Tide Washing Machine Cleaner

[imperial70]

I bought a GE front load washer 1 month ago (on clearance from Home Depot, I couldn't resist PFWS4600). I for some reason thought I needed to use the clean washer cycle. There were no odors, this machine really dries out wonderfully and there is no signs of mold or anything like that. Anyway I, the yutz!, have now created a situation. There is a strong chemical smell coming from the machine. I've tried full wash cycles. I'm trying the sanitize cycle now.

Anyone else have this problem with the Tide cleaner?

 

[frigilux]

I use Tide Washing Machine cleaner and, as you have learned, it has a super-strong, long-lasting scent. It will dissipate after a couple of days. You may want to use bleach instead, next time.

 

[imperial70]

Thank you Frigilux. Yes, I should have just used bleach. I hope it dissipates soon. :-(

I really like this machine, would hate to think I've destroyed it.

paul

 

[mayguy]

I've used Tide once, and threw the rest away.. I could NOT stand the smell from it.. WAY too strong for me.

I use Affresh, and it's a pleasent scent. Use it twice a year.

 

[roscoe62]

similar situation

when I used Tide liquid detergent in my FL'r and then rinsing issues that came with it's use, so I used Affresh cleaner after and it helped beat down the odor, etc.
Good Luck

 

[arbilab]

Note an adjacent thread in which Affresh caused corrosion of the stainless in an otherwise-new machine.

I can't say. In 60 years of washing in FLs, TLs, TTs, I have never experienced washer stank or the need for a 'product' to alleviate it. What was I doing wrong?

 

[frigilux]

Same here, Rick; I've used the front-load format since 1988 and have never once experienced an odor or mold-in-the-boot problem. I put that down to leaving the door ajar, the dispenser drawer open a few inches, and the parsimonious use of liquid chlorine bleach for a couple of loads each week. I also stopped using fabric softener almost 5 years ago, as the dryer has an "Anti-Static" option that alleviates that problem during bone-dry Minnesota winters.

The 2010 Frigidaire prompts me to use the "Clean Washer" cycle once every 50 cycles. If you don't run the 40-minute cleaning cycle it reminds you every five cycles until you do. So I run it just to get rid of the prompt. No big deal.

 

[imperial70]

Arbilab, Frigilux. I do the same. Chlorine bleach and hot water for whites. (Chlorine for disinfecting, not whitening). I also leave door wide open and I remove the drawer and empty water. There was no smell in my washer. I thought I was being pro-active. Like I said it was stupid of me to use the cleaner when I didn't need it. :-(

 

[passatdoc]

I use 1/3 cup citric acid powder to descale my 2006 Frigidaire 2140 FL, once each quarter, running it on Hot/Heavy cycle; there is no "clean washer" cycle on this model. I never use bleach or fabric softener. Washer is 8 1/2 years old, never a service issue of any kind. We have hard water here, hence my periodic descaling. I do the same with the Bosch DW, it is 13 years old and never a service call of any kind.

To eliminate static cling, I use 1/4 of a dryer sheet to minimize residue build up on the moisture sensor.

 

[retro-man]

I washed a couple of bed pillows yesterday with tide original powder and a scoop of oxyclean. I like the tide because of the scent left over on the pillows. After washing and drying was all excited last night to jump into bed with fresh clean smelling pillows. Boy was I dismayed when in bed no smell at all to the pillows. It appears the oxyclean removed all traces of smell of the tide. I don't know but maybe try running the machine with just the oxyclean, it may remove the remaining scent from the washer. Would be interested to hear from others if they have found the same situation with other detergents and oxyclean. Maybe this is a way to use up detergents that we don't care for the scent after laundering.
Jon

 

[imperial70]

Interesting retro-man.... very interesting... I will have to give this a try.

 

[iheartmaytag]

I used it once.

Very strong perfume, and very sudsy.

I do run a clean washer cycle every two months or so, even though I don't have odors. I have been happy with Affresh, and just plain Clorox as an alternative in my Maytag (Whirlpool Duet Clone)

 

[mayguy]

I have no issues with order, and only done the affresh maybe once a year as a preventive cleaning.

 

[murando531]

I used it in my '12 WP belt-drive TL. I imagine that with most HE TL's filling up completely for the clean washer cycle, using it in a normal TL should work the same. It didn't really do much more than scent-bomb the machine though. It smells like a mixture of the true Tide Original and Gain, so it wasn't that the smell was bad, but being little more than an expensive air-freshener isn't something I'd pay for again.

In my experience, Scrubbing Bubbles foaming shower cleaner works beautifully on stubborn residues and dirt lines. For a FL I'm sure it would do well on boots and accessible seals. Otherwise a good hot cycle with bleach should take care of any other interior scum.