check under the rubber ring. They can build up with a bunch of slime and start to stink. If that's it clean it with a bleach soaked rag and you should be good to go.
Kim

Kim: yes it is a top loader, I'm thinking the rubber ring is on the top of the barrel that the clothes go in. If that is it we cleaned it but we used Simple Green.

The top loading machine we had in our house in IL had that same odor after a couple years. We just left the lid open all the time it wasn't being used and had no problems....lived with it like that for almost 20 yrs.

Had a problem with my LG front loader. Called there tech service and was told I was probelly using to much soap. Cut back and the ordor went away. Plus I try to use bleach 1 to 2 times a week. Bleach kills bacterria.
Mike

This stuff works. But I have a cheaper solution. Go buy a box/bottle of Tang ( the stuff we used to drink as kids) and dump half of the bottle in the washer, then dump the other half in your dishwasher. Run both and you will be amazed at how clean they are.

Makes ya not want to drink Tang ever again.

I just seen this on our local news here...They say it works good...If it will clean a dishwasher and washing machine..what does it do to us when we drink it??:confused:

I usually run a 1 1/2 cups cascade dishwasher detergent in mine with no clothes every couple months. keeps it smelling fresh, a friend the repairs appliances told me about it, works great

Is it a top-loader "energy efficient" model that has low water usage? I had one that jad nothing but problems....it had a class action law suit against it, and one of the issues centered around it not draining completely, thereby leaving water and scum to turn moldy. We ended up getting rid of it and buying a standard water usage top loader and have had no problems.

We had this same problem. I took the thing COMPLETELY apart & cleaned it with bleach. The smell came back after a few weeks. Ended up buying a new washer...smell gone!

I usually run a 1 1/2 cups cascade dishwasher detergent in mine with no clothes every couple months. keeps it smelling fresh, a friend the repairs appliances told me about it, works great
I use it when I wash my whites. It does a great job of keeping them bright.
Got the tip from a chef, he does it to keep his uniforms white.
Kim

there's problems with the front loaders getting moldy around the rubber door seal, is that it?

Your clean! No need to have wife do an all natural, $$ detox. :)

Actually, if you are worried about what Tang does to you, then you shouldn't drink any cola based products with acid. e.g. Coke. Put a rusty/old penny in a glass of coke and see what happens. You may not want to drink coke anymore as well.

We used to clean sail boat small metal parts in coke to remove salt corrosion.

Your clean! No need to have wife do an all natural, $$ detox. :)

Actually, if you are worried about what Tang does to you, then you shouldn't drink any cola based products with acid. e.g. Coke. Put a rusty/old penny in a glass of coke and see what happens. You may not want to drink coke anymore as well.

We used to clean sail boat small metal parts in coke to remove salt corrosion.

Stomach acid is far more stronger.
http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/acid.asp


http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/tooth.asp

We had this same problem. I took the thing COMPLETELY apart & cleaned it with bleach. The smell came back after a few weeks. Ended up buying a new washer...smell gone!

X2
Couldn't handle it. It was a little better if door was left open between uses. Good luck

Thanks for all the info. It is not that old, so I don't want to buy a new one.

Lots of people have the same problem. This is supposed to work well.
http://www.smellywasher.com/?gclid=CJfF6rPnmJkCFQ0NDQodDBArZQ

This thread got me thinking last week...I know, let's pause there for a moment...

Well, this weekend did not start out the way we intended. We’ve been noticing that our towels both in the kitchen and in the bath stink when wet. They’ve smelled musty, moldy - even after washing in bleach. We’ve probably thrown a few dozen hand towels alone out in the past 5 or so years.

We purchased a new top loading washer about 2 years ago. The smell was gone, but only for a while.

I jumped on Google last week and did some more research. It seems that mold grows wonderfully in a washing machine, no matter how much you clean it. I even purchased the Smelly Washer cleaner that is specifically for washing machines, but after following the directions to a T, it just wasn’t working. I could walk past the washer and smell it.

So, tonight I thought I’d try again to clean it with this stuff. Same smell. Pissed off now, I decided to tear into the washer. Take a look at the pictures to see what I found. These are shots of the flange that rides over the top of the drum and outside container ( I can’t think of what it is really called – tub?) This crap does not come off on it’s own. The Chevelle's engine was easier to clean than this crap.

From what I’ve read, it is due to using too much liquid detergent, too many super-capacity loads, and basically a crappy design. Come to find out, there are major class-action lawsuits against virtually all major washer manufacturers! What is it? Mostly, mold. Well, that explains the smell. It can also lead to major illnesses. Well, considering how high up it was on the washer, no wonder the cleaner was unable to get it killed.

How to clean it? Wendy and I spent 3+ hours (got done around 11:30pm) cleaning the drum, the inside and outside, as well as anything that had it. I used Simple Green, Orange Blast, and Bleach at any given time. It was so thick, I had to actually use a putty knife to get this off. It is now sparkling white and it BETTER not stink again, or I swear the shotgun will get used on this fine piece of equipment.

Now, if this is my own, personal washing machine, think of the places you’ve done laundry, where this is probably never, ever checked.

My recommendation is as soon as you smell anything musty, tear it apart and clean it, or call out a professional. I don’t like being sick, and after watching friends of us have their house in Monument condemned due to mold (!), I don’t need to deal with this crap.

Gotta go, I think I’m going to rewash every freaking towel in the house!

http://www.rmsresins.com/photos/washer/washer01.jpg

http://www.rmsresins.com/photos/washer/washer02.jpg

http://www.rmsresins.com/photos/washer/washer03.jpg

X2
Couldn't handle it. It was a little better if door was left open between uses. Good luck
After we had a slight dose of musty smell we leave the lid up between uses. No more problem.

We had the same problem and the repair guy asked my wife if she washes with cold water a lot which she does. He recommended washing with hot water on a somewhat regular basis. Not every load, but at least one load a week.

Are you sure no body tried washing the cat and forgot about it?:)

This is what happens when parts that once were baked on enamel painted metal are replacesd with cheap plastic parts.:yes:

Its mold. Leave the lid up when not in use.

We do leave the lid up when not in use. And no, as tempting as it might be, we don't wash the cat in it.

We did do alot of washing in cold...saving energy you know. Toss that idea out, at least a few loads a week will now be hot only.

Washer smells clean now. I'm still completely grossed out.

He, He!!

You gotta let her take a bath every now and again, or your "washing machine" will get ta stinking.

And have her wash under her arms and between her legs real good! A douche will help too.

pdq67

That crap looks like a sandblaster or pressure washer is the only thing that will get it off.