My Purchase of a High-Efficiency Washer and Dryer
About 10 years ago, I purchased my first front loader high efficiency (HE) washer machine and dryer. High-efficiency washer machines use less water and are more energy efficient making this a great purchase right?
Well yes and no… let me explain my struggles. I remember when I first brought my new washing machine home. I did my first load of laundry and thought something has to be wrong here.
First, it sounded like a plane was taking off in my laundry room! Second, there is no water or very little water at that when my clothes were washing! How can these clothes get clean?
So I called the manufacture and started to ask questions. This was normal and she assured me the clothes would get clean.
Why Aren’t My Clothes Getting Clean?
So over time I accepted the loud noises coming from my laundry room and learned to accept the really low water levels, but I do have to say that I was and am not impressed with how these HE washer machines clean my clothes.
I have to pretreat my stains and pretty much get the stain out before I put them in the wash or they just don’t get clean. Now I should put a disclaimer on this. I have always been the type of person who just throws my laundry in the wash, adds a bit of soap and expects them to come clean.
Laundry isn’t one of my favorite chores, to say the least. So maybe if I put a little more effort into pre-treating my clothes I might have better results in this department.
There is one challenge that I just couldn’t conquer however and that was the smell that was coming from my HE washer machine!
What is that horrible smell?
So over time, my washer machine began to smell. Not only did it smell moldy and musty but my clothes were starting to smell this way too.
I researched what to do about it and there was advise all over the place on what you should and should not do for bad smelling HE washer machines.
I hired someone to come out and clean and balance my machine. That worked for a little while but the smell came back in a few weeks. I kept my washing machine door open when not using it so it could dry out, but that didn’t fully work either. I purchased the expensive HE washer machine tablets to do on a monthly cycle but those failed very quickly.
Finally, in a last-ditch effort to have clean smelling clothes, I added this one ingredient and everything changed!
Add this one ingredient to every load for fresh smelling laundry & for a clean HE washer machine!
So just what is this ingredient I am talking about? Well, it will cost you about a $1.00 per gallon and can be found in any grocery store! Wait for it 🙂 ….alright, it is vinegar! Vinegar you ask…yep, that’s right vinegar! Now I use plain white vinegar and here is how I use it.
Just like you buy laundry detergent, I buy a gallon of vinegar and keep it right next to my washer machine. I load my HE washer machine up with clothes, add my soap and then in the bleach dispenser, I fill it all the way to the top with white vinegar.
The vinegar helps kill the bacteria that grows in your washer machine and kills the odor. Not only does it kill the odor, but it helps with cleaning my clothes too. If that wasn’t enough, it also softens your clothes naturally.
Is Vinegar The Answer To Everything?
So let’s take a look at this: vinegar cleans clothes, gets rid of nasty smells in laundry and in the machine and it softens your clothes too!
Wow, I would call vinegar my little miracle in the laundry room! Who knew one little ingredient could do so much!
So finally I have clean soft clothes and a washer machine that doesn’t smell. I still have a plane taking off in my laundry room, however, but I can live with that :)!
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Aimee DiRienzo says
October 18, 2012 at 11:55 amThanks for sharing! Ours is currently afflicted, but i was too uninterested to investigate!! 😉
bbirchenough says
March 8, 2014 at 10:18 amI don’t have any answers to the not cleaning clothes problem. I have tried everything. As to the odor, vinegar is good, but when I run the “clean cycle”, I fill the detergent slot with Borax and the bleach slot with vinegar. It works much better that just vinegar or bleach alone.
va says
August 28, 2015 at 3:04 pmI would use bleach OR vinegar but not both. Mixing them will lower the pH, which cleans the smell and mold better, but if you combine them you get chlorine gas. A weapon used in World War 1. Poison gas was outlawed in 1925 after WW1.
Jody Stafford says
September 6, 2016 at 9:31 amI have tried vinegar too and it did not help. I used to be a mechanic and have always had to do my own repairs on appliances because they don’t break down until after the warranty goes out…lol. However, I have a Frigidaire stack-able unit and even leaving the lid open does not help. I have figured out what the problem is though. It is the water pump. It is too small and does not have the power to push all of the water out of the drain hose. When I removed the drain hose from the water pump, a large amount of foul smelling water poured out everywhere. It had me gagging. The water pump is so tiny, and the water has to be pumped uphill so to speak. It doesn’t get all of it out and the water sours, or whatever you call it.
Ivy White says
April 16, 2018 at 8:10 pmI think that’s my machine’s problem too. I’ve tried vinegar, Borax, hot water, bleach, baking soda, washing the gaskets, cleaning out the pin trap…nothing works, and the smell seems to be worst near the hoses leading to and from the pin trap. What did you do about it? I’m using an old Bosch front-loader which I other love. Had no problems with it for over a decade, then suddenly, poof! nasty smell I can’t get rid of. Maybe because usage frequency suddenly dropped.
Bethany says
October 1, 2018 at 8:55 amUse essential oils. Lemon, orange, lime, eucalyptus, tea tree and wintergreen all work great for odor and kill bacteria viruses and microbes for allergies.
Athena says
February 17, 2018 at 9:19 amIs the borax powder ?
Eric says
January 30, 2015 at 12:14 amI’m on this page because we got a high efficiency washer and dryer this week, and it cleans absolutely terribly, no fresh scent, stain removing is rediculous. When you look at them in the store and wonder how they clean, apparently the logical answer we had in our heads was the right one…they don’t. These are going back to store ASAP. What do you call an expensive washing machine that doesn’t clean clothes?…A refund. At their cost, you don’t work around the problem, you get rid of it. This is a Samsung pair with nice ringtones, very esthetically pleasing and very useless. I need a washing machine, not a Kardashian.
Corey says
August 7, 2016 at 1:37 pmOMG I love this post!!! We just moved into a new house yesterday & this high end washers STINKS. I found this post & your reply made this exhausted, frustrated mom laugh outloud THANK YOU
Dawn says
October 16, 2018 at 5:26 pmThe answer is powder detergent. Once you start using it there will be no oder.
Cindy says
April 4, 2019 at 1:48 amI keep my shop vac nearby and vacuum out the runner ring after every load. I wile down the inside glass door with cleaner. I wipe down all the way around inside the rubber ring as well as on the outside. I have even killed my fingers trying to clean the drum beyond the runner ring. I run the clean cycle with the appropriate cleaners and I drain the trap once a month and I leave the door and the drawer open between every wash AND mine stills smells horrible. I have gotten a little help from the lysol sanitizer but it is not perfect. After a couple of days sheets and blankets smell musty. On hot days my t-shirts smell too. I am at my whits end
jujubean says
April 15, 2019 at 11:53 pmHi, do you leave your wash in the wash with the door closed for awhile before you take them out to dry? If you leave wash in the washer and either don’t remove the damp clothes from the washer right away, you are in for a whole lot of smell once they do get dried. You have remove the washed clothes from the wash straight away.
Julia Morrill says
October 18, 2012 at 11:57 amThank you for sharing. I’ve been thinking I need to do something but wasn’t quite “brave” enough to put vinegar in my wash. Thanks!
Dubs says
January 3, 2018 at 4:23 pmIf you have hard water, vinegar is a must. However I wouldn’t wash your clothes with it, only because it will clean the washer at the same time, and you’ll get soap scum and mold deposits on your clothes. Soap scum forms with hard water when soap doesn’t get rinsed out well, it’s inevitable and reoccurring stuff that acts as a petri dish for mold growth. Hard water is horrible on laundry in many ways.
Add 4 cups of vinegar in a long hot wash with no clothes and let finish. Because of the hard water and constant use of detergent, this process will need to be done occasionally to keep laundry clean.
If you choose to soak with the vinegar, don’t do so for very long, or the drain hose may have difficulty draining, which could result in a sewage type odor (aka mold), and may even confuse the washers’ internal components. If this happens, it will take time for the washer to work the scum out of the machine.
Athena says
February 17, 2018 at 9:14 amHi: my front load washer smells like gasoline; did not put anything with gasoline in it. Only used dr. Bronners and apples cider vinegar.
So now I am cleaning with apple cider vinegar and baking soda on the cleaning cycle.
Any suggestions. It leaves all my clothes smelling like gasoline.
TS says
February 18, 2018 at 6:44 pmHi, maybe try Tide with Febreze. When I was helping a friend whose house caught on fire, this was the only thing that got the smoke smell out of the clothes. I realize this is different than your problem, and your problem seems to be caused by your washer, but until you find a solution to the washer, try Tide with Febreze for the clohtes.
Bethany says
October 1, 2018 at 8:51 amI Use baking soda and essential oils in my washing machine. It will leave it smelling great and soften your clothes. I love using lemon, orange, eucalyptus, tea tree and wintergreen essential oils. They kill bacteria and viral and microbial. Which is Great for allergies.
Michelle says
May 26, 2018 at 11:35 amMaybe try white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar? I think white vinegar is more for cleaning and disinfecting, whereas apple cider vinegar is more of a food/health supplement.
Alannah Allbrett says
October 18, 2012 at 12:07 pmgood tip, some of us (me) had never even heard the term “HE” high energy machines. Of course I’ve seen them advertised but way behind the times.
Lynn Shaffer says
October 18, 2012 at 1:28 pmThAnk you for posting — I could have written that ( except for the noise). Will definitely give it a try
Tami Salzmann says
October 22, 2012 at 5:23 pm.
