Frigidaire Complaint - Clothes never smell clean - Front load washer

Posted by cherpep2 on 2008-01-17:

Yuck! I'm very particular about the smell of my laundry. I've been looking to purchase a front-loading washer, and this really concerns me. I wonder if this is just Frigidaire, or is it a common problem among front-loaders.

Posted by Principissa on 2008-01-17:

I see complaints like this all the time, for all the brands. Which is why when I'm in the market for new machines I will not be purchasing the front loading ones. I too am very particular about the way my clothes smell. And I certainly think it is a waste of water and my time and my money to have to run a load of bleach water when I am done doing laundry.

Posted by qualityappliance on 2008-01-17:

The original cause of the smell is from using too much soap. Soap residue remains in the washer after the cycle is complete and then it builds up a dirty soap scum that supports mildew growth. You can run a lot of bleach or pool chlorine through to eliminate the mildew but you may have to change the rubber door bellows as sometimes the smell permiates the rubber. There is no design flaw with this machine or any other front load washer as sugested by the so called "repair person". It sounds like the kind of comment one would expect from A&E/Sears.

Posted by UrFriendlyPirate on 2008-01-17:

Quality, I rated you best answer.

Posted by SilverWngs71 on 2008-01-17:

There is a new product on the market called Affresh. The info can be found at Affresh.com. All front load washers will have a "wet dog smell" due to the build up of soap residue in the appliance. It's like soap scum in a bath tub. Affresh helps in cleaning the interior of the tub and pump. I have heard no complaints on the product since it was introduced back in October. It's for all HE washers.

Posted by amaniR on 2008-01-17:

We have had our front loader almost a year. We keep the door propped open with a one of those soft sweater hangers (padded.) It lets the washer dry out between loads and no smell so far. Front loaders are great for larger loads and use less water, our is much quieter and easier to load than our top loader was too. I also wash at least one load a week with bleach, maybe that helps too. Hope you can get the smell resolved, that would drive me nuts too. :(

Posted by hello dolly on 2008-01-17:

The problem is easily remedied. You use less water with each load and the washer spins at a higher rate of speed than the conventional style washer meaning that when you used to do laundry and leave the clothes sitting say overnight they were wet enough to not get musty smelling. Your new front loader does not leave the clothes wet enough to allow them to sit in the machine for any extended period of time.

Also your owners manual has instructions for maintaining the machine that includes the "cleaning" of the washer. Many of the units now have a "clean machine" function listed on the front control panel.

Posted by hello dolly on 2008-01-18:

With the fromt load machines you save many ways
- less water during each load
- higher spin speeds = shorter drying times
- larger loads = less loads
With many of the larger new front loaders (LG Tromm, Kenmore HE5, Whirlpool Duet)you can fit as many as 16 pairs of jeans or 24 bath towels in a single load. Keeping the door propped open when not in use is a easy way to allow the machine to air out. The Fridgidaire models have a redesigned "rubber boot" now to allow more water to drain out instead of getting trapped. Also items left in pockets can block the 3-5 drain holes. Good luck with your front loader I love mine.

Posted by LotsOLaundry on 2008-08-26:

Hi there. I work at Whirlpool, and I know that both Whirlpool and Maytag washers recommend a product called Affresh to help eliminate washer odor. If your washer really stinks, you might have to do three straight cycles with just an Affresh tablet in the washer in order to get rid of the odor- otherwise you just use one tablet per month to keep the odor away.

Right now they’re running a promotion on whirlpool’s website that will get you free shipping on a 3 –pack of Affresh tablets. You just enter EAF822 as the promo code and you don’t have to pay the shipping.

Posted by Trainwreck_old on 2008-08-26:

lotsolaundry,whats the deal with the Whirlpool parts holdup?Is it because they are integrating Maytags stock into Whirlpools?

Posted by A rose is a rose on 2011-06-20:

Smae problem, washed clothes are still dirty, only my washer is a super deluxe Maytag. If I could throw this thing out the window I would. I would never, never recommend a front loader of any make or model.

Posted by Brian on 2012-02-09:

The technician in this case was correct. Most if not all manufacturers recommend keeping the door ajar when finished to allow the rubber door seal to dry properly to prevent the smell problem you describe.