Washing Machines Logo
Posted on Oct 05, 2008

LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

I bought my LG washer & dryer set in July of 2006 and have taken great care of these machines. Just 5 months ago the washer started smelling like mildew even though I dry inside the rubber seal on the door and leave the door open to air dry inside after I'm finished with the laundry. I've been in contact with LG & Home Depot where I bought them and they've advised me to run bleach through it, empty the drain located on the front, rund Whirl Out through it, etc... I've done all of these things and still have this horrible smell coming from inside the drum itself. The water that I emptied from the drain had no odor. When I clean under and in between the rubber seal on the door there is no sign of mildew or the odor on the towel that I use. I stick my head inside the washer and it's obvious that's where it's coming from. I was told the tub has a 5 year warranty on it. I don't know what else to do. I've wasted so much time of course trying to do everything possible (without taking this stupid thing apart) to make this smell go away or find the actual cause and no such luck. In researching the internet I've found where I'm not the only person having this problem, knor is LG the only washer that has the mildew smell, but they're all front loaders with the same problem. I've reported it to consumer affairs, but I don't know what else I can do! I spent so much money on this machine and it makes me sick to think that I'm stuck with a mildew smelling washing machine!!! HELP>>>>>>>PLEASE!!!!!!!!! I have the exact problem with my LG front loader!! My husband said he's going to buy a new one for just his clothes and wash his downstairs.....so only I'm stuck with the smelly clothes...

  • 1 more comment 
  • Anonymous Oct 19, 2008

    It has been smelling bad for about a year now. It's worse with towels. I threw a whole set of towels away about 8 months ago, thinking it was the towels. I've used the tablets, bleach, cascade. etc. Bestbuy came out and replaced the drum, seal , and 5 other parts. It still smells. Bestbuy says they've replaced everything, so they don't know what else could smell. Guess what? I don't know what else could smell either, but it still stinks like mildew. The washer is about three years old. I guess I'm at a point where I will have to bite the bullet and throw this $1000.00 washer out and buy a top loader. I feel cheated. Live and learn I guess. LG2277HW. DON'T BUY LG. YOU'll REGRET IT.

  • thezoo Jan 08, 2009

    I have a top loader Maytag and it stinks too. We wanted to make sure we bought a really nice one and it has been one headache after another! Now this! Terrible!

  • Anonymous Apr 26, 2009

    Same problem as above. Almost smell like burnt rubber. Not sure what im going to do.

×

6 Answers

Anonymous

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

  • Contributor 1 Answer
  • Posted on Jan 10, 2009
Anonymous
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Joined: Jan 10, 2009
Answers
1
Questions
0
Helped
1595
Points
1

They have tablets designed for this! I bought Affresh from PCRichards three tablets I believe were $9.99 and so far so good.Machines are like 10 months old and will do it every six months or so. Just my wife and I kids gone now on their own. Good luck I think this will work for you.

Anonymous

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

  • Contributor 1 Answer
  • Posted on Nov 02, 2008
Anonymous
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Joined: Oct 19, 2008
Answers
1
Questions
0
Helped
1595
Points
0

What is a P trap & why then didn't my old top-loader make my clothes smell? I think we've all been had.

Ad

Anonymous

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

  • Contributor 1 Answer
  • Posted on Nov 01, 2008
Anonymous
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Joined: Nov 01, 2008
Answers
1
Questions
0
Helped
1595
Points
1

My lg washer had a bad odor . i put a p trap on the drain line and we not had any more odor

  • Anonymous Nov 03, 2008

    p trap trap water so the odor from your sewer cannot come back though your pipe .old washers trap water at the pump. look under your sink and you will see a p trap

×

A

Anonymous

Put a p-trap on your drain the odor could be coming from your sewer

Anonymous

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

  • Contributor 1 Answer
  • Posted on Oct 18, 2008
Anonymous
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Joined: Oct 18, 2008
Answers
1
Questions
0
Helped
1595
Points
1

I have had the same problem with the smells! I am so happy it is not just me. now, my washer is leaking! I bought it in May 08, bummer. how do you clean the filter? please help!

Anonymous

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

  • Contributor 2 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 07, 2008
Anonymous
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Joined: Oct 05, 2008
Answers
2
Questions
0
Helped
2750
Points
2

Same here. We bought ours January 2005. Love the machines and take great care of them, too. Then the smell in the washer which seemed to affect certain clothes, like thick sweat pants and t-shirts (they smelled really "sour"). After doing some searches I found on this site where someone had recommended using a product called Affresh. I figured I might as well try it since my other attempts failed. This really worked for me. I bought it at Home Depot for $7 for a pkg of 3. I used 3 tablets per their directions, as this was my first time using it (afterwards they recommend using only 1 tablet per month). I was totally amazed as the smell was gone. I hope it works for you, too!

4 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Nov 08, 2008

SOURCE: LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

I'm contacting LG's service department and I'll see what they intend to do.

Ad

Anonymous

  • 623 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 13, 2009

SOURCE: LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

Causes of grease, slime and black mould inside washing machine Your problem has nothing to do with the washing machine, any washing machine - even the best can be affected. I suspect your problem is mostly related to using liquid detergents that contain no bleaching agents

Anonymous

  • 56 Answers
  • Posted on May 27, 2009

SOURCE: LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

have you tryed a boil wash with nothing in the washer to soften and expel any caked powder in the drum?i know this does help

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Jun 02, 2009

SOURCE: LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

Don't know if this is the same as your problem, but I had a Kenmore washer, (made by Whirlpool) that did the same thing. It was a high efficiency model without an agitator. I finally found out that this type of washer never drains completely but always has some water left in it. This water is somewhere internal that cannot be seen unless the machine is taken apart. That water goes bad and stinks. Everything smelled like mildew and for some while my husband thought I was was washing clothes and leaving them in until they dried. I ended up having to just buy a new machine and when the stinky washer was taken away, just tilting it caused all this foul water to come out everywhere. Also I found this on the internet http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/lg_washing_machine.html
scroll down and see how other people feel about this machine. I decided that instead of buying the newest, latest, greatest, with all the bells and whistles appliances, from now on I will buy the time tested, plain jane models.

Ad

Add Your Answer

×

Uploading: 0%

my-video-file.mp4

Complete. Click "Add" to insert your video. Add

×

Loading...
Loading...

Related Questions:

1helpful
2answers

Awful smell! I drain it every cycle, I use the washer cleaner, everything! I am so sick of my towels smelling awful.

Sounds like