Tami Salzmann says
October 22, 2012 at 5:26 pmI got tired of the smell in my front load washing machine too and started to use vinegar with every load. It has been wonderful. My clothes actually smell clean now. I use to have this horrible odor on my towels and dish rags. I hated having them out when company was coming because I thought the smell was just horrible. And then I discovered vinegar. My family thinks I’m crazy but I don’t care. I sure like the smell of my laundry now.
"Nayelli says
December 13, 2013 at 9:38 amI just did it last weekend I wash my towels and it has been great. I do really love it. I’ll be buying a gallon of vinegar next time I go grocery shopping because I just had a little bottle on the pantry and is over now 🙂
My mom also thought I was crazy, but now want to give it a try
Halle Cottis says
December 13, 2013 at 1:32 pmHappy to hear it worked!
Pearl Garden says
August 30, 2015 at 5:07 pmYes, my HE washer was starting to smell but my husband had already done his homework for our old top loader, so we got that part covered. And you are absolutely right about the vinegar; it is a miracle liquid. Not only does it soften fabrics like nothing else, but…wait for it….it will set color. After years of buying fabrics, pre-washing and sewing and finding my sewing machine staining, I started using white vinegar and cold water on new yardage – especially for quilts – and no more running colors. Since I hand wash my yardage, I use about 3-4 cups of vinegar in a sink of cold water, soak for a few minutes and rinse in clear water. Depending on the dyes and fibers, that may be all it needs, sometimes I have to repeat the process until the rinse water is clear.. There are websites that say vinegar will not set color, that its a myth, but I am here to tell you, it works. I would be my sewing machine on it.
Elsa says
April 10, 2016 at 11:44 amHi I never close the door to my HE washing machine. I empty the water from the hose in the front of the washing machine every load. That is where the smell comes from the stagnate water. Every couple loads I put baking soda in the machine set it on regular and hot and run it with out anything in it. It comes clean.
Roz says
November 23, 2016 at 8:31 amThanks for your tip. Where is the hose in front of the washer? I do not see one. thanks
Lee says
July 10, 2017 at 10:29 pmFront loading washer, on front bottom left. small door, open and unscrew filter to clean, replace. Pull black tubing out of holder, pull out plug and drain into a shallow container, reinsert plug, place tubing back in clip, close door.
Brenda Burton says
June 24, 2017 at 7:50 pmThank you, my hate the smell of my towels and wash cloth and I will try the vinegar thanks a lot
NathanielBailey says
October 23, 2012 at 9:38 amGreat post Halle, thank you for sharing such great information and handy tips 🙂
Nath @
http://www.laundry365.co.uk/commercial-laundry-equipment
amyhmalik says
October 25, 2012 at 2:38 pmI have always done this too, but I put it in the “fabric softener” dispenser too, because it really does replace chemical laden softeners.
CarrieCookeRaab says
October 26, 2012 at 2:03 pmVery great article! Thank you for sharing with us at Healthy 2day Wednesdays! 🙂 Carrie @ http://younglivingoillady.com
We buy cars says
January 28, 2013 at 12:31 amVery good article
Ghostbusters Slot says
January 28, 2013 at 10:15 am@We buy cars Yes, You are right.
Connecticut says
January 28, 2013 at 7:50 pmThanks for sharing that Nice Article.
SproutNewLife says
March 18, 2013 at 6:34 pmHave always been using vinegar. It makes a GREAT fabric softener too. I no longer buy fabric softener which leaves a film buildup in HE machines!
Catherine Garbus says
March 18, 2013 at 6:34 pmHey this is great mine doesnt smell but it sure doesnt do a good job of cleaning maybe this will help
Shanna Williamson says
March 18, 2013 at 6:38 pmThis really does work!
wanda lentz says
September 22, 2015 at 12:32 pmI cannot complain ever about the service personnel at Sears, but the front loading washing machine is a piece of junk. It is loud, will not stay balanced but the WORST problem is that even with pre-treating, my whites look dingy. I have always prided myself on my laundry; not anymore. Does anyone make a top loader that cleans like the older models did?
Ronda says
September 9, 2018 at 12:30 amSpeed Queen is said to still wash well as in the better days.
Patty Gerdes Charest says
March 18, 2013 at 7:15 pmI haven’t noticed a smell, but the gasket around the inside of the door is developing a black film on it that does not come off that easily. I use vinegar for the fabric softener all the time. I’ve had that gasket replaced 3 times already! And this last time it was twice the price!! I really do hate my front loader!
Julie says
February 1, 2014 at 10:35 amTry putting a half cup of baking soda in with your clothes. That helped my machine. Good luck!
Gretchen Gauss says
March 18, 2013 at 8:00 pmI recently learned that vinegar is a good option for fabric softener. I use 1/2 cup in the softener compartment every load and miraculously the smell disappeared. I have also switched to Seventh Generation detergent and my clothes are getting cleaner. I still get the black film but will find a solution for this also.
Sabrina says
January 24, 2014 at 5:32 pmI have extremely sensitive skin/allergies, so we use the ALL free & clear line. I have noticed that the more the washer smells, the less clean the clothes get. And I can’t wear them. They itch! Does 7th generation have a free & clear line?
We have always added white vinegar to the was, but now I’ll be increasing the amount by @ least 1/2 C. I also have to add baking soda to the wash cycle (it makes it soo much easier to get clothes clean in our area). That has helped keep the smell out of our clothes too.
HM says
June 17, 2016 at 8:31 amI use Molly Suds.. all natural and love the smell!
Janalin says
May 30, 2013 at 9:12 amI love that you posted this! I have a HE set after designing my laundry room around them and wish I had never done so because of the aesthetic. If I could have my post college $800 top loading pair back I would take them in a heartbeat!
CJCN4757 says
September 12, 2013 at 8:47 pmI purchased a HE washer a few months ago. After selling our house and the buyer wanting the 25+ year old maytag washer and dryer. big mistake, the HE is not what it is marketed to be! uugghh!
Sarah Hill says
January 25, 2014 at 4:04 pmIt is not just the he machines that smell. I have a top loader that has the choice of water levels but it is one of those quite running machines that runs slow and the clothes are not agitated but just moves up and down. I have to use a cleaner for washers about once a month. Wish I had never got it. It makes no sense to have to pay for cleaning something that is a cleaner. I will definitely try the vinegar and thanks for the article.
Darlene says
September 17, 2013 at 10:31 amI have repair person here now. We have a 7 year old Frigidire front loader and our symptoms were for a few weeks loads weren’t draining and would require an additional drain and spin cycle to get rid of the water. Then we started getting a “code” E20 and smell…oh what a smell! He took the machine apart and found a rotting ball of lint in the drain area. Yuck! He said it’s common with front loaders to collect lint and other small items. Can’t do much about the lint, but make sure you check pockets folks
Karla M says
November 6, 2013 at 10:27 amI love that my front loading machine can do much more laundry in less time, however, I do hate the smell that comes from a front loader.
I am so glad you told us about vinegar and can’t beleive that I never thought of this. I LOVE vinegar and use it for so many things, like windows, kitchen counters and floors. It is a natural cleaner and it is so cheap!
I am definitly going to use it in my washer!! Thanks for sharing this idea! I am never without vinegar!!!
Laundry 365 says
November 6, 2013 at 10:38 amKarla M If you use vinegar in your machine don’t forget to rinse it well after so not to risk staining your cloths or having them smell of vinegar! All The Best Laundry365
jujubean says
April 15, 2019 at 11:58 pmthis is my concern. I HATE the smell of vinegar – smells like dead moldy fish to me. II don’t do an extra rinse will the clothes come smelling like vinegar?
MaliaEtanaAsale says
November 22, 2013 at 11:48 amThanks a bunch for this tip! I just moved to an apartment and I have a front load washer in my unit. I noticed a smell this morning and immediately went to Google. I used vinegar to get cigarette smells out of some baby clothes I got at a yard sale and it did the trick, so I will be picking up a gallon this weekend. Thanks again.
Mary F says
December 6, 2013 at 1:17 pmI’ve done this for several years and started doing it when one of the kids had lice. It helps the colour stay fast, naturally softens and helps keep some bacteria and viruses down. As for the HE front loader, it depends on the brand. I don’t know about the different U.S. brands. We live in Europe, where front loaders are the only type of washer sold. We own a German brand, Miele. Now – no lie, it’s expensive but boy, does it work great. The clothes are LOADS brighter than with an American toploader and can cover any temperature from cold out of the tap to almost boiling. Good luck with your washer. Keep using the vinegar.
Halle Cottis says
December 7, 2013 at 5:05 pmThank you I plan on it! 🙂
BarbaraPowers says
December 7, 2013 at 9:44 amMy Maytag is a beast and cleans my clothes just awesome! However, that smell is very annoying, especially in towels. I use the vinegar in place of fabric softener and it’s a win/win.
pam says
December 7, 2013 at 3:46 pmI’ve been using VINEGAR with EVERY wash for many years. It’s all you said and MORE.. It keeps the inside of the drum spick and span and shining like the day it was purchased back in 2005. My last washer was in full use for 17 years. NOT ONE REPAIR. Finally it decided to spit up OIL! (my description to the problem) But it continued to work, and not miss a beat. Still in USE the day they brought my new machine in. I also use VINEGAR down all sinks, toilets, clean windows/mirrors/glass. Use VINEGAR(always WHITE) on soft cloths to polish furniture(wood and more) Countertops..and in my dishwasher. LOVE VINEGAR. My kids are in their 50’s but their diapers were aways rinsed in VINEGAR as were their bub clothes.Now I do all the dogs laundry/rinsing with VINEGAR.Cheap as……….
