alternative cleaner for He washers

[motherto2]

All you savvy spenders and savers, I'm wondering if you have come up with or know about an alternative way to clean my front load He washer.  I went to buy some of the Affresh today, and it's jumped a couple of dollars since I bought it just a few months ago .  I would dearly love to use it more often, like every week or two because that water is disgusting that sits in the machine, but not at the prices they have on it these days. 

[NastyWoman]

I found this on line and I hope this works.  Sounds reasonable though...

Smelly Washer

Does your washer smell like a locker room. To eliminate smells, run the washer empty on the hot water setting. Add a cup of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser. And add 1/2 cup of baking soda inside the drum before you press start.

If this doesn’t eliminate all the odors, you can run the washer empty again but this time put 1/2 cup of bleach in the detergent dispenser.

Remember to open the washer immediately, wipe out any moisture and leave the door open to air dry. (I can’t stress how crucial it is to do this after EVERY LOAD.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Why are you getting 'standing water' left in your marchine? Is it draining properly? Or is it just moisture on the inner drum?

My front-load drains completely - I usually also leave the door slightly open after I've finished washing clothing for the day - to let it air-dry - the smell you're getting could also be from moisture still on the drum and it goes stagnant and can't evaporate if the door is closed.

If you let it air-dry with the door slightly ajar, or wipe down the inside with a dry towel it'll remove most of any moisture still on the inside surface.

[Virgil Showlion]

Oct 1, 2013 21:12:25 GMT -5 ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ said:

Why are you getting 'standing water' left in your marchine? Is it draining properly? Or is it just moisture on the inner drum?

My front-load drains completely - I usually also leave the door slightly open after I've finished washing clothing for the day - to let it air-dry - the smell you're getting could also be from moisture still on the drum and it goes stagnant and can't evaporate if the door is closed.

If you let it air-dry with the door slightly ajar, or wipe down the inside with a dry towel it'll remove most of any moisture still on the inside surface.

It's a HE (High Efficiency) washer. "Efficiency" pertains to their reduced usage of water, and they have several interesting techniques to try and work around it. HE Washers are notoriously bad for both not cleaning and not not stinking up clothes.

As usual, I blame snow leopards.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Mine's a HE front-load washer. The seal on the door is very tight (for obvious reasons), so if there's still moisture on the inner drum after you remove wet/damp clothing, and you then close the door, that water isn't going to evaporate like it would if the door is left partially open - even if it's only a fraction of an inch it will air out.

The musty smell is from 'stale' moisture left on the drum that couldn't evaporate as quickly as it would with the door open - it would probably leave a smell like mildew.

[Deleted]

 Running a hot-water wash cycle (without clothes) to clean your washing machine between uses... and having to towel-dry the interior after each use...doesn't sound very efficient to me.
 I use a 35+year-old Maytag top-loader. No touchpad, no internal computer, no standing water left in the bottom between uses.
 Granted, there are "only" four water levels/load sizes to choose from... and I have to select my options with a dial instead of a touchpad.
 Believe it or not, I manage to launder my clothes without all the bells and whistles. 

 And with a top-loader, I don't have to get down on my knees to load and unload the machine.

[thyme4change]

HE Washers are notoriously bad for both not cleaning and not not stinking up clothes.

My HE washer is 12 years old, but it cleans great!  I love how well it cleans, and how little soap it uses.  After the baby and toddler phase, I had very few kid clothes that were stained.  The ones that were stained were the ones my Mom washed in her non-HE, or the ones I washed at my MIL's house while we stayed there.  

[Deleted]

My LG had a drain tube at the bottom of the front, so you had to drain that out every now and then (not sure why it was designed that way).  It is very low to the bottom of the machine, so a total nuisance to get a pan under it that would actually catch the water.  I sold the front loaders with the house.  good riddance!!

My 25+ year old top loader still works fine, so I'll just keep using that until it dies and forces me to get a new one.

[Tiny]

 

 HE Washers are notoriously bad for both not cleaning and not not stinking up clothes.

