Hello,deb here just over from Fine Cooking.
The last couple of months our washing machine smells of an earthy,swampy odour,sort of like some potting soil smells.We have a well and none of the other water sources ,bathroom.kitchen have a smell.It is not a musty or moldy smell.In the past the washing machine has smelled like this after a heavy rain but would go away in a day or so.
So far I have tried a running a bleach solution through and Husband has taken off the agitator to see if something was stuck and then he vacuumed all the dust out from underneath.Nothing has helped.Any thoughts?
Deb
Replies
Take a look at this recent post.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Hello,Calvin.Thanks for the fast reply.I did read that thread before posting my question but would not all my pipes be smelly?
Deb
If you read closer, the piping that smells was a poly or something other than copper. Your washer hoses would be?
I've never heard of either of these problems, but the similarity was suggestive.
Also, what does your washer dump the water into? Laundry tub or stand pipe?A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Hoses are some sort of black plastic,but so are hoses to taps in bathroom and kitchen.The washer dumps the water into the laundry tub but it does not smell.
Thanks for your interest.It is driving me crazy.
Deb
A few suggestions:
Be sure the machine is level. If it is tilted the water may not all drain over to the pump inlet and get sucked out.
Occasionally run a load through on hot with some chlorine bleach.
Thanks will do.
Deb
Hey, welcome!
Thanks and likewise to you in Cooks Talk.Hope I haven't blown your cover. :-)
Deb
I'm out, so no worries.
;)
Just realized I have talking to you about leeks......duh.
Deb
If it's a front loader water can collect in the big front gasket at the bottom and get very funky.
It is a top loader and I am sure probably a little water is left in the bottom after a wash.I always leave the top open after using so it airs out.It really is a puzzle.If it was a musty or mouldy smell it would make more sense but it is more swampy than anything.
Deb
Deb,
Have you moved the machine and looked at the floor underneath? There may be a puddle of water under there that's gone funky. A very slow leak from the main seal can make a small puddle, not enough to spread past the footprint of the machine and be noticed.
Cliff
Yes, my husband moved the machine ,nothing on floor but dust.He vacuumed under and also tipped machine up for a look and vacuumed there also.It is such a strange swampy smell and it drives me mad at times.Thanks for your help.
Deb
Like another poster said, it's from water that is left in the machine after it's "empty". Happens more often with front loaders, but not unheard of with top loaders. You can fix it by running a short cycle, heavy on the chlorine bleach. That'll solve the problem -- until next time. Then you just gotta do it again.
Note that you should check the drain line to make sure it's not kinked, plugged, restricted, etc. If the pump is having trouble clearing the water out, it can result in more-than-usual backflow into the washer at the end of the cycle, resulting in the mini-swamp issue you have now.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
front loaders some , do this-- need to leave the door open
I did try the bleach trick but will do so again.It is such an odd smell,not at all musty or mouldy smelling like one would expect,more swampy,potting soil smell.Thanks for your help.
Deb
You have a buildup of crud somewhere. The problem is that the inner tub (that you can get to) is probably not where it is. More likely it's in the outer tub, or below by the pump. You can try filling it with water, adding about a pint of bleach and letting it sit for a few hours. If that doesn't work, you may need to start taking things apart to get to the root of the problem. I've also seen stuff get stuck under the agitator and go rancid. (Missing any socks? LOL) You may wanna take the agitator off and see if there's anything underneath. Your machine may also have a filter that needs to be cleaned. Check the owner's manual for location and how-tos.
FWIW, I worked in a laundromat for years as a kid, so I've seen my share of washing machines. I used to lift the agitators every Friday nite for pizza money. I was usually able to collect more change from under the agitators than I got paid for the day. You'd be surprised at how much stuff can live there. ;-)
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
Thanks,Mike,for all your help.My husband took the agitator off as I thought maybe something had been stuck under there but no luck.I'll get him to check the filter,if he didn't already,that may be the source of the smell.We never had anything like this with our other machine and we had it over 20+ years.Ocassionally it would smell a bit musty or mildewy(?) from lack of use but bleach always solved that.This smell is just so different.
