The Not-So-New Washer Smell....

[pulsator]

My WO-65 has a bad smell coming from the inside, I'm not sure what it is, almost like a mildewy smell, but a little different, any ideas as to how to get rid of this smell? I've been airing it out for days and I've run a nice hot sudsy wash through it and the smell still seems to be there...

 

[autowasherfreak]

YOU COULD TRY...

Running a cycle with bleach or pine sol. Don't know if it will help or not but worth a try.

 

[swestoyz]

Jamie - if the efforts of your hot water and soap purges are not working - maybe take the top off to see what might be living in the outer cabinet. Good chance that there are years of caked goop, soap, and laundry debris that are stuck to the bottom of the outer cabinet. Now that water has been introduced for the first time since Kennedy was president, the smell is starting to come out full bloom.

I recently took advantage of the tub being out of the WO-65, and cleaned the outer tub of the WO-65 and was able to bring back that new washer smell.

Ben

 

[tuthill]

If you do clean the inside of the cabinet, take a before and after picture!

 

[whirlaway]

Hi! Try a little baking soda,and really hot water.Also it could be a dead rodent some where in the machine.Good luck!

 

[bajaespuma]

Try everything but...

I've discovered that on these really old machines, 50+, some rubber components give off an odor as they rot. The smell on my 57 GE that brought me back in time came from the black rubber agitator boot that was still in one piece but definitely worn.

 

[supersurgilator]

I was also going to suggest about 1 1/2 cups of bleach to a full tub of hot water. Let it agitate for a few minutes, then let it soak. Continue this for about an hour, then rinse the machine well.

 

[gansky1]

Ben is right - cleaning that outer tub/cabinet is the only sure way to get rid of the foul odor completely.

Another couple of hours cleaning time for you, but it's well worth it!

 

[pulsator]

Horrible Stench, brought to you by:

Ok, sooo, upon FINALLY getting those 2 screws surrounding the power cord off... (took 6 drill bits, 1 diamond dust dremel tool bit and 1 dremel grinding wheel...) I was finally able to access the outer tub to see what was making the stench and also to see why the fill is dribbling out and down the back of the machine! The fill appears to bounce back off the metal screen which is still perfectly clear, so I took it out... BAAAAAAAAAD idea!!!!! I tried filling without the screen and the stream bounced back up and poured everywhere! Ok, next I think I'll try extending the the little goose neck closer to the screen.

The stench turned out to simply be moldy cardboard:

View attachment 9-3-2008-22-53-6--Pulsator.jpg

 

[tuthill]

Nice work Jamie... don't ya just HATE stubborn screws? Glad you finally got it. Good luck with the new solenoid!!!

 

[volvoguy87]

Moldy cardboard?

What the [insert profanity of your choosing here] was cardboard doing in a perfectly good Unimatic?

Stranger things have been found,
Dave

 

[pulsator]

I'm thinking it was intended to hold the drum still during shipping, I found one piece wedged between the drum and the cabinet, these must have fallen out. Whatever, I'm just glad I don't have to scrub!!!