I bought an HE top loader back in July and so far it cleans and doesn't stink up clothes.   It was a bit of a paradigm shift with figuring out what cycle to use (and what kinds of stuff to put in together).  I kinda like the new machine.  I've named it Wilfred. 

Anyway back to the OP... my HE Top Loader has a "clean the Machine" setting I'm suppose to use every 30 washes - with hot water and I have to add a cup of bleach (or purchase some special pod things I can't find at the store).    I do it once a month even though I don't do 30 loads of wash a month.

But, you are looking for advice for YOUR machine....   the only advice I have is to maybe google your machine and cleaning or maybe google the machine and alternative to "product name' of the stuff you are using.    I find it hard to believe the manufacturer would have only one way to 'clean' the washer....   Washing machines aren't 'disposable' yet - so building the machine around having only one cleaning product available seems kinda dastardly...

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

But, you are looking for advice for YOUR machine.... the only advice I have is to maybe google your machine and cleaning or maybe google the machine and alternative to "product name' of the stuff you are using. I find it hard to believe the manufacturer would have only one way to 'clean' the washer.... Washing machines aren't 'disposable' yet - so building the machine around having only one cleaning product available seems kinda dastardly...

The machines come with Operating Instructions manuals. There should be "Care and Maintenance" guidelines in that.

What I like is using the little detergent pods. It sure beats pouring/measuring, spilling, etc. Just toss the little pod in with the clothes and turn the thing on. With mine you can use either the pods or liquid detergent.

[Blonde Granny]

My new Samsung washer & dryer will be delivered in a couple of weeks when our house is finished.  By selling my side by side washer and dryer and going with the stack ones, I gained space to use as a closet.

I've been using the Tide Pods here in our corporate rental apt. and I'm very pleased how well they work. Sams Club had a good price on them over the weekend so I bought more.

We had an all in one unit in our motor home, it was both the washer & dryer.  I never had a problem with smells, but maybe it was because it was also a dryer.

Thanks though for telling me to leave the door ajar.  I'm one of these people who just skim the owners manual and would have likely missed that.

[NoNamePerson]

Technology has come so far now that we have to wash out our washers

[motherto2]

Oh believe me, I leave the door wide open and even the soap dispenser (sometimes I even completely take it out to let it dry out, but I have to be careful because it's a little wonky to get back in straight).  This is actually the second front loader I've had.  I got rid of the first set because I was having such a tremendous issue with the clothes smelling.  There are two different cleaners I have come across - Affresh (which is what this particular machine recommends, it even has a cleaning cycle with the Affresh name on it) and Tide.  They are both the same price - about $8 for three.  I've used both.  I just bought the Tide one the other day, and man the smell that came from the washing machine was terrible.  And I don't have nasty soiled work clothes, etc. and since both kids are gone right now, no real dirty athletic clothes and such.  I've done several loads this week, taking sheets off beds, comforters, dog blankets, etc.  But I'm sure if I go throw another dose of the Tide in it and do a clean cycle it will probably still smell.  This is definitely my last front loader.  Which is a shame, because I love the fact that you can stack them.  Saves a lot of room.  Oh, and my laundry room is very small (builder screw up, but don't get me started on that!), and it's a room that goes from what used to be the garage (converted to a kids family room years ago) into the kitchen, so there are two doors in a VERY small space.  For months now, I've been leaving the door to the kitchen open to get more air circulation, and that doesn't seem to make a difference.

I'm going to go and try the baking soda white vinegar solution.  I've used white vinegar in the wash for years, because I had read somewhere that it helped, but I stopped after the kids left for the most part because nothing seems to make a change.  I'm not adverse to cleaning it once a month or more, I just would like to find a cheaper alternative to the $8 for three items.

I've also tried to do some research on these particular machines, and haven't found anything helpful.  Who knows, maybe it's our water.  We have hard water in this area.  But I've had a water treatment system for probably ten years, and that hasn't really helped the situation.

[motherto2]

I had to chuckle.  I put the vinegar in the soap dispenser and it immediately trickled into the drum.  Then I poured the baking soda in the drum and I could hear the two mixing and making noises!  Now I've decided to stay indoors until the machine is finished running!  I can clean the bathrooms while I'm waiting

[bean29]

Oct 1, 2013 22:31:03 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

HE Washers are notoriously bad for both not cleaning and not not stinking up clothes.

