Removing Odor From Front Loader

Open Door

• Moisture becomes trapped inside the washer door seal and has no way to escape when the door remains closed because the water moisture cannot evaporate. This can create a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Leave the washer door open for two to three hours so that the air can circulate. Avoid leaving the washer door open if you have children in the home because they can climb into the appliance and close the door.

Chlorine Bleach

• Chlorine bleach effectively kills mold and mildew. Rinsing the washing machine out with chlorine bleach monthly helps to keep the appliance smelling fresh. Pour 1 cup of bleach into the machine's dispenser and run it through a normal hot water cycle. Only add the chlorine bleach to an empty washer to ensure that it works effectively. Read the instruction manual carefully to ensure that you can safely run the washer without any clothes inside.

Washer Maintenance

• After you wash each load of laundry, wipe the inside of the washer with a towel to dry it. Focus on drying the door gasket and the door. Leaving excess moisture inside the washer causes the mold to thrive. Clean out the detergent dispenser and washer detachments as well as the door gasket monthly to remove any bacteria or mold. Take the dispenser out and clean under and around it for best results.

Detergent

• Use the proper type and amount of detergent in the washing machine. Front loader washing machines require high efficiency detergent. Adding regular detergent to the machine can cause too many suds to form. The washing machine may not rinse all of the suds away, which can cause odor to build up after a while. Once you add the detergent to the machine, use warm or hot water when possible to kill any bacteria or germs inside the washing machine.

Wet Clothes

• Remove wet clothes from inside the front loader immediately after you launder them. Leaving the wet clothes inside the washing machine can cause them to mold. The mold then spreads to other parts of the washing machine and causes it to smell. Always place the clothes into the dryer or hang them to dry after the washing cycle ends so the mold does not have time to form.