Moldy smell in washer?

Deb862 · #1 09/15/10, 02:44 PM

I also posted this in the Cleaning forum as I didn't know if I'd get more answers here or not.

Does anyone know what might be causing a moldy smell inside our washer? It seems to be draining appropriately but after we do a washload,take the laudry out, and let it set for a few hours it smells heavily of mold inside the tub. We have a whole-house water softener but it probably doesn't have anything to do with that. We thought it might be a drainage problem but we hear it draining apropriately when rinsing/spinning and there are no kinks in the drain hose.

Bearfootfarm · #2 09/15/10, 02:49 PM

Sounds like mildew

Run a cycle of hot water with a lot of bleach , and ALWAYS leave the lid open so it can dry inside.

Callieslamb · #3 09/15/10, 02:57 PM

If it's a front loader - look inside the door gasket. It can get pretty bad there. some of them have clean cycles - use it with bleach.

Otherwise - you might check the pump. We just cleaned out ours - because it stopped working. The washer had a bad smelling for some time. The pump was full of---- $1.85 in small coins, 1/2 of a sock?, a fabric softener sheet, and a ton of lint, as well as lots and lots of gray goo. Now that it's clean, there isn't any smell ....amazing.

mekasmom · #4 09/15/10, 03:07 PM

Clean your filter too. It's somewhere in there and another one is on the hoses.

Deb862 · #5 09/15/10, 03:48 PM

The washer has a pump and a filter? I understand it has a motor but where are the pump and filter located? I guess DH has his job for tomorrow Hhehe!

Bearfootfarm · #6 09/15/10, 04:09 PM

Quote:

where are the pump and filter located?

It will be under the tub, and attached to the drain hose.
Not all washers have a filter.

This site may answer some of your questions:
http://www.repairclinic.com/Washing-Machine-Repair-Help

strawhouse · #7 09/15/10, 04:16 PM

you can get the repair mans manual online really easily.
Also, if it's a newer model (under 10 years) open it up, they usually have the repair manuals taped inside for the repair guys.
As others said, run a clean cylcle, always leave lid open. If it's a front loader, clean in the "folds" of the gasket, they are notorious for mold.
Sound like a filter or motor thing to me too though. Ours is always getting clogged up with baby socks and, um, my undies!!

If you notice the smell more when the washer is running, it's the filter / motor for sure.

mylala · #8 09/15/10, 04:27 PM

Take the agitator off and clean it on the inside...that is most likely where the smell is coming from...it gets foul under it.

gwithrow · #9 09/15/10, 06:32 PM

always leave the door ajar, and a bleach load once in a while will help....but it needs to dry out in between loads or when you are finished for the day....

Deb862 · #10 09/15/10, 07:52 PM

Thanks for all the advice guys! He's going to check everything noted above tomorrow to see where the smell is coming from. It's not a front loader but a standard washer from Sears that is about 5-6 years old. It only recently in the last 6-9 months or so started smelling bad. It also doesn't smell when we are doing laundry but only afterward when we're not using the machine.

Thanks again! Will let you know what happens tomorrow.

FrontPorch · #11 09/15/10, 08:34 PM

My guess is that there is a sock or something stuck somewhere. My brother had the same issue until he took the machine apart.