Mom’s front loading washer often smells like death, so every couple months I watch a couple videos , then get in there and clean it out. I hate it with a passion and when it comes time to buy my own, I’m buying a top loader.
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If we didn’t dry out the rubber gasket; remove the tray and all its parts, dump out the water, and leave it to dry out until next use; leave the door open until next use; and run the clean tub/sanitize cycle with Affresh tablet immediately when prompted, our front loading washer (Elextrolux) would smell horrific and I’d hate cleaning it out. And would want to dump it! As it is, we love the machine and it’s been very reliable. The steps do have to be followed every time after use is completed for the day.
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Tell me how you dry the gasket pls. Need to train mom.
This is what we do every time washing machine use is over for the day. I hope this helps. These front loaders really should come with warnings about how yes, you actually have to do this every time to avoid problems you do not want to experience.
Brands, I assume, can be different. This is for our Electrolux. It uses less water than a top loader and extracts a huge amount of water. That’s why the water needs to come out to prevent mold [and possibly worse] build up.
Remove entirely the dispenser tray and its components. Pour out all standing water from the components. Then dry out the entire inside of the empty dispenser compartment. There is a lot of water in there, especially at the back and sides! Place the dispenser tray and all components on top of a cotton napkin on dryer to drain. Leave there until next use.
Use another cotton napkin to thoroughly dry the rubber casket on the inside of the machine, all around the circle. Also dry the inside of the door, especially on the rubber. Leave the door open until next use. If there seems to be standing water on the drum, also wipe that out.
Our Electrolux machine prompts at the end of a cycle when the clean tub/sanitize is needed. We do it immediately at the end of the cycle when the prompt appears. We used to follow the instructions in the manual, which were to take out the looser part of the dispenser tray, be sure the washer is empty, pour 1 cup of bleach into the dispenser tray, close it, and push the buttons that are lit up to start the sanitize cycle. After that cycle ends, follow it with at least 2 “spin only, extra rinse” cycles to rinse out the bleach.
Then dry out the washer as above and leave door open.
Now we use an Affresh washing machine cleaner tablet, following the instructions on that box, when the prompt to sanitize comes on. No bleach. It’s to take out the entire dispenser drawer and all compartments, be sure the washer is empty, and put the tablet in the tub, then press the prompt buttons as indicated. Follow with at least one or two spin only, extra rinse cycles to rinse out the cleaner. Then wipe everything out and leave door open, as above.
It’s really worth it to us to have such a high efficiency, reliable, and clean washer. Maybe more than others want to hassle with!
The cotton napkins will have some residue and should be washed in the next load before using again.
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also @mig
I’ll add gasket info based on our current Maytag laundry and the Bosch we had for about 10 or 12 years (everything else Madrid said about their Electrolux is the same for us).
Think of that gasket like a cowl-necked sweater, at least on these models. Kind of loose/floppy, and you can pull it fairly far forward. I pull it up and forward and using a bath towel mop out all the excess water. There’s more water (poorer draining) the longer we go between self-clean tabs.
Then I just hang the towel to dry, and about every 3rd use, wash that towel too.
Sorry, EDIT addition.
Now we use an Affresh washing machine cleaner tablet, following the instructions on that box, when the prompt to sanitize comes on. No bleach. It’s to take out all the compartments of the dispenser drawer. Be sure the washer is empty, and put the tablet in the tub, then press the prompt buttons as indicated. Leave in the dispenser drawer itself as it’s needed to contain the circulating water!
Sorry!
Thanks both. The internet agrees that getting the water trapped in the washer gasket is key. I also, during yesterday’s deep clean, took out the detergent tray and cleaned it and cleaned the compartment it lives in, but my nose tells me the source of the death smell is much more the gasket. There’s not only old water in there, but solid scum and crud that builds up and begins to reek.
Yep, the detergent tray traps most of the water and the soap scum. At first, we only pulled out the components when done for the day and left the tray in. Then we saw yellows stains on the rest of the tray and realized the whole thing needs to come out and be dried out and ventilated every time.
The mold and scum and stuff builds up in that tray even if you use the sanitize cycle every time it’s prompted. Because even when it’s finished, the left-in detergent tray is tramping all the water and all the icky stuff that came out from the use of the machine during sanitation. And mold spreads!!!