You did well at your laundramat job! I'd hate to think of some of the other stuff that collected there.Before we had a washing machine I used to hate the idea of putting my clothes into a washer & dryer someone else used,creepy,but had no other choice.
You folks over here are sure not only helpful but very patient with my problem.Thanks to all.If we lived close enough I'd feed you. :-)
I'll continue my quest and promise to let you know if I solve it.
Deb
We use a front load model and often get a nasty smell in the washer and clothes. Use bleach when you can, and white vinegar when you can't use bleach. Seems to work for us. If you can, lift the top of the washer and clean out all the residue that gets built up in there, too. Don't forget to unplug the machine first. I'm reckoning using liquid detergents will cause less buildup of residues than powdered ones.
if its a front loader leave the door open when not in use.
There is a product called Affresh that helps in the funky washer department.
The orange box sells it in my area.
It is designed for front loaders, do not know how well it would work in a top loader.
I have cleaned and cleaned all around and out.I always leave the top up after using.We always used to use powdered detergent but now use liquid,but same brand.I'll see if my husband can lift the top up.I may try replacing the black hoses that join on to the copper piping per another post about bacteria build up.
I keep coming back to the fact that this has never happened before.I am always curiuos to find out the 'why' in things.Thanks for your help.
Deb
Your problem is likely due to scum built up on the top of the wash tub and inside the agitator also under the rim of the cover between the inner and outer tub. If you are like most people now, they stuff their machines. I have six kids so my machine gets stuffed everyday. Anyway, with big loads the soap scum, grease and dirt rise to the top of the tub. If you run bleach through an empty load thinking you'll clean it out, the level never gets as high as it does when the tub is full of clothes. The other thing is the problem gets worse now that tubs are plastic instead of porcelean or stainless. The solution is to take the agitator and then the inner tub out and clean all of it including the out tub and put it back together.
Mine is due for another cleaning as we speak. Thanks for bringing it up. Oh, and if you really want to find some nasty stuff take off the bottom sprayer and screen in your dishwasher and start cleaning.....if you have a strong constitution.
Edit: The reason I say an empty tub never gets as full as a stuffed tub may be confusing knowing the water level stops when the switch is triggered but there is a lot more splash with clothes in the washer and 90% people add items to the tub AFTER the tub is full which does push the water level above the switch level.
Edited 11/12/2008 10:45 am ET by cussnu2
Edited 11/12/2008 1:39 pm ET by cussnu2
We don't usually stuff our machine although the info with it said it is capable of washing 9 pairs of jeans at a time.To me that is just not right,plus we don't own 9 pairs between us. :-0
I did notice a build-up up around the inside of the tub and cleaned that out.The tub is porcelen or whatever you call that smoothe blue speckle finish over metal.
Nah,I'll pass on the dishwasher thing although I do like solving a good mess.
I understand what you mean about the tub not being as full.Maybe I run a bunch of old towels or sheets with a bleach solution to seem if that helps get it splashed up all around.
Stubborn as I am I keep coming back to but it's never done it before.
Thanks for your help,Deb
SmellyWasher.com may be worth looking into. If it is a front loading machine, check for mold around the rubber seal. Good luck.
Thanks for the link.I'll check it out.
Mine is a top loader.The thing that puzzels me is that the smell is not the musty/mouldy smell you would expect from stale sitting water.
Deb
Is it a front loader? Is it simply a musty smell? With ours, if we don't leave the door open, it smells musty very quickly.
Do you use alot of fabric softner? My we use a fair amount at our house and I have found that it will build up if it is not diluted (for the concentrated stuff) and I find myself cleaning the inside of the agitator where the fabric softner is dispersed from on our top loading machine.
Fabric softner does not smell spring time fresh if it is allowed to build up in the dispenser.
Ebe