JoAnne Bell says
December 12, 2013 at 10:08 pmI have sure had that odor; but I countered it by leaving the washer door open. Never realized I could get rid of it with vinegar and (finally) close the door! Thank you!
Halle Cottis says
December 13, 2013 at 1:36 pmI still would leave the door open so it has a chance to air out.
julie says
December 13, 2013 at 11:13 amI have heard the HE washer need to be cleaned on a regular basis. I’m going to give the vinegar a try right now with a load of towels. Will post my results. Thanks for the info.
Halle Cottis says
December 13, 2013 at 1:32 pmIf you towels have a build up in the (of detergent and fabric softener) you might want to try this method first. If it is just the washer machine that smells, then go with the vinegar method.
Susan says
December 13, 2013 at 11:28 amI will sure be trying this! We’ve had our HE machine for 2 years now with no odor only because we have been wiping dry the inner rubber seal every time we use ours, such a pain! But I do notice at times that some areas on the clothes are dry when I take them out. Has anyone out there also experienced this? What should I do?
Halle Cottis says
December 13, 2013 at 1:30 pmAre your close coming out clean? I had this happen and called the manufacture and they told me that some items spin longer making them dryer (like towels). This was normal. Just make sure the items are getting clean.
Susan says
December 13, 2013 at 6:42 pmHalle, this is another thing, I’m not too sure they are coming out clean. We don’t get “dirt” dirty, so it’s hard to tell, but my feeling is, they are not getting super clean. But I think there were some comments here stating that the vinegar also cleans the clothes better?
Pamela says
December 13, 2013 at 3:23 pmYou may be using too much detergent. HE machines only require 1-2 tbsp MAX.
I have been extremely happy with my Kenmore. It is gentle on the clothes and they have never been cleaner. I even tested a really black-soiled white rug in it and it came out super-white. Do an occasional load on the white or sanitizing setting to ensure no build-up and yuck forms on the gaskets, etc.
Halle Cottis says
December 13, 2013 at 5:30 pmGreat tips, thank you so much. I now do my towels with baking soda only and we have stopped using detergent all together for them. I agree, to much detergent is not a good thing!
Terri Yeatman says
December 13, 2013 at 8:52 pmOkay it is easy leave the door open you. It will never start to smell. They use about 7 gallons of water compared to top loader that uses 30 to 40 gallons U used mine for ten years never had a problem cleaned fine no pretreating bought a Frigidaire loved it.
Delba says
March 31, 2016 at 9:43 amWe always leave our door open, but mine has started to have that sour smell. I hate it. I will start trying the vinegar.
kimberley says
December 24, 2013 at 7:59 pmI had a repair man out too. Nothing in the drain underneath…I use vinegar all the time, also tried adding baking soda
and I tried tea tree oil.. nothing has helped the sulfur smell.
kimberley says
December 24, 2013 at 8:00 pmI have tried vinegar, vinegar and baking soda.. tea tree oil.. had a repair here too. I drain water out of drain weekly on bottom
and tried to wash only in cold water for a while…. sulfur smell is still there..
s_joe says
December 26, 2013 at 5:08 pmThank you for your advice. But I found a way of my own. I hate those washer too. I believe that only enough water will clean clothes and remove stains and odour. That’s why I add a bucket of water every intake cycle. And only this way clothes get cleaned.
Try this: once washing is finished do not take out clothes. Start extra rinsing cycle and pour enough water thru front drower. Could be two galons before you see the water level reaching a half of washer compartment. Observe the foam and viscosity of water. That’s all that detergent that didn’t rinse out during normal washing cycle. Now imagine what are you actually wearing in touch with your skin and that’s not clean clothes .
Dar says
December 27, 2013 at 8:47 amI like the tip about adding more water sjoe. I also believe they need more water as I have found some clothes still folded and dry when the cycle finished.
Phil says
December 28, 2013 at 11:07 amOne final comment on H/E washers: http://www.today.com/news/list-washing-machines-named-lawsuits-6C10674058. Apparently, newer models have resolved this issue but it is worth doing the research, as design engineers were tasked with resolving the issue with a “fix,” and couldn’t do it, a total re-design was needed.
diana says
December 30, 2013 at 4:25 pmI use this also for years as a softner, I also use washing soda and borax along with my regular laundry soap. Also, I leave the door ajar and make I clean the bottom filter
Madonna says
January 12, 2014 at 2:24 amthanks for the tip. i already use vinegar as a rinse & did slow down the smell but i never thought to put it in the bleach compartment..cant wait to do another laundry to try it out
Carol A. says
January 13, 2014 at 2:21 pmI have been using vinegar in my clothes for a year now, I think it brightens colors, removes odors (car oil), and really brightens whites. I too have a Front Loading HE washer (it will be my last!), and have the odor problems. If my door stays open then that helps tremendously! But alas, I still have to use the expensive washer cleaners (makes no sense to me HOW can a machine that cleans get dirty?) anyway, my question prior to my rambling was…do you now leave your door shut?
va says
August 28, 2015 at 3:26 pmI keep the door open all the time
Sue Miles says
January 13, 2014 at 2:32 pmFor accuracy’s sake, vinegar (acetic acid) is more of an anti-fungal than an anti-bacterial. It may have some bacteriostatic activity, but it is a wonderfully thorough killer of all kinds of mold and fungus, which are major culprits in causing odors. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is also a wonderful anti-fungal, and using it in powdered form (just 1/4 tsp or so) in your flour bin (and other similar foods, e.g. rice or oats) will eliminate mold (and weevil) growth.
Sheila Popovich says
January 13, 2014 at 4:01 pmWe use vinegar as fabric softener and also with the final spin cycle when doing cloth diaper loads. Finding a good cloth diaper cleaning routine can be a task but the vinegar really helps strip the cloth so that it maintains absorbancy and rids it of odors. We’ve had a front loader for 5+ years and love it- ours it actually much quieter than the old top loader which is nice since the laundry is adjacent to the kitchen.
Melissa says
January 13, 2014 at 4:16 pmI balance my front loader with a piece of cardboard under one corner as mine to sounds like a space shuttle going off. Thanks for the vinigar tip, mine too smells terrible and I am forever cleaning the mold out of the dispenser. Do you also need to add vinigar to the softening dispenser for that cycle.
jan says
January 15, 2014 at 6:49 amUGHHH..I hate my front loader. Have a LG one. Have the smell and the clothes are not clean. I have used vinegar for a long time. Still stinks! jan
Kim says
February 1, 2014 at 10:54 pmJan I have probably the same model as you LG… Not impressed and it wasn’t cheap either!
Vanessa says
January 16, 2014 at 6:00 amWe’ve had our LG Tromm for several years now and love it. We do use vinegar for fabric softener and add some lavender essential oil to the vinegar. We make our own liquid laundry soap, and we use hydrogen peroxide in the bleach compartment. We do drain in out at least once a week and clean out that filter at that time. We also leave the door open to air it out. We haven’t had a real bad odor ever, but my mom’s had the odor problem and started using vinegar and it has helped her. For her it was the fabric softener build up causing her the problem.
Amy B says
January 16, 2014 at 9:04 amI bought a Samsung front loader about 2 years ago. I love it! I have never had an odor problem. I leave the door open and never use commercial fabric softener. I make my own detergent. The salesman told me the way to avoid the odor common in front loaders is to never use liquid fabric softener. It builds up in the machine and then starts to rot. I sometimes use vinegar (when I remember). I also run a cleaning cycle when the machine tells me to. I picked the Samsung because it has it’s own cleaning cycle and does not need the expensive washer cleaning tablets.
Sarah Hill says
January 25, 2014 at 5:53 pmIt is not just the he machines that smell. I have a top loading machine that is one of the quiet machines where the clothes do not agitate back and forth but are pulled down. It has 3 water levels but I have to clean it every month or so. I wish I had never got that type but you live and learn. It cost about as much to keep it clean as you pay for laundry detergent, I am glad to learn of the vinegar and will definitely try itl Thanks for the article!
Sarah
Michelle Way says
January 31, 2014 at 4:19 pmThank you SO much for this information! I LOATHE my front-loading HE washer because it always stinks no matter what I do and my towels never smell good. Today I put vinegar in the bleach dispenser and now my towels smell fresh and clean for the first time in almost a year! Whoo-hoo!