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I use a door prop thingy. The part that rests on the body of the washing machine is magnetic. Holds the door open obviously. There are many models in many shapes. Mine has helped keep the stink at bay. Plus, I always keep the little door that covers the chutes for liquid detergent and whatever open, so they dry out.
Sorry the photo is at a weird angle.
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ETA: oops, just realized you meant a clothes washing machine…
I’ve battled this, too, and it’s infuriating. We upgraded from a plastic Samsung to Bosch with a steel interior and still that foul dog-breath odor on glasses and stoneware, especially on warmer days. I tried bleach (don’t recommend – pits metal), culinary/beer-making sanitizer (inconsistent results), citric acid, Finish rinse aid, organic detergents, chemical-laden detergents (the “best” pods etc), using sanitize cycle…still no perfect fix. Tacking (zip tie) the dishwasher hose up to the bottom of the sink helped a bit with the Samsung (google “high loop”). I tried cleaning my disposer and dishwasher drain and filter egularly too. No dice.
It’s weird, but lately the best solution has been surprisingly simple – refill the rinse aid every cycle (I use various natural/organic brands). And occasionally use Affresh in the d/w. 
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This is for our dishwasher. I use Affresh in the d/w at the first of every month, running the empty dishwasher on the bakeware (longer cycle), high temp wash, sanitize dry cycle. I remember to do several things at the first of the month, so this is part of the routine.
One of those other first of the month tasks is using Affresh in the garbage disposal, because it “exchanges” water and gunk with the dishwasher every time the dishwasher is on. There’s a lot of gunk inside the disposal and its top rubber gasket that lingers…I use a paper towel to clear out the rubber gasket and the metal sides from time to time. Also rinse out the d/w filter at the bottom to get out food remains and gunk.
I also realized there was standing water in the d/w after every cycle, so started using Cancel/drain at the end of every cycle. And my husband complains, but if we don’t use the dry cycle, the gunk piles up.
I sometimes use vinegar for the d/w (same cycle settings with a half cup of vinegar in the d/w upper rack) and grinding ice cubes with salt and citrus peels for the disposal. Affresh is easier to remember at the first of the month, for me. I’m lazy!
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We enjoy our little icemaker, especially since we can put in our filtered water to make the ice and not rely on the city water.
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I really want one, but no place to put it. I’m not thrilled with the ice from my current fridge’s ice maker (yes, I have trays I can use. Left over from decades ago, before ice makers)
Our unit sits on the counter in the laundry room. We only use it every few days and when not in use, it is covered. It takes up as much space as the mixer, which we don’t use much.
“laundry room” wish I had one. I live in a condo …
I have one of these, and “working perfectly” means making as much ice in an hour as one cocktail drinker would use in 30 minutes. Frankly, the storage bin melts the ice almost as fast as it’s made. A worthless POS, if there ever was one.
I let it make up a full bin of ice, then transfer the ice to a container. I put that container (of prepared ice) in our big chest freezer.
Sunshine can then pull ice out (from the chest freezer) whenever she wants. I know its not good for her teeth, but she really enjoys chewing on ice. These ice “bullets” are smaller than our ice tray cubes, so it appears to be working and she is happy.
When the container (in the big chest freezer) gets low, I’ll make more up and repeat.
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Have you ever calculated how much energy it takes for this unit to make a basket of ice? Being unrefrigerated, it must be a lot.
We now mostly just buy bagged ice, and have relegated this thing to emergency backup when we run out.
No… but my girlfriend enjoys the smaller “bullet” sized cubes. I may try changing the setting from (L) - large to (S) - small (on the next batch) to accommodate her ice chewing enjoyment.
You are probably right about the energy cost, but it makes her happy.
There is an old saying about “Happy Wife – Happy Life”, the same holds true for girlfriends/life partners.
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Oh yeah.
FWIW, the small “cubes” melt even faster, as in the ones at the bin bottom are almost gone before the bin fills. Your wife’s dentist will like this.
You also need to watch for salmonella growth. Any orange tint on the plastic bin and water reservoir requires a cleaning and disinfection.