My HE washer is 12 years old, but it cleans great!  I love how well it cleans, and how little soap it uses.  After the baby and toddler phase, I had very few kid clothes that were stained.  The ones that were stained were the ones my Mom washed in her non-HE, or the ones I washed at my MIL's house while we stayed there.  

I agree with Thyme.  My Whirlpool Duet Washer and Dryer are also about 12 years old.  They clean well.  I usually leave the door adjar too.  I have cleaned the seal a few times, but I don't usually do anything to clean my machine.  I do have a seperate laundry room so I just leave that door adjar.

When I researched appliances last year though, I did notice that the newer Duets had a lot of complaints abouthow they clean and the smells.  I don't know if the quality is lower or if the people completing the reviews are just a bunch of winers.

[bean29]

Oct 2, 2013 2:18:06 GMT -5 ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ said:

But, you are looking for advice for YOUR machine.... the only advice I have is to maybe google your machine and cleaning or maybe google the machine and alternative to "product name' of the stuff you are using. I find it hard to believe the manufacturer would have only one way to 'clean' the washer.... Washing machines aren't 'disposable' yet - so building the machine around having only one cleaning product available seems kinda dastardly...

The machines come with Operating Instructions manuals. There should be "Care and Maintenance" guidelines in that.

What I like is using the little detergent pods. It sure beats pouring/measuring, spilling, etc. Just toss the little pod in with the clothes and turn the thing on. With mine you can use either the pods or liquid detergent.

I got a free sample of a Tide Pod with one of my deterget purchases.  When I tried it with my HE machine, I ended up with a huge bleach spot on one of my favorite shirts.  GRR.  I have no use for those POD thingies.

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 3, 2013 9:39:05 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Oct 1, 2013 22:31:03 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

My HE washer is 12 years old, but it cleans great!  I love how well it cleans, and how little soap it uses.  After the baby and toddler phase, I had very few kid clothes that were stained.  The ones that were stained were the ones my Mom washed in her non-HE, or the ones I washed at my MIL's house while we stayed there.  

I agree with Thyme.  My Whirlpool Duet Washer and Dryer are also about 12 years old.  They clean well.  I usually leave the door adjar too.  I have cleaned the seal a few times, but I don't usually do anything to clean my machine.  I do have a seperate laundry room so I just leave that door adjar.

When I researched appliances last year though, I did notice that the newer Duets had a lot of complaints abouthow they clean and the smells.  I don't know if the quality is lower or if the people completing the reviews are just a bunch of winers.

Maybe that is their problem

[Tiny]

I bought some 'stinky' very perfumed HE detergents because my new machine came with fantastic coupons and I thought it was time to try some of the different products (been using All free and clear or whatever it's called liquid for years - turns out I was using HE detergent in my old fashion top loader for several years with no complaints - it did the job).

I would have bought fragrance free detergents with the coupons but none were available and since I was 'experimenting' or 'trying something new/different' I took a chance on the perfumed detergents.

First, doing a load of wash with the perfumed detergent made my entire house fragrant (in an unpleasant for me way). Also the laundry I did retained an almost overpowering fragrance for several days.

When I re-washed the clothes (after normal wear) using the 'frangrance free' detergent - the old 'fragrance' was 'reactivated' by the washing process and while not as strong as the first time I washed with the stinky product it was still very noticable.

I also noticed my washing machine retained some of the fragrance from the laundry detergent. The 'sea breeze' fragrance starts to smell like 'dead sea creatures' to me after a few days... so that was kinda unpleasant.

Maybe it's your laundry detergent OR fabric softner fragrance that's giving your machine an unpleasant smell?

Thankfully, the stinky detergent and pods were small packages (14 pods and a 14 or so load jug). I'm thinking I'm going to give whatever is left away to someone the next time I go to the Laundra-mat to wash my comforter and mattress pad and blankets.

