The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: jeromedawg on March 29, 2017, 11:45:31 AM
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Hey all,
Our washing machine started producing a rancid smell recently and I decided to drain the pump filter - it definitely was one of the sources of the smell at least. I realized we should be running the machine through a tub clean every now and then. What is the best way to do this? Tub clean on the hottest setting (with nothing loaded of course) plus vinegar in the softener or detergent tray? Is bleach better?
Is it OK to just try out the steps here? https://www.diynatural.com/how-to-clean-front-load-washer/
lol, I've *never* run a tub clean with vinegar, bleach etc or even thought that I needed to do so until now... got this unit end of 2009.
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We have an LG front load washer too. I occasionally run it on the self cleaning setting, on hot, with bleach in the detergent and bleach compartments. Seems to work.
Periodically draining the pump tank thingamajig also seems to help. We also leave the door open for awhile after running, to help it dry out inside.
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We have an LG front load washer too. I occasionally run it on the self cleaning setting, on hot, with bleach in the detergent and bleach compartments. Seems to work.
Periodically draining the pump tank thingamajig also seems to help. We also leave the door open for awhile after running, to help it dry out inside.
Thanks! I'll probably just pour bleach in. We also have an LG dryer with steam cleaning - I opened the door to that and it smelled bad too! I wonder if there's a way to 'self-clean' that via the steam function.
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Thanks! I'll probably just pour bleach in. We also have an LG dryer with steam cleaning - I opened the door to that and it smelled bad too! I wonder if there's a way to 'self-clean' that via the steam function.
We have an LG dryer with a steam function too. No weird smells from it, but we don't use the steam feature -- I never could figure out what it's supposed to do. Tried it once, it made my clothes wet...
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We have a Samsung front loader...leaving the door open when not in use and periodically wiping away small amounts of stagnant water that collect around the rubber seal where the door meets the machine have done the trick for us.
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I'll have to look my model up and see if it has a pump to clean. We fight ours all the time because of odors. I tend to put vinegar in every load now.
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I confirmed our dryer is likely the bigger culprit - it smells really bad, as if something crawled up into the vent and died... which may just have happened. Our vent is in the most awkward place ever: facing downwards towards the ground with ZERO clearance - it's literally an inch of the ground which allows dirt to accumulate and block it. Not sure who the genius was who thought it would be a good idea to place a vent there but it is... I tried clearing it a little with a trowel in hopes that the airflow improves. The air definitely flowed after but the smell was just as rancid. *Something* seems to be stuck in the vent...
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Eww! Unhook that vent and clean out whatever's in there!
For the washer, we use bleech periodically according to the manual. I think we might pour it straight into the drum? Maybe just in the bleach segment. The door also stays open when not in use and we wipe down the rubber seal when we remember. (we had a used washer that we got with the seal full of mold, never want that to happen again!)
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Yes - keep the door open when not in use. I have had mine for almost 3 years with no problems or smell at all.
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Eww! Unhook that vent and clean out whatever's in there!
For the washer, we use bleech periodically according to the manual. I think we might pour it straight into the drum? Maybe just in the bleach segment. The door also stays open when not in use and we wipe down the rubber seal when we remember. (we had a used washer that we got with the seal full of mold, never want that to happen again!)
lol - I called the duct cleaning company I used last time and he's confident something crawled in there and died. I'm having them come out on Saturday but in the meantime I've covered the hole with duct tape so the smell isn't coming into the laundry room (and house). It's the most putrid smell ever... I'll be getting my snake cam tomorrow so I plan to fish it in there with some fish tape and check out the crime scene lol.
After tub cleaning the washing machine, the inside drum smells funky. I realized the first time I ran the wash I didn't actually use tub clean w/ the bleach. I figured out how to use tub clean after and poured in some white vinegar after, and it smells kinda gross. I put a bowl of baking soda in and closed the door and will leave it overnight. Will probably open it back up tomorrow and let it air out.
On that note, with front loading washers, is there *supposed* to be some residual water left in the drum after a cycle? I noticed in the back of the drum (where there are no drain holes), there's about an inch or two of water laying around (and it looks kinda dirty). I'm just wondering where it's coming from where it still seems dirty...
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For the washer, Tide makes a HE washing machine cleaner; you simply pour in a small packet of powder and run a cycle with nothing in it. Also, after running a load of laundry, leave door open.