Sue says
February 1, 2014 at 8:37 amI’m glad to hear others don’t like their HE washers, it seemed I was the only one. I bought a frontloader HE about 10 yrs ago. 3 months later I insisted the store take it back. NOTHING came clean! Their claim I could wash 20 pairs of jeans or towels was totally bogus. I couldn’t wash 4 pairs of jeans well! I bought a used top loader/agitator washer again, and voila, clean clothes. I used it several years and it finally died also, and I was forced to pick out another HE because that is all you can find now (was told toploaders are not being manufactured any more). I used That washer for 6 months and HATED it! NOTHING came clean, and watching it wash, no wonder! It didn’t move the clothes at all and there was no water! Even pretreating didn’t help! I insisted Lowes take it back, but was again forced to buy another HE. In deep humiliation, a MAN made me watch videos there in the store on “how” to wash clothes in an HE. I was so mad, I told him I’d raised FOUR boys on a farm, we had never had trouble with having clean clothes until now!! Anyway, this one I have now is a bit better, but to be honest, I’ve never wanted to say this outloud, I’ve never been satisfied on the efficiency of it cleaning ‘under garments’ or socks. I think that is why the popularity of the dumb commercials for toilet paper keeping your undies cleaner and stuff has gotten so popular, because these newer washers aren’t doing their job!! Thanks for the tip, I just needed to vent about these stupid washers. I told my husband I’d be looking for an old wringer washer at this rate! (yes, I’ve owned those also!) I hope none of you ladies are ever forced to watch videos on how to wash clothes in a Lowes store like you are a moron. I will try the vinegar, I use it in my dishwasher, and for other things, so this has got to be a good thing, even if it doesn’t really help remove dirty sock stains, lol.
Teri says
February 1, 2014 at 11:16 amGeeez … Let me just say I am very glad I read this before purchasing a new HE front loading machine because now I def won’t be ! I’m sorry you ladies had to learn the hard way. That is SO not right !
va says
August 28, 2015 at 3:32 pmI understand the HE top loading machines are just as bad and leave clothing dry with dry soap at the top of the wash load when the cycle is finished
Shawna says
February 1, 2014 at 2:09 pmCan I use laundry softener along with the vinegar?
Lisa says
February 9, 2014 at 7:17 pmThe vinegar helps! I also recommend leaving the washer door open when not in use for added freshness.
crystal says
March 31, 2014 at 6:37 pmI get white marks on my black clothes only.I have tried small loads and very little he detergent but still there any ideas how to rid my black clothes of this??
Halle Cottis says
April 5, 2014 at 10:15 amAre you using liquid detergent or powdered?
Carol A says
March 31, 2014 at 7:01 pmI discovered vinegar because of the exact problem you were having…STINK! Nothing grosser than stepping out of the shower and grabbing a clean towel that smells like it had been sitting in a hamper damp for a week. I I use about 1/2 cup for each load, I fill up the bleach compartment and just tossed the rest in the tub. I use 2/3-1 cup for whites, I feel they come out brighter. I still leave my washer door open too.
sheree says
April 11, 2014 at 2:26 pmThanks so much for this advice. i have always noticed this smell in the washer and we have a little house so you can smell it as soon as you walk in the door. i kind of just ignored it..but it has gotten so strong that my husband is complaining about it. i tried to tell him that many people i have talked to that have HE washers experience the same thing. my stepdad uses vinegar for stain removal purposes..and trust me no one has cleaner clothes than him. so I’m really excited to try this out.
Lisa says
April 17, 2014 at 9:26 pmHi, I cam upon your site because I have had a front loader for 15 years and I also from time to time have foul smells coming from this machine! I read every reply lol and went right to my machine and ran vinegar with a load! Hope it works out but i Just wanted to say too also use a cup of vinegar inside your dishwasher as well they will come out sparkling clean with no water spots! i NEVER thought about using this with my washer! Thanks for the info!
lexi says
May 11, 2014 at 3:41 pmthere you have it. you said Meile. of course – I’m surprised it doesn’t fold them for you too. I hate my front loader. I despise it!!! I posted my sentiment on fb and had an outpouring of shared feelings about theirs. except one person. she owns a meile. going to store now and buying vinegar asap!
Joe says
May 14, 2014 at 9:52 amI’m a single dad trying to keep my kids clean. Purchased a decent Samsung W/D set (top loading washer). Barely allows enough water to cover the clothing. I wondered about that but the salesman (I should have known better) and the company literature were reassuring. I didn’t notice the odor right away, then when I did I thought I was getting a sinus infection. After visiting the doctor twice and learning I wasn’t I felt the smell could be imaginary. Finally, I realized the smell was not just on me , it was on my kids, unacceptable. So I began to question what I was doing different from past W/D experience. Nothing, same detergent/softener, additional Febreze (especially sport and work clothes). Over time the odor worsened. It was keeping me awake at nights. Both the thought of it and then the reality of the odor in the linens too. They are not washed with clothes? Finally it dawned on me, it’s in the washer. Wouldn’t ever suggest a HE top or front loading unit to anyone. Hope the vinegar works or it time for another unit after only a year. I feel like Samsung ripped me off. I hope I can still buy an old fashioned washer that uses sufficient water.
Halle Cottis says
May 15, 2014 at 10:46 pmI am with you here Joe. We will be going back to the good ‘ol days when the time comes to purchase again.
Tammy says
May 15, 2014 at 4:56 pmI started making my own laundry soap and fabric softener about a year ago, and I LOVE IT! Simplist thing ever and my ‘sensiftive’ part of the family no longer itches, and my not-so-sweet smelling teenager, no longer has that ‘smell’ that no one can identify! lol!
Soap:
1 Gallon container
1 cup Dawn dish soap
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
I fill container about 1/3 of the way with water, add borax and washing soda, and mix. Fill container with more water to about 3/4 way full. Add dawn dish soap, top off container (slowly) with water. shake prior to each use.
(Dawn helps to cut any grease on clothing)
Fabric Softener:
1 gallon container
16-18oz of favorite scented cheapest hair conditioner
1 cup vinegar
add both ingredients to container, fill rest of way with water. shake prior to each use.
Vinegar does what vinegar does best (cleans and deoderizes while also helping to get all soap out of clothing), and conditioner helps to cut down on the smell while working together to soften clothes.
and it saves SOOOOO much $$$$$
Linda says
June 20, 2014 at 5:58 pmI totally agree Janalin. Working in the construction field, sometimes my clothes have to be run through the wash 2 times, I never had to do this when I had a top load. I do use the white vinegar but not in every wash. I’ll try that but as soon as this sorry excuse for a washing machine is ready for the scrap heap, back to the top load for me.
Cathy Lynn says
June 20, 2014 at 10:37 pmI’ve been using vinegar as fabric softener but still have the smell. Can I use it in the bleach AND softener compartment?
Thanks,
Cathy
Cathy Lynn says
June 20, 2014 at 10:38 pmI’ve been using vinegar as fabric softener but still have the smell. Can I use it in the bleach AND softener compartment?
Thanks,
Cathy
Lacey says
June 21, 2014 at 5:41 pmDo you know if using white distilled vinegar works also?
Halle Cottis says
June 23, 2014 at 8:03 pmYep, sure does.
Rose Morton says
June 22, 2014 at 9:55 amGod yes, we had the same problem. I was overjoyed to get a set of these HE machines. They’re great and the list of options for washing and drying amazing, but alas after about a year I think the smell began. It’s not unlike as if a cat took a pee in your clothes, not only that no matter what softener you use the towels were the worst… rough and smelly. also tried a cleaning from a repair man and like you a couple of weeks and the smell was back. I will try your suggestion of vinegar and the added borax for cleaning cycles. This reminds me of a situation where I was learning airbrushing (form of art) and my teacher asked me why I was paying 13 bucks for a small bottle of cleaning fluid for the tool. He said it was just white or uncolored windexwindow washer fluid. So from then on that’s what I used lol. Thanks for the tip.
Donna Sims says
June 22, 2014 at 11:24 amI had never heard of a HE washer and, after reading your comments, don’t think I’ll ever buy one. I appreciate the tip about the vinegar and will be trying that but I wonder how much vinegar to use in an old style top loading machine. I just today discovered your site and am liking it very much.
Yolanda Rodriguez says
June 22, 2014 at 3:08 pmDoing the vinegar in my load at this time, crossing my fingers because I’m sooooo tired of that smell & having to wash my loads more than once ( up to 3 times with whites), ugggghhhh I’m with everyone against and soooo tired of my HE washer! & yes the minute it breaks down going back to top loader!!! FYI the only reason I don’t get rid of it now is to avoid the argument with my husband who told me repeatedly we didn’t need such expensive washer & dryer…
Delba says
March 31, 2016 at 9:46 amWe always leave our door open, but mine has started to have that sour smell. I hate it. I will start trying the vinegar.
Gary says
May 23, 2017 at 6:57 pmI just purchased my first house and it has a very old top loader which smells bad when you open it. I am presently running a 2nd treatment of Glisten Washer Magic as the 1st treatment did not cure it. If this does not work I am going to try baking soda. If you live in the country as I do you cannot use vinegar as it will destroy your septic tank. It dissolves the grout between the cement blocks.
A Murphy says
June 22, 2014 at 5:23 pmGreat suggestions! I will definitely try the vinegar. Fyi, I mix vinegar with water and wash my blueberries before putting them in my fridge. Never have moldy berries anymore. Vinegar has been found to be so useful in many ways. Thank you all for sharing your experiences with so many.
Ann says
June 28, 2014 at 11:13 amMine is a top loader Whirlpool and it stinks. Seems that some soaps are worse than others. Pursil powder laundry soap is very very expensive, but works better but not good.
Is there any powder laundry soap still out there that are affordable?
I will try the vinegar in the wash. Have my fingers crossed.
thanks
Jennifer says
July 3, 2014 at 11:39 pmI have a top loader ‘he’ that gets really stinky in the summer. I want to try adding vinegar to my loads but am concerned about putting that into my septic tank system. Has anyone researched if there is any problem with vinegar and septics? Thanks!
GabbyJoMommy says
July 29, 2014 at 9:09 amOMG thank you! Vinegar is my moms best friend…she uses it to get rid of fruit flies…ants…and now I will def be sharing this info with her 🙂 Our washing machine has a horrible odor and it leaves our clothes smelling icky. This article is a GOD SEND!
Mindy says
September 5, 2014 at 2:50 pmI use a 40 lb bag of dog food on the top of the washing machine to”keep the plane from taking off”/ vibrating washer.
va says
August 28, 2015 at 3:34 pmgreat idea!
Kayla says
September 5, 2014 at 10:03 pmI heard using baking soda to shake in drum and add vinegar to the bleach dispenser would fix the prob. I also drain it monthly because I found out that I should have been doing this but I think the smell got 10x worse!!! I have ran it in sanitize, clean washer, cleaned the glass part and it has not helped. I have also ran a cycle with bleach but I think I need to try the borax. Has anyone had this prob.?
Veronica says
September 15, 2014 at 10:48 amI am definitely going to have to try this out! I’ve done some research and across the board folks are mentioning white vinegar. I’ll be so glad when the smell is gone!
andrew relf says
September 16, 2014 at 5:27 am4 Rules to Make your Front Load Washer Work Better
Your front load clothes washing machine only uses about 25% of the water that would be used by a top-loading machine. This is a significant saving and probably one of the reasons you switched to a front loader. Unfortunately, it has also led to misunderstanding and confusion by consumers because manufacturers are not explaining the idiosyncrasies of these machines. Additionally, consumers are not educating themselves about their new style washer and the methods necessary to obtain a good quality wash. Most people are simply assuming that the methods used in their previous washer will apply. Therefore we offer the following article to explain the four most common misunderstandings.
1… Detergent Type
Due to the machines tumbling action a front load washing machine needs special detergent called high efficiency (h-e) detergent. It’s a low suds detergent that is necessary to allow a front loading washer to operate properly. When buying detergent look for the letters ‘h’ and ‘e’ inside a circle, it’s the universal logo for this type of detergent. Don’t be tempted to use standard laundry detergent because it’s less expensive. Using the wrong detergent can result not only in a poor quality wash but also, detergent left in clothing fibers, water leakage, bad odors, mildew, and unnecessary strain upon the machine. Using standard laundry detergent in a front loader will be a decision that can come back to haunt you.
2 … Detergent Quantity
How much detergent is required by a front loading washer? A good place to start is how much you used in your previous top-loader, and then half or quarter that amount. If after a couple of loads of washing you’re satisfied the clothes were cleaned then lower the quantity of detergent used still further. Try a quarter of a cup or less for the next few loads. Many of our customers who use liquid detergent report that they only use a tablespoon of detergent per wash.
Most front loaders come with a detergent dispensing drawer where your laundry detergent, fabric softener, or bleach is inserted prior to starting the cycle. Look inside the dispenser cups for a mark or line indicating a suggested amount to use. But even with these guidelines many consumers continue to grossly overfill the detergent dispenser. This is usually because consumers simply can’t believe how little detergent a front load washing machine uses. The detergent level markings seem so low many people think they are incorrect, or not to be taken seriously. They unwisely assume that such a small amount of detergent will result in a poor wash – this is untrue.
Additional confusion can result when comparing the amount indicated in the detergent dispenser with the recommendations on the detergent box. What many people don’t understand is that the box recommendations are general suggestions only. Suggestions that must encompass all makes and types of washing machine, all load types, all load sizes, fabric type, water temperatures, and the waters mineral content. The suggestions on the detergent box are in no way specific to front-loading washers, nor your particular needs. Even your water hardness affects the amount of detergent required. While harder water requires more detergent per load, a softer water needs less detergent per load. Additionally, detergent type affects the quantity needed per load. For example, since liquid detergents are more concentrated they require less per load than a powder type.
3 … Fabric Softener
Again, because of the small amount of water used by a front loader the amount of fabric softener required per load must be lowered significantly. In fact, it should never be used full strength in a front-loading washer. Don’t be tempted to pour it directly from its container into the fabric softener dispenser cup. Instead, the fabric softener must to be diluted with water before being added to the machine. A dilution ratio of 7 to 1 is suggested. That is: Seven parts of water to every one part of fabric softener. The easiest way to do this is to mix it in an alternate storage container. Something such as an old (clean) wide-mouthed juice container with a screw cap works well. Add one cup of fabric softener to the container followed by seven cups of water, secure the lid, and shake the bottle to mix. This will provide you with enough of the proper mixture for about fifty loads of washing.
4 … Water Temperature
Lastly, we suggest avoiding cold-water wash unless you are washing lingerie or delicate items. This is because the combination of low water volume and cold water during the wash section of the cycle may not wash away all the detergent from the clothing fibers. This can result in your clothes taking on a prematurely dull or worn appearance. Cold-water washing can also result in a deposit of detergent, fabric softener, and debris between the tubs that results in the production of very bad odors. Odors that may get so strong that they will even impregnate the clothes. Note, we said cold water ‘wash’ — not cold water rinse. Therefore, a hot wash followed by a cold rinse cycle is acceptable. Or a warm wash followed by a cold rinse is also okay. It’s only the cold wash and cold rinse combination that should be avoided. A worst-case scenario is when consumers combine a lot of cold water washing with excessive use of detergent, followed by full strength fabric softener. This can result in the machine starting to produce a mildew odor that will be almost impossible to eliminate.
Therefore as has been shown above even though the front loading clothes washer is an amazingly efficient piece of machinery it’s one that requires a slight adjustment in your way of washing. But in my opinion they are definitely worth the rethink. Putting into action the above methods will allow you to use this machine to its maximum, resulting not only in clean and sparkling clothes but at a substantial cost saving to you and your family.
Bonnie says
August 6, 2016 at 1:28 pmThank you!!! Can you use hair conditioner in a front loader as a softner
Anne O'Brien says
September 21, 2014 at 9:46 pmHalle, I think you’re absolutely right about leaving the door open no matter what. I’ve had a Samsung HE for about 7 years and never had any problems with odor until now. It’s not bad but I’m going to try the vinegar. I have found my machine are expensive to repair, but I have been happy with the way cleans.
Bonnie says
August 6, 2016 at 1:41 pmIf you put a pack of lemonade kool aid unsweetened in the powder dispenser. Run the machine the way you alwaz do. It takes the bad smell out. Put the setting on hot water. I do this once a month. My machine never had any odor.
Black says
September 22, 2014 at 2:51 pmExcellent Thank You I was having the same problem ‘smelly wash’ Now I started using the Vinegar – except on chip day
Anne says
October 5, 2014 at 11:53 amYou may also want to consider having your machine leveled. Even if you don’t mind the noise, not having it properly leveled can shorten the life of your motor.For what these things cost, it’s well worth it.
Ms. Jabo says
October 10, 2014 at 2:05 pmToday I really smelled it. It was horrible. My next load will definitely include white vinegar. Will let you know. Thanks for the great advise.
Rachell says
October 11, 2014 at 8:48 amVinager will also get dog urine out of clothing too. We went through the puppy stage, and vinager in the HE machine saved one puppy from ???
Lou Whitcomb says
October 12, 2014 at 8:43 amThank you for this post…I have a Steam HE washer and drier and love it. I use bleach for my whites once a week and haven’t had any trouble but I also leave the door open a little. I will try the vinegar for my machine in the Motor Home as it doesn’t get my cloth clean enough for me…
viki says
October 18, 2014 at 11:55 amWell HE machines are a bit of trick here. The true European machines (front load) first use small amount of water, better detergents. Those machines are TRUE washing machines since they go up to 90C. Ours here use hot water from the tank but to have nicely bright laundry they needs to have cold water coming and then wormed up to 90C so the whole process is much longer. The truth is you do not need to much water with the right technology and detergent. It is not about the amount of water that is in. When you clean your stains you do not use gallons of water….just a good detergent (that is imported and again much more expensive).
Of course, the price for these machines are much much higher and they are smaller so not necessarily HE but what is important to me is end result – nicely washed clothing. Also, I barely use dryer since they are “killing” your clothing no matter how well you wash them. Over the short period of time they look old, so I have my laundry out on the Sun whenever I can.
Yes, tips about vinegar and baking soda are true and I use them just occasionally in my washing(European) machine even though I never have a smell but just to keep it in a good shape.
Dean says
August 16, 2015 at 6:55 pmAh, yes you do need a fair amount water to clean.
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Ron Gallite says
October 28, 2014 at 8:01 amFor those of you who combine vinegar and baking soda, please remember your high school chemistry class.Vinegar is acidic and baking soda is a base which neutralizes the effects of an acid. You may very well be minimizing the acidic properties of the vinegar which kills the bacteria with the baking soda. I would suggest using them separately, therefor benefiting from the bacteria-fighting properties of both.
Just Thinking says
November 12, 2014 at 6:59 pmThank you for the great article on vinegar. I use it for just about everything but my HE washing machine. My next load will include vinegar! Wanted everyone to know, I use white vinegar in my dishwasher rinse agent cup. My dishes are
nice and shiney and no chemicals or polishes are being applied to my dishes.
