mobius8
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2007
- Messages
- 154
Date: 9/10/2008 2:03:15 AM
Author: asscherisme
Oooh, I have a question! I have a sears brand front loading washing machine. It cost a boatload and was top of the line (in 2005) when I bought it. It has major mold prolbems. For some reason, it gets mold stored in the front rubber area, in the soap area, and areas I can''t see. I need to run empty bleach cycles on sanitary AND spray the whole thing with tilex ever week (I do tilex first, then bleach cycle, then an emty cycle, both on sanitary). If I don''t do those things, my whole first floor smells like mold and my clothes and kids smell like mold and mildew and awful horrid smell. I have the repair guy from sears out many times and he finally confessed its a flaw in the machine and he can''t help me with it
So....I am selling my house next year and in my new home I am very wary of buying front loader again. But with a lot of kids, front loader fits more clothes. Is the mold issue common in front loaders? My firend has the same issue with hers. I am thinking next time to just go top loader.
Are front loaders really worth the hype? I despise the mold issue, it so grosses me out and it takes a lot of work to keep it so the mold stays out of the machine.
When I sell my house, I am going to have to run a bleach cycle every other night to keep the mold smell outYUCK!
I have a Whirlpool brand front load machine that I have had for 4-5 years that would be essentially the same as your Kenmore made by Whirlpool (assuming yours is the larger model, if it''s the smaller one it was made by Frigidaire), anyway....
YES, the mold/mildew issue is common in front load machines of any brand, and actually all washing machines, the key is that with a top load washer gravity pulls everything to the bottom and the outer wash tub, so there is still mold/mildew there, you just don''t see it. That being said there is generally much more of it in a front load machine because it is basically air-tight with the exception of a small vent in the back.
When you take your wash out to put in the dryer and you close the door you are creating a dark, moist, and warm environment which is ideal for mold and mildew growth. I suppose I wouldn''t call it a design flaw but perhaps the cost of efficiency : - )
So, here''s what you can do with your current machine:
~Purchase cleaning tabs called AFFRESH. They are made by Whirlpool and are available a lot of places now. They are designed to help clean the washer.
~Run empty wash cycles with bleach.
~Use a bleach based cleaner to wipe out the door gasket.
~Purchase a product called CONCROBIUM MOLD CONTROL and clean the washer and run through an empty wash load.
Try some or all of the above steps to help remove as much of the current mold/mildew as you can.
Then in all future wash loads after removing the clothes from the washer:
~Leave your washer door open, at least for a while
~Leave your detergent dispenser tray pulled out, again at least for a while
These steps will help more air circulate through the machine and make a slightly less hospitable environment for mold/mildew.
Lastly, make sure that you:
~Use only H.E. detergents
~Use less than you think you need of everything. Detergent and softener. Less is more. Less residue.
And when you go shopping for your next machine if you have determined that the Front Load machines are just more hassle than they are worth to you, consider a High Efficiency Top Load Washer, such as the Whirlpool Cabrio, Maytag Bravos, or Kenmore Oasis. These will give similar benefits to a Front Load machine but with a more traditional Top Load design.
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