[NoNamePerson]

Tiny, I would go back to a scrub board if I had to go thru all that. But I am so sensitive to all the smells put in products today that I would probably be slumped over the washer dead. 

Please Lord, don't let my washer kill over anytime soon. I'll be calling Archie if it does. Just replaced frig that came with place as did w/d. 

[swamp]

I just leave the washer door open, never had a smelly problem.

And I use the Tide pods.

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 3, 2013 11:41:43 GMT -5 swamp said:

I just leave the washer door open, never had a smelly problem.

And I use the Tide pods.

Bad, bad, bad Mommy. Leaving your washer door open. Didn't it come with a warning not to try this at home  What if your kids climb in - or is that wishful thinking on your part!!! Now before anyone gets there panties in a wad - I AM JOKING AND PULLING SWAMP'S CHAIN  Just had a silly moment there.....

[swamp]

If my kids climb in, I don't have to give them a bath that day.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I have a top loader HE machine that I bought a couple years ago.  I always leave the top open for a good 24+ hours after I run the last load to make sure all the water evaporates out of there.  I did buy the Affresh when it was suggested that I run the clean cycle....not inexpensive though.   

The manual did suggest that I could run a cup of bleach through in replacement of it.  What I'd do is run a cup of bleach through weekly if you want to do it more frequently and use the Affresh every month or so.

We don't use the Tide pods, but use Tide liquid, waaaay less than what is called for but then I used less detergent than was called for when I didn't have a HE washer.

[greeniis10]

This topic worries me for whenever my current front loader HE machine goes out.  Hopefully not for a LONG time!  It's a Fridgidaire (with matching dryer; purchased both at the same time about 8+ years ago) and I have never had an odor problem and had never even heard of this problem until someone on these boards mentioned it! 

I use Biokleen detergent and put white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser only when washing workout clothes and have never had to clean my washing machine separately.  I'd be pretty ticked if I had to wash a machine that is supposed to wash itself and its contents! 

Anyway, OP, hope your alternative cleaning solution helps! 

[Sam_2.0]

Oct 3, 2013 9:13:07 GMT -5 motherto2 said:

I had to chuckle.  I put the vinegar in the soap dispenser and it immediately trickled into the drum.  Then I poured the baking soda in the drum and I could hear the two mixing and making noises!  Now I've decided to stay indoors until the machine is finished running!  I can clean the bathrooms while I'm waiting

Use vinegar or baking soda, but not both together. The chemical reaction leaves you with basically water and a little salt.

[motherto2]

'well, I have to say, whatever concoction that was made it smell way better than the store bought stuff!

[NastyWoman]

Oct 4, 2013 19:39:01 GMT -5 motherto2 said:

'well, I have to say, whatever concoction that was made it smell way better than the store bought stuff!

Was that the vinegar and baking soda mix? I thought that might work 

[Deleted]

 Playing chemlab in your toilet bowl is not a good idea. Adults should know better. 
 For example, blending the whitening power of chlorine bleach with the grease-cutting power of ammonia may sound like a good idea, but... no. It is really a BAD idea.

[Deleted]

I've had a front loader for about a year and a half. It's a Samsung. I still miss my old school washer that I'd had almost 20 years. The only times the front loader has smelled bad has been when my daughter didn't take her clothes out soon after they finished washing or she didn't leave the door open.

It has a cleaning cycle and I use that when I remember. I add bleach if there's a musty odor. That seems to work, so I haven't bought any of the products made to clean the washer.

[motherto2]

I've had to do a couple of loads of towels/blankets because of the dogs this week.  I used the heavy duty cycle to make sure they got good and clean.  That uses hot water and 1 hour 20 minutes worth of washing.  Stink!  I just don't understand it.  I guess I need to check out the other gasket, not the one on the door.  It just shouldn't be this hard.  It's not like I do a lot of nasty laundry.  Kids stuff back in the day, yes, but now, not so much.

Pink - when you run the bleach through, do you put it in the bleach section or in the detergent section?  Now that I just typed that, I'm sure the bleach in the detergent section would just pour right through.  I think I'll try it tomorrow and see how it does.