Let them stay till the funk rolls away

[washman]

http://www.today.com/news/your-washing-machine-growing-hidden-mold-6C10671363

Ugh.

At at the end of the day, the lady goes back to a TL machine. Too bad it looks like one of those so-called HE models.

 

[paulc]

I'm sorry but.....

this comes down to user error not the manufacturer. It seems a lot of people in the US (and the UK) just do not know (or don't care) about washing machine maintenance. I cannot think of an instruction manual for a modern front loader that I have read that does not mention machine maintenance.

I've had F/L washers all my adult life and NEVER had a smelly/mouldy washer EVER. I use liquid detergent and warm washes for the majority of my laundry. I probably do two hot washes per week (60deg C + ) with powder with oxy bleach and always leave to door ajar. Washing is removed as soon a the cycle finishes and hung up or put in the dryer.

 

[logixx]

 

[washer111]

Common Sense People!

Are people seriously so dumb? What ever happened to leave the door ajar and leaving the detergent drawer ajar too, to create some circulation? If people actually bothered to READ the manuals that came with their machines, then this issue wouldn't be so prolific.

 

And there are the "Eco-Warriors" washing in Cold water, with liquid detergent and fabric softener, then leaving the door shut. Yeah, don't come crying when you have trouble because of your 'Eco-Friendly' habits.

 

Our Miele is now past the 1 year mark. The machine doesn't stink, smell or look like a bio-hazard. The door boot is clean, and where the water remains, the boot has bleached somewhat (Chlorinated water supply).

There IS a little bit of "green" at the very top around the rim of the door boot, but since the machine is kept dry, I don't believe it is any problem. If we did wipe out the boot properly each and every time, it wouldn't be there. But the clothes still smell clean, the machine doesn't reek (It smells like a clean washer).

 

Why doesn't it stink? WARM and HOT water washes. None of that cold BS. Our old TL left mildewy-smelling clothes even with good detergent and extra rinses. Guess why? COLD WATER WASHING.

The machine itself had a whiff about it...

 

[golittlesport]

funny, but sad

Is that an old blog? I thought that class-action case brought against Whirlpool was thrown out recently because claimants testified they actually did not follow the instructions in the machine's users guide to leave the door slightly ajar after use.

Front load washers are not a "new" invention. The first automatic washer made in the U.S. was a front loader (Bendix) and Westinghouse front loaders were very popular through the 1950's. Front load washers have been the standard throughout most of the world for decades. Now all of a sudden U.S. front loaders smell.

What is new is that people today do not know how to, nor bother to learn, how to use and care for the machines they have. I bet these dummies have mold in their showers too and are trying to figure out who to sue about that.

I've used front load washers for 14 years and have never had a mold or odor problem.

 

[jeffg]

At least for us the issue is time vs. performance. We can get almost three loads washed in our TL in the same time, and with the same or better results compared to most FLs. The bottom line is that no amount of tumbling can duplicate the wringing action of an agitator. The other bottom line is that most U.S. FLs lack heaters and are otherwise not the same machines as their foreign counterparts. This and just about all discussions here on AW on the TL/FL debate follow the same path: complaints from U.S. users about FLs are responded to by Europeans and others outside our country with much different and better performing machines.

 

[pierreandreply4]

why bring back this old flame debate?

why bring back this old flame debate for 1 thing i may prefer a top load washer and plan on going back to a topload model when my duet washer breaks to the point of no repair or unless the matching dryer to my duet washer go first then both will be replace so far i have my mine set up on the ge topload washer with power rinse or hubech top load model awn432 depending on the price and no matter what kind of maitnance cleanup is done on the washer we can't always prevent stuff showing on the washer ex like lint in the tub ect just to name a few but right now i am enduring my duet set until its time to replace them

 

[logixx]

Have to agree with Jeff on this - many modern front loaders seem to be aimed towards those people who like to wash everything at once... in no time... and as energy eficient as possible. Looking at older reviews on laundry.reviewed.com, it seems that most washers wash at temperatures between 75 and 85F on most cycles.

 

Same here in Europe, really. Never before did our washers (and even dishwashers!) have self-cleaning  until this "cold is the new hot" trend started.

 

Alex

 

[frontloaderfan]

Have to say it again...

I have owned a Frigidaire FL made for the American market (not made in USA, sad to say) for just short of a year now and I have NEVER had any issues with mold or odors. I just read the owner's manual before the "maiden" wash and have thus made a habit of leaving the door ajar after removing the clothes.
I wash most things (bedsheets, towels, work uniforms) in hot water with bleach and Oxyclean and even use fabric softener and don't have a problem with smell, mold or nasty build-up in the detergent drawer like I have seen in other people's washers.

I have never even had to wash out my detergent dispenser. It still looks like the day I bought it with no extra work or maintainence on my part.

I do run a "Clean" cycle after I wash my bathroom rugs in it, but that is more for my own sense of hygiene than it is for anything else.

I saw the same exact washer as I own that had been returned to the local Lowe's after less than a year just a couple of weeks ago. It looked disgusting: hair and dirt in the door boot, a thick detergent/FS scum in the detergent drawer. The sticker said it had been returned because it "didn't wash". Go figure. You have to read the instructions first, like with any other appliance. Duh.

When I still lived at home, my mother used to use Melaleuca "detergent" and cold water only to wash most of our clothes. We had a 1978 Whirlpool belt drive washer and the thing stank to high heaven, as did our clothes. THey smelled moldy and grimey. I actually had to re-wash my school clothes at my grandmother's to get the smell out of them.

 

[logixx]

Whoever used this washer must be blind...

 

 

[DADoES]

 
^ Cold water and homemade "detergent."

 

[mark_wpduet]

UMMM OKKKKKK

This is the EXACT MODEL of Duet that I have, going on NINE years.........and it smells AWESOME and clean inside!!!!!

But looking at the lady, I wouldn't take her to be someone who doesn't know how to do laundry.....I just didn't get that vibe.......

Lame Cliche: but you can't judge a book by its cover

 

[tolivac]

Looks like the washer in the second video-----FILL HER UP!!!!!Forget those shallow water loads!!And forget cold loads!!!As some members may indicate the plastic drums may be a problem-seems like mildew and scum grows on them more then metal tubs.The first video--TOO MANY cold water loads???

 

[kb0nes]

Lovely situation...

Step 1, Buy a machine

Step 2, Don't bother to learn how to use it.

Step 3, Blame the manufacturer when things go amiss.

Step 4, Sue for the cash settlement.

Tis a lovely country where people can get paid for being dumb.

 

[strongenough78]

This reminds me of the customers I deal with on a daily basis only with cell phone issues. They buy a brand new phone, don't bother to get insurance with it, break it a month later, then expect a free replacement or refund. Um.....NO! It's called take care of your stuff!