Front-loading Washing Machines Susceptible to Mold?

Consumer Reports dropped news about a notable issue with the energy efficient front loading washers now all the rage in the home appliance department: problems with mold. We often smell the characteristic odour at our local laundromat, but thought it was limited to public load washers, but a survey noted that 8% of untis had issues with mold of mildew.

Here are a few helpful tips to avoid mold or mildew in your washer according to the Consumer Reports piece worth considering if you own one of these style washers:

Run only warm- or hot-water loads unless one requires cold.

After a load is complete, dry the door gasket (especially the folds) and the glass. Leave the washer door open unless you have small children or another reason not to close it.

Clean the detergent dispenser and any attachments monthly. Any part that traps moisture can breed mold.

Run a dehumidifier if your laundry room is damp.
We're wondering if the solution is integrating a UV germ-killing lighting system into future models to keep mold/mildew growth in check. Manufacturers will have to take this under consideration as this issue becomes more widely known, possibly affecting sales. Has anyone had issues and/or solutions with their front loader?
More at Mold and odor issues for some front-loading washing machines spur class actions.

Comments (10)

Yup, my frontloader gets a bit mildewy. I need to take my laundry out of the washer and get it into the dryer right away. Leaving it in the washer contributes to the smell. I also have to empty out the detergent drawer after a wash. There's usually a few tablespoons of water that just sit there if I don't empty it. And finally, I throw a cup of vinegar into my wash every once in a while to get rid of the smell.

Leave the door open when you are done washing.

Having a small amount of clean water left in a dispenser shouldn't cause problems especially if you frequently use the machine.

Keeping the washing machine clean as the first poster mentioned with a wash every now and then with vinegar and also hydrogen peroxide.

You shouldn't experience mildew smells if you leave the door open, I haven't experienced any mildew problems in my front loader and I've had it about 3 years.

My parents' front loader is SUPER mildewy. Glad CR has our backs! Kind of blows to leave your door open like that tho.. espcially if it's in a closet. Problems problems..

When I moved into my house, the LG washer here was mildewy (is that a word?). Replaced it w/ a Bosch (the only other one that would fit!). I hate having to leave the door open since it's in the kitchen and behind a cabinet but there's no way I'm going to let a washer that expensive get moldy!!

A couple of tips I was given to prolong the life of my washing machine (a front loader) by a repair man

1) Do only one wash per day. It isn't an industrial machine so instead of doing all your washing once a week, say three or four loads, pace it and do one each day over four days

2) Run the boiling wash once in a few months to give the machine a proper run. It clears out the detergent build up. You can do it on an empty machine or use it for your dish cloths

3) Don't move the machine about too much (as if you would, but I guess this refers to moving house, you can't really take it with you). This can move the concrete weights in the machine that hold it stable during spin cycles, this in turn can change the balance of the machine and the cycles will bang about and damage the machine.

4) They say the simpler the machine you buy (without too many programmes and novelties) the less that's likely to break

My machine has lasted over 11 years. I finally had to call someone out after 10 to fix something small in it and he said it should go for a few more years. I'm pretty pleased with that

This article from consumer reports supports not being green or eco friendly, since warm or hot water laundry uses more energy. I only ever use cold water with my washing machine. I leave the door open after my last cycle for a day to fully let the washer air out. I've never had a mildew problem since i let it air out in between cycles. Seasonally i follow the vinegar suggestions above just in case soap builds up. Also, about a year ago i switched to all natural soap and haven't had the soap build up issues at all.

I can to say what Dhooly mentioned...but suggesting people run only hot water washes is irresponsible as it uses more energy and probably wont do too much with a mildew problem anyway. Running a hot load now and then, with some vinegar should help. We don't have problems with mildew in our front loading washer, and always do cold water cycles unless its a load of particularly dirty whites.

This is not just a problem with front loaders. I've got the same issue with a top loader as well. We eventually corrected the problem by first running a cycle on hot with a half a gallon of simple green, two more with plain cold water, then another with hot water and bleach.
To prevent the mold from returning, stop using liquid softener and liquid detergent. Use powered detergent and dryer sheets in the dryer rather than fabric softener in the wash.
Not sure why it works, but that's what you'll find as a solution all over the web if you google it.

We have this issue as well with a Frigidaire front-loader purchased in 2008. It's very frustrating.

The worst part is the mold builds up in the rubber gasket that lines the opening to the door. I am a bit concerned that we'll need to replace it soon enough. Seems like poor design, because water gets trapped in the lip of the gasket and is pretty difficult to keep dry.

Thanks for these tips! I'll pass this on to my family...

Yep, I've had mine for going on 3 years, we use mainly cold water washes, and we leave the door open for a day or two after a wash (not attractive, but not in a place that it would be in the way). We've never had any mildew problems.