Fix a Front Load Washer So That It Does Not Smell with Washer Fan
Revision as of 09:49, 10 January 2017 by Kipkis (Kipkis | contribs) (importing article from wikihow)
This article will cover how to fix your own washer to finally get rid of Smelly Washer Syndrome, that gross smell that all washers - not just front loaders - can get over time. This is an actual fix and not just masking the problem by cleaning it (again and again). It works for any brand or style washing machine (including top-load and front-load washers). Never have a smelly washer or smelly laundry again with this fix it once and done solution.
Contents
Steps
- Understand what causes the smell to begin with. It is multiple types of mold (including black mold) growing in the internal drain hose inside your washer where you can’t see it.
- Understand why it grows there. Search "mold growth" and you will see that the biggest problem is high humidity (over 60%). This chart shows you at what relative humidity mold starts to grow. It starts at around 55% and by the time you get to 70% the chance of mold growth is close to 100%. Because it starts growing at about 55% we highly recommend you keep your relative humidity (RH) of your laundry area under 50% at all times. A dehumidifier is the best way to lower your RH.
- Understand that cleaning your washer and leaving the door open will never solve the problem. They will just help with the odor for a little while. This picture is of the internal drain hose inside your washer where the black mold starts to grow. The internal drain hose should look milk-jug clear, unless it is a grey hose. Where the pipe looks dark is the black mold inside the pipe. Most internal drain hoses are ribbed pipes and once the mold starts to grow it is very difficult to clean it out. When you just occasionally use special cleaners you are not solving what caused the mold to start growing to start with. This is why a washer fan is so important in permanently eliminating washer odor.
- In order to stop the mold from growing, you have to remove at least one of the 4 components to mold growth. In this case you need to lower the humidity level inside your washer drum below 50%. You can do this with a washer fan. You can purchase one online; just search the internet for "washer fan". You can install it yourself in seconds and there are videos on the website showing you how to do it. You can permanently fix the problem rather than covering it up.
- Once you have installed your washer fan, just simply leave the door slightly open when you are not running your washer. This allows the air being pushed into the drum to be exhausted out the front. As air exhausts out the front, it brings high RH with it and thereby lowers the humidity level inside the drum.
- Make sure to not use too much laundry detergent. Using too much soap only feeds the mold and can also wear out your washer prematurely. This image is the backside of the inner drum of a Whirlpool Duet washer that is about 5 years old. When you use too much soap (especially dry granular soap) it builds up over time and keeps parts of the washer wet continually. This leads to premature failure of your machine.
- Clean out your washer’s water pump filter periodically, as things do get caught in there from time to time. You can find details about your particular washer online, as some owner’s manuals do not cover how to do this. Debris and biofilm trapped in your washer’s water pump filter can add to the odor problem. There are lots of videos online showing you how to get at your particular washer’s clean out and how to clean it out.
Video
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Tips
- Never use any Liquid Fabric Softener! It increases mold growth. If you need a softening agent, use dryer sheets instead (optional).
- Clean out your washer’s water pump filter (just before your pump at the bottom of your machine) several times a year. If you find it full of debris when you check it, you may plan check it more often. There are some good videos on YouTube and other places showing you how to do this on the different washers.
- Install a washer fan breeze to move air through you washer drum and always leave the door slightly open to allow the air to ventilate out, carrying the excess moisture with it.
- Be proactive and find a solution to solve any problem you are having. If you can't find a solution, make your own. Think outside of the box.
- Never use more than 1-2 of tablespoons of HE soap in your front load washer and no more than 4-6 Tablespoons on a non-HE (traditional) washer! If you are following the directions on the laundry detergent bottles, you are using way too much!