Kim R. says
December 20, 2014 at 2:17 pmTried the vinegar and was pleasantly surprised! I wash my washer and dishwasher with those tablets and they sort of work. Can I use the vinegar in my dishwasher also? Trying the baking soda on my towels now. Wish me luck.
Halle Cottis says
December 21, 2014 at 7:56 amYep you sure can use vinegar in dishwasher. Just put it in your rinse area (right next to where you put the detergent).
Memama says
January 9, 2015 at 12:51 pmI often use vinegar in the wash if I’m afraid the colors will bleed. Seems to work to “set” the dye.
Kim says
January 25, 2015 at 5:18 amWe also suffered from the problem of clothes smelling very unpleasant immediately after then were washed. It was obviously the Washing Machine that has something wrong. Much research on the interest and the suggested treatments did not help.
I reverted to my swimming pool knowledge and after viewing a video showing what caused the problems, we treated our machine in the following way.
Our Machine has a Trommel Reinigung program (drum cleaning program – we are in germany). So using this program we put the machine through 4 consecutive cycles:
Cycle 1 : using a supermarket drain cleaner (caustic soda would also work). This is very good are removing the greasy/fatty building ups that cause the stink problem. Some of the liquid cleaners may cause a foam problem.
Cycle 2 : using white vinegar (about a liter) and with the drum cleaning program
Cycle 3 : using Cloudy Ammonia (it may be difficult to buy – in germany you can by it from hardware stores in the paint section under the name Salmiak Geist / Ammoniak). Be careful and DO NOT BREATHE in the fumes. This product is very good at removing fat …. but it is harsh.
Cycle 4 : using a cheap supermarket powder designed for dishwashers. We used quiet a lot, about 1 full tea cup of powder.
After this process we appear to have solved our stinking washing problem.
P. Van Kirk says
March 3, 2015 at 9:04 pmWhy are we consumers stuck with HE machines??? We have choices
among cars that are more efficient, so why do we have next to no choices
if we choose “front loading” washers? What “Big Brother” has made
this decision on our behalf???
va says
August 28, 2015 at 3:52 pmagreed. I miss the old fashioned agitating top loader
SB says
March 23, 2015 at 4:09 pmI consider myself an experienced, meticulous laundress. Got my first front loader in 2005. That was the first time I’d dealt with odours. I used the recommended cleaning products but could not get rid of the smell. Replaced the set in December 2013 and once again the odour issue was back. I cleaned and cleaned, read advice online. Baking soda, Borax and vinegar were all supposed to remedy the problem but were not effective for me. Last week I came across a post that recommended switching to a powdered detergent. The theory being that liquid detergent is similar to fabric softener in that it can cause build up. I immediately ran out and bought powdered soap. THE ODOUR IS GONE!! I can now walk into my laundry room without being assaulted by that nasty odour. Not sure if this is the solution for everyone but I thought I would put it out there as another option.
Halle Cottis says
March 25, 2015 at 11:37 amWow, so happy your odor is gone! Thanks for sharing!
Jazz says
May 5, 2015 at 8:56 pmThank so much for the tip. I don’t like my front loader either because of the mold issue and because i cannot let the clothing soak. If we had not paid so much for it ….I would be going back to a top loader. I use to soak my clothes by opening the cover and stopping the wash cycle. The clothes sat in the detergent for a half hour or so. Worked wonders. Front loaders will not let you soak your clothes and it is so disappointing. I also find i have to re-rinse bleach loads defeating the purpose of saving water. If anyone had found a way to soak in a front loader…please let me know.
Anne Obrien says
May 6, 2015 at 8:46 pmI’m not sure why you need to soak your laundry in the first place. I can see a soiled item, but you could soak it in the sink. You can also try using a prespotter such as Zout. I’ve used it for shirt collars, wine stains and other stains and have never had a problem. Read the posts in this column, especially the very detailed one from Andrew in Sept. 2014 about using these machines and give yours another shot. I’ve had mine since 2008 and have been very pleased with it. Since I found the vinegar suggestions here,
Crystal Hollywood says
July 5, 2015 at 5:43 pmMy Maytag front loading HE washer is getting that horrible smell and was wondering what I could use because those cleaning tabs don’t quite do it so I am running it right now with your vinegar solution. I will know soon enough if it does the trick. Thank you for sharing!!! 🙂
Myra Ciardi says
July 8, 2015 at 10:04 amI can’t believe I spent $1000 on a washer that smells and doesn’t clean the laundry. I will try vinegar but I think I would prefer my money back and buy another. I too dried the machine and left the door open in hopes it would rectify the sour smell -to no avail.
Samantha Porter says
July 20, 2015 at 12:25 pmI wanted to say thanks for this post. We just bought an HE washer yesterday and that was my first question, Can I still add vinegar to my laundry? I have 7 dogs and many, many doggy blankets. I use vinegar with these loads and all our bedding. Keeps my linens smelling fresh.
va says
August 28, 2015 at 3:57 pmIt would seem that there is an agreement in most of the sites I have looked at that you should use powdered detergent and use vinegar in the wash in place of chlorine bleach or fabric softener. Then softener sheets in the dryer.
Cat says
August 2, 2015 at 4:30 pmI guess I am in the minority because I absolutely LOVE my HE washer and dryer. I inherited a Maytag Neptune many years ago and it gets my clothes beautifully clean, however, it does get an odor and requires a monthly deep cleaning to get it out.
I used your tip of vinegar in the wash and now I am happy to say I no longer have to do the monthly cleaning!! I have a feeling the washer is on it’s way out, the dryer just died and I replaced it with an LG steam fresh. (love it!) So will probably go with the matching washer, and a ton of vinegar for it as well!!
Thanks so much for this!
Dean says
August 8, 2015 at 10:09 amMy HE washer had never washed properly. I searched for “how to increase water level in a front loader” on Youtube. It was a very simple adjustment to add more water to every load. Now my clothes come out just as clean as my old top loader while still using less water. It will not wreck your machine.
Simply put the washer discharge hose into a large tote and you can see how much water the machine will use. Originally mine used less than 40 litres of water which saves nothing when you need to wash everything 3 times. It now uses up to 76 litres per wash but the clothes/towels come out clean. My old top loader used up to 160+ litres per wash.
Halle Cottis says
August 10, 2015 at 9:53 amDean do you have a link on how to do this? I am sure others here would like to research this. Great tip, did not know you could do this!
Dean says
August 12, 2015 at 1:15 amHi. I was going to purchase an old style top loader when I found out you could raise the water level. I washed a large comforter( dog barf infused) today. It came out nice and clean.
Here is the address.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9sySGXiGZA
k says
August 12, 2015 at 9:08 amomg thanks alot hopefully this will help me out with this horrible smell on all my so called “clean” laundry im trying it out today!
Dean says
August 12, 2015 at 12:22 pmYou are welcome.
I did not realize how crappy my machine cleaned until I did laundry at my inlaws. The water in their top loader was almost black. Ewwww.
Art says
August 22, 2015 at 6:41 pmFor those of you that are done with HE machines, and wants something that actually works without the BS and the headaches, try Speed Queen. Simple, mechanical, old school washer, gets the job done in 25 minutes.
Julie says
September 20, 2015 at 12:59 pmHello, I am having an HE top loading machine delivered next week as my old workhorse agitator died. So sad. Dreading any problem with the smell, this seems so rampant. Gld i found your article. Question 1: I hate the smell of vinegar, makes me absolutely sick. When you add vinegar to the wash, does the wash come out with any vinegar smell at all, or is it all gone once it’s done? Question 2: Some people said to add it to the bleach compartment, some said fabric softener compartment. What is the difference? I know if you add regular fabric softener, that you to add a fabric softener setting to the wash cycle. I just want to know which place is better to add it, bleach or FS? And want to make sure it won’t smell like vinegar at ALL! Thanks!
Michelle says
October 12, 2015 at 11:27 pmThanks for the tip! Guess i got lucky my front loading washer really does do a great job getting stains out & cleaning.
Dr. Kirk says
October 14, 2015 at 11:03 pmWell, I have to say that I have tried all of the many suggestions mentioned in this and other posts and none of them work. Vinegar, baking soda, borax, bleach, fabric softener, etc. nothing has worked. I wear my clothes and 15 minutes into a slightly hot day and they smell! Too late to bring the washer back. Anyone have other suggestions?
Belinda says
November 30, 2015 at 11:49 amJust bought the latest GE model and it’s not a HE model, and having the same problem.
Vail says
January 31, 2016 at 2:27 pmI have not tried the vinegar trick but did find every time I ran our front loader on warm or hot water the smell was worse. I had read detergent buildup was most likely the culprit and with two teenage daughters switched us to the pods to avoid overuse. I also had tried the cleaning agents they sell for he washers to no avail but found that the instructions for cleaning out the gunk called for cold water which kept me thinking why cold? I started doing all laundry on cold. I then noticed the outer “shell” of the pods didn’t always fully dissolve from the dispenser leaving a thick gunk I had to manually clean out so I started cutting open the pods before use and pouring the soap in dispenser then tossing the shell. I also switched from liquid fabric softener to dryer sheets but still use liquid bleach on the whites scented or unscented does not seem to make a difference. I use All Free pods not sure this matters as I had always used All free but still had odor before cutting open the pods. I truly believe my issue was detergent build up and since making these changes I don’t have the mildew like smell anymore. I have not used any cleaning methods in at least a year. We live in Colorado so I don’t dry out the washer after use but leave the door cracked following use. I was like many on this site hated my he washer but these changes have made all the difference!
