Typically, when I do a load of mixed I used heavy duty cycle with the default soil setting and extra rinse (one hour). I do whites/ sheets on whites whites with "MORE" soil and extra rinse and that's (1:10).....This Duet says Made in Germany and it does NOT have the tinted plastic cover. It says on the door that it was built October 2004. This is the Duet with the pink and green buttons. This must have been built before they made those crazy long cycle times and it used more water, although still, not enough for some. But I can say this, when it is using the whitest whites cycle it gets HOT! The best way I can explain it is if you touch the outside of the machine, it feels like a dryer running on high. The sanitary cycle actually heats up the laundry room. I use LCB and white vinegar.....Leave the door cracked and I have never had issues with smell at all
The board went out after the first year of owning it and once it was replaced with a new board, I have kept it plugged into a surge protector (not sure if this helps) but it's been years later with no issues. I do recall the repair man that was here replacing the board commented that my machine didn't stink inside at all. He was almost shocked. I do wish mine had a clean washer cycle though.........About once every six months a little bit of built up lint and residue gets under the cracks in the boot and I get coffeemaker HOT water/gloves/ and a rag and clean it........I also have to leave the detergent dispenser completely pulled out and left on top of the machine (because I noticed some pink (not sure if it's mold) that develops in those holes where the water enters (I guess where it stays wet and the detergent drawer sort of prevents it from drying. That said, it never had an odor at all so I'm not sure if it was mold. But that issue is gone since leaving it pulled out.
