I've had more than 20 front loaders for my personal use and designed probably 50 or 60 different models.
Never had any issues with mold or smells. It includes a silly American made Frigidaire Affinity I had for 10+ years.
Washing machines are just like cars. They NEED some attention.
Most people want the comfort of just use the washer, but they never care about the regular maintenance.
What happens if you don't check the pressure on your tires? What happens if you don't change the oil? ... alignment?... balance?... rotate the tires?
The same with WHATEVER washer.
Once in a while you will need to wipe it... sometimes even polish the cabinet... cotton swabs or a steam cleaner on the crevices? Yes, wibe the rubber gasket too!
If you wash something really nasty, like pet blankets, run a quick cycle immediatelly after unloading the washer. Once in a while, run the self cleaning cycle or run the longest cycle with hot water and lots of bleach. If you splash detergent, bleach or fabric softener while dosing, rinse and wipe the area immediately!
After use, remove the dispenser drawer and for god's sake leave the F-word door ajar! What happens if you wash a mason jar, don't dry it, close the lid and "forget" it for a few weeks? Exactly the same happens to a washer. No matter how clean the washer is and how many gallons of chlorine bleach you used on the last cycle. If you leave the door closed for a few days, when you open the door the smell will be dreadful.
With top loaders it's difficult to happen because they're not "nearly air tight", but even with a top load, please leave the lid open for at least 24 hours after use (considering you use the washer only once a week, for example).
And yes, even with a top loader, do hot washes always you can. Don't be afraid to use chlorine bleach and if possible, never use "pods".
99% of people that complain the washer smells bad or turned into a mushroom farm simply don't care about regular maintenance. They just toss the clothes, run the cycle and forget the washer exists.
I gave a TLA Super Compact Automatic washer to a friend 1 year ago. In six months she complained the washer was leaving a black residue on the clothes.
When i saw the washer, i couldn't believe my eyes. The lid is clear, but it was impossible to see inside because of the grimme. She NEVER cleaned the lint filter. (and even said "but detergent cleans everything, shouldn't the detergent make the dirt in the filter disappear?". The cabinet top (plastic) was full of cigarette marks (yes, she uses to place a cigarette on the top and forget it)
A 100% self clean washer doesn't exist. Period. It never existed and it will probably never exist. Even a 1950's Frigidaire needs at least some buffing once in a while, like everything. And worse... use a toothpick or tweezers to clean the drain holes on the top of the drum at least once a year to remove the lint buildup.
It explains why i always save my old toothbrushes... appliances love them...
Now back to the real world... No matter what washer you get, NONE of them will require you spend several minutes per day or per week taking care of it. HOWEVER, at least 15 minutes per month you'll have to schedule to take care of the washer and make it look like new for much longer.