Halle Cottis says
February 1, 2016 at 8:22 amThanks for sharing Vail!
Judy says
February 8, 2016 at 10:37 amI had a whirlpool he washer and dryer, a new pillow with the edge to it (cannot think of correct name for this) was shredded to pieces and ruined not only the pillow but the rubber door seal.
I got a new seal, and continued using it until I went to Lowes and bought a pair of maytag he washer and dryer.
Judged mainly on the seal looking so much better than the whirlpool.
I always take out the dispenser drawer and flip it over in the washer and leave washer drawer open all the way between wash days. No smell, never have cleaned it yet. Am going to try vinegar and maybe some hair conditioner if vinegar smell prevails even though I always use extra rinse. Also will try 7th generaltion clear (?) to get away from the chemicals. Loved Lowes sales people and bought what the clerk bought and loved also. She got me the best price also..
Rita says
February 19, 2016 at 9:02 amOk, so I stopped using fabric softener to reduce the bad smell because the sticky residue molds the new HE washer. I now use white vinegar instead (no more stink) and I use fabric softener sheets in the dryer. My clothes come out of the dryer smelling like nothing in particular and having 2 stinky boys and a husband, when I open the dryer door I still smell a light sent of body odor from their gym clothes. Using vinegar and no softener in the wash and dryer sheets in the dryer is not working. Any advice?
Halle Cottis says
February 22, 2016 at 8:38 amYou might want to try a soak setting on your washing machine for an extra deep clean. You could also try baking soda to neutralize the smell. Just don’t mix the baking soda and vinegar together. Add one to the wash cycle and one to the rinse cycle and you’ll be fine.
Nicole says
March 23, 2016 at 1:18 pmWe Just bought a samsung H.E top loader washer machine & I was noticing that there was a not clean smell to my clothes after washing and then drying . Before I had the normal agitator drum washing machine loved the cleaning part just hated the load size wasn’t big enough for my large family so we got the xl load capacity machine . I noticed that the machine did clean but left it without my normal clean laundry smell it was just blah no odor . I didnt understand what was going on same detergent but no smell after being washed and dried . I like to smell clean lol . So i just did a load with this suggestion and the clothes came out the machine and the dryer smelling like laundry detergent !! So Thank You for the suggestion .
Shannon says
June 29, 2016 at 12:16 pmMy Husband told me last night we are getting rid of our front loads and doing back to a top load with agitator. my clothes NEVER smell clean…..my towels smell gross! I CLEAN it, i leave the door OPEN, I pull clothes out as soon as the cycle is done….. I have used vinegar…and they don’t smell as gross… but they don’t smell nice… you know.. like you see people in the gain commercial smelling their clothes… I NEVER have that! I’ve tried different detergents… scent balls… everything…. any suggestions? otherwise this set is out the door……
Teresa Smith says
July 4, 2016 at 10:12 pmI have 2 washers and dryers. The whole family fights over who gets to use the old set which are not HE. I would never buy another HE set because it takes the clothes to wash and when you dry them they aren’t all the way dry. The smell is awful and I’ve tried many thi!ngs to make the washer smell better. I look forward to reading all of the posts to see what their solutions are.
I have been so frustrated with the smell that I’ve considered that maybe we are dirtier than other families!
Halle Cottis says
July 5, 2016 at 9:01 amHi Teresa,
I had a front loader HE, and switch to a top loader HE and although it is better, I still miss the conventional older models. They use more water and I just feel that they get cleaner. I have learned how to add more water to my top loader and that has helped tremendously. Have you tried contacting the company who manufactures your washer to see how you can add more water?
liz says
August 2, 2016 at 1:32 pmI bought a Kenmore top loader that is He. I hate it. It has no agitator. I fought with sears to return it after I discovered the smell and the fact that it does not use enough water to actually clean the clothes. Sears would not take it back because it was over 90 days so I will never buy another thing from Sears. I recently went washer shopping looking for a machine that is not HE. In Canada you cannot buy one because of new regulations. I can smell the clothes when I have them on and it is sickening. I can also smell them on other people. Soon we will be forced to go down to the river and wash out clothes like they did way back when.
Halle Cottis says
August 3, 2016 at 8:21 amHi Liz!
I feel your frustrations! Do you have a soak cycle on your washer machine? That has helped me and I also have a sanitize feature which helps me disinfect my clothes. Might be an option for you??
Maureen says
December 5, 2016 at 12:42 pmI have a HE washing machine and I had problems with bad smelling clothes too. It turns out the smell comes from bacteria. It is the synthetic materials that hold on to this bacteria, at least this is true in my experience. I have a bunch of males in my home that play sports and their clothes absolutely reek. These clothes typically have to be pre-treated before they are washed. I soak this clothes in water and oxyclean for at least several hours if not overnight. This kills the bacteria. That is why the top loading washers seem to do a better job… the soaking kills more of the bacteria. Unfortunately, the top loaders are much harder on clothes and use a lot more water… much less energy efficient too. I love my front loader now that I know how to get the smell out of the clothes. The extended wash cycles sometimes work, but not consistently… just easier to soak the synthetic stuff.
Wilson says
December 27, 2016 at 4:20 pmI read that some soaps need to be alkaline in order to clean-and vinegar is acid.
So, instead of putting the vinegar in the bleach section-I put it in the rinse section
and program in an extra rinse. (Note: NEVER put bleach & vinegar together-a deadly
gas is formed that can kill you.)
This means the clothes are washed in soap, rinsed in vinegar, and rinsed in plain water.
And I, too, leave the door open on the washer after I am finished with it.
Be says
February 22, 2017 at 6:44 pmI wish your site would have been visible when I first set out to buy and HE front loader. My 3 week old LG washer-dryer combo has a terrible chemical Drum odor ever since the first use. Today, I somehow got a huge whiff of it while removing dried clothing and It made me red-faced and I have wheezed&coughed thru-out the rest of this day. This is a chemical smell due to manufacturing and it has not gone away after multitudes of washing and drying.:-( I will do a drum clean now and start using vinegar daily now. Will update soon. So Happy to have found you! Thank you! And thanks to your readers!
beth says
May 24, 2017 at 5:33 pmI had a new LG TOP-loader HE washing machine delivered just 2 days ago. I can return it within 30 days, no questions asked. So I am running as many loads as I can right away. I want to give it every chance to perform well because the only old fashioned agitator machine I saw was a very small one. I did smell a horrible odor after only 4 loads–not time for mildew or mold to grow. The clothes themselves did not stink. I immediately googled stinking HE washer and found this site. The next 3 loads included a cup of vinegar in the bleach dispenser. I did not smell the odor again–yet. Still I was not pleased with the water level, even though I used the “add wash water” feature. And it took 3 washed to get my husband’s dirty pants clean even using the “soak” feature. I told him, I’ll try this for a week and then back it goes if I can’t figure out how to make our clothes come out clean.
Next came bed the sheets. Using Oxyclean in the tub and vinegar in bleach dispenser, and a commercial HW detergent. This time I used “heavy duty” with hottest water, and “high soil level.” Also extra wash water and extra rinse. Finally, I saw the water level come up to a reasonable amount and the clothes really did move around well. And finally the clothes came out clean. I have decided to keep the machine and program it like this every time. Also if I don’t have enough clothes to get a reasonable weight so that the machine will give me enough water, I plan to place 3 soaking wet bath towels around the inside of the tub. During the “load sensing” phase the extra weight will be taken into account and more water will be added. I can’t speak to the front loaders but you might try the soaking towels to fool your machine into giving you more wash water. This worked for me.
Jeremy says
June 13, 2017 at 9:51 pmWhy should we have to add anything to the washer but what we have put in the traditional Washers. Why can’t the manufacturers make a washer that is high-efficiency that does not smell ever like the traditional units? I suspect the answer is because the use of water is so much lower than the traditional units the clothes don’t actually get clean. That is why there is a smell. I have owned an HE unit for 15 years and have fought this smell nonstop. We have used a variety of methods to combat the smell. However, why should we have to do this this is a washer for crying out loud! It is supposed to clean things not stink! Less water means less clean. Anyone who tells you different is trying to sell you an HE machine! I just put my HE washer and dryer on craigslist and will be purchasing a traditional unit. I look forward to close that smell fresh instead of a strange tangy smell. I also look forward to never having to worry about a stinky washer!
Halle Cottis says
June 18, 2017 at 3:51 pmYou’d think that consumer reports would knock them down a few for this very issue Jeremy, I couldn’t agree with you more. I sold mine as well and bought a top loader (Still HE) and I no longer have the smell. I still prefer the traditional “old-fashioned” washing machine though!
Lisa says
August 30, 2017 at 12:56 pmHi everybody I’ve had all of the same issues vinegar baking soda leaving the door open wiping the gasket and definitely dispersing the excess water in the tube on the bottom (which also helps with the rocking of the machine puts it back in balance) , all help, but one additional thing I have started to do is I run an additional spin cycle after load finishes to get rid of the excess water in the machine. As far as fabric softener goes that’s the worst thing you could use in these or with towels or anything with soft fleece, in any machine, because it doesn’t rinse out and makes them rough and creates little balls. vinegar softens your towels and everything almost immediately.
Susz says
September 20, 2017 at 1:11 amAfter going into my dresser drawer and pulling out a newly cleaned pair of PJ pants and CRYING…I thank you all for convincing me I’m not crazy! How many times do I have to wash all the clothes in my dresser?!?! I grew up poor and we never had a washer or dryer at the same time. Going to the laundry mat with either wet clothes or dragging the wet ones back when I was 10, should really have made me a raging alcoholic who shops till she’s broke! Growing up my clothes smelled like this. It takes me back to a really terrible time in my life to smell sour clothes and I have a brand new (well 3 yrs old but I’m the only one using it!) front loader! I’m a freak about smelling fresh for obvious reasons and was about to start drinking heavily over this. God bless Google for letting me type “why do my clothes smell after they are washed?” And God BLESS all of you for sharing the not-so-secret-shame! I’m not the only smelly kid in class! (And now I won’t be anymore after I dismantle my washer and use a gallon of white vinegar!)
Lisa says
September 22, 2017 at 10:35 amI have always been a clean freak, and I always use vinegar in my laundry, for the extra cleaning and to set the colors. When we purchased the front loaders, I noticed less water, and clothes didn’t smell clean. Now when I wash whites I use bleach and the odor goes, of course I cannot use bleach with colors. I am at a loss, vinegar doesn’t even remotely work for me, nor does the addition of other items, baking soda, every different laundry detergent out there, and Commercial odor boosters. Any other suggestions? Thank you for your time!
Halle Cottis says
September 25, 2017 at 3:22 pmYou could contact the company of washing machine and they might be able to adjust the water level to add more water.
Also, if you have a towel mode, it usually adds more water to the cycle.
Jackie says
March 9, 2018 at 11:19 amIn regards to using vinegar, are you referring to distilled white vinegar or regular cleaning vinegar? I’ve seen both at my store.
Halle Cottis says
March 25, 2018 at 12:57 pmI just use the distilled white vinegar found in the food section of your grocery store.
Iggy says
September 26, 2017 at 6:43 pmI disagree with the Front-Loader “facts” of always being better than a Regular or Normal Top-Loader. I definitely wouldn’t ever buy a HE Top-Loader, watch it “wash” and you’ll agree. Sorry but, with Front-Loaders not even living 6-years on average and Top-Loaders living an average of 20-years, I’d have to say Top-Loaders win every time and in every way.
–
I’ve never had any problem with any Regular Top-Loader’s cleaning and/or untreated stain removal. And who cares about water? My bill’s $30 and has never even hit $40. But, if I use anymore heating or cooling it’s blatant in my electric/gas bill. Now, I do only cold washes with Coldwater Tide (works amazingly well) and have no energy affect with my Top-Loader and saw no appreciable change in my bill from before I went cold.
–
If you want to pay A LOT more from start to a sprint-finish, then a Front-Loader is what you want. If you want the UNBEATEN tried and true cheapest route, then a Regular (“wasteful”, according to liars and frauds) Top-Loader is what you need. Hey Front-Loaders, is it ecological or economical to throw away your forced obsolescence garbage purchase THREE-TIMES (minimum) as often?
Rachael Craig says
February 24, 2018 at 2:09 pmDO NOT ADD VINEGAR IN THE NEWER FRONT LOAD WASHERS THAT ARE BUILT FOR HOME USE
VINEGAR IS ONLY GOOD FOR COMMERCIAL GRADE FRONT LOAD WASHERS THAT ARE MADE OF STRONGER COMPONENTS
The newer front load washers FOR HOME USE are built with planned obsolescence in mind so that the manufacturers can sell new machines every so many years.
The “spider arm assembly” behind the stainless steel tub/drum of almost ALL of these home front load machines is made of cheap pot iron and it deteriorates into powdery material over the years (usually 4-5 years if you are lucky)
Corrosives like vinegar accelarate this process
Only way to slow down the deterioration of this part is to use AS LITTLE DETERGENT AS POSSIBLE and CLEAN YOUR WASHER WITH AN EMPTY CYCLE WITH NO CLOTHES AND DETERGENT every few weeks
Also, keep the door ajar, wipe down the gasket with a microfiber cloth sprayed with isopropyl alcohol and, if possible, run a fan in front of the washer for 30 minutes or so after each wash. This should eliminate the smell
Kelly says
March 16, 2019 at 10:58 pmSeriously, should we really have to do all this?? I think the manufacturers NEED to come up with a better design or stop making them! Like I am doing to put a fan in front of my washer for 30 minutes after each wash! Nope- not going to do it! I already do too much.
Doobiana says
March 31, 2018 at 3:26 pmThese front loaders looked neat at first but then soon after you realize they don’t clean, they don’t use water, they leave slime on your clothes, your laundry smells rotten, and the machines smell themselves. Ban them. Go back to top loaders and clothes are fresh smelling all the time. I was smelling bad at work because of this washer! So embarrassing when I realized it was the laundry machine and I thought it was my poor cat. He is actually cleaner than clothes washed in front loaders.
Karen says
April 15, 2018 at 9:23 amThank you for this post! My front end smelled so bad I had the repair guy out. I was convinced there was a moldy sock jammed behind the gasket. He said everything was fine and that front loads just stink after a few years. His suggestion was to leave the door open after each wash and let that lovely stink fill the room even more. After he left I manhandled the entire stackable unit out from the wall and removed the back – still convinced there was a dead mouse or something back there. Again nothing. I had almost decided to get a new set but I didn’t want to so I found your post.
I’ve been using vinegar in the bleach slot for 1 entire Costco sized vinegar bottle and it no longer stinks. I also stopped using Tide Pods because I think the stink started about the time I switched to them. Nothing to back that theory up just gut instinked 🙂
Anyway, your suggestion worked and for that I am truly grateful and less broke. Also I agree that front end load machines are substandard and really don’t work that well and last about 5 years.
Ivy White says
May 4, 2018 at 6:48 pmI have used front loaders for years–Asko, Bosch, LG. I like how they clean, that they are resource efficient, and that I can control the temp and spin cycles. I’ve always used a minimum amount of biodegradable detergent (critical–left over soap = microbial food) and left the door open a few inches, and never had smell problems. Until all of a sudden, recently my 2005 Bosch started smelling of mold.
None of the common suggestions (Borax, vinegar, bleach, cleaning the gaskets, super hot tub clean cycle, etc.) worked. I looked at the ingredients on a box of Afresh and noticed it was just oxygen bleach, so bought a tub of oxygen bleach, poured about 3T. directly into the washer (not sure why that’s important, but it is) and ran it on the longest, hottest cycle possible. Repeated this two more times, and my washer is back to normal.
Not sure what happened, and I may have to repeat this process in a month or so, but try it, before you give up on your machine. And stop using so much soap–let your machine work the way it’s supposed to.
Gamis luren says
August 24, 2018 at 5:25 amMy only concern with using vinegar in with my wash for fabric softener, is of course everything smelling like vinegar. Did you not find this happened to your clothing etc?
Brian says
January 2, 2019 at 11:01 amMost people with HE machines use WAY TOO MUCH liquid detergent. Because the water is unable to break it all down it turns into a black slime and remains in the machine. You’d be surprised to know that a tablespoon of detergent is enough for small and maybe even medium loads.
Craig says
January 7, 2019 at 9:25 amWe’ve had our HE front-load for several years now. After I’m done with the laundry I take the dispenser out and put it in the sink and leave the door open. Ours has never developed an odor using this technique.
Sally says
March 16, 2019 at 10:51 pmLucky you! I do all that and more and have mold smell. Maybe you could share the model you have?? I have LG—- never again! Read my comment below.
Sally says
March 16, 2019 at 10:47 pmBoy I am glad I am not alone in this mold smell issue. My front loaders are a MAJOR pain. Since the first wash- it has been a constant battle to deal with the mold smell. My LG model retains water– too much! The detergent drawer needs to be taken out after every wash and I literally have to dump out the leftover water inside. Then I have to wipe down the glass window on the inside door, wipe up the retained water in the door seal- wipe it dry AND open the little door at the bottom and pull out the drain hose and empty the leftover water from inside the machine!!! Makes me SO mad. If I had any idea this washer would be such a pain, I of course would never have bought it.
My washer is a year and a 1/2 old and I already want to trade it in on another— but will I find another one to be any better? It’s an expensive risk just to be stuck with the same old nightmare!
All I can say is make sure to read the manual that comes with your washer. I use very little detergent and follow all their directions on how to use it. I bought the cleaning tablets and make sure to run the clean cycle once a month.
I have tried bleach, vinegar and other powders to get rid of the smell. It smells fresh for one wash and then it slowly comes back. I think mold is inside the seal in the front door. I don’t think wiping it is getting it all. I use those scented pellets you can add to make your clothes smell fresh.
I believe these came out DUE to the fact that everyone’s clothes STINK from washing with front loaders! Anyway- read some good tips but I feel like it’s a losing battle. I too would love to go back to a top loader with agitator! Maybe one of the companies will get smart and start making them again. Bet they could not make them fast enough- before they would sell out! Good luck all, and happy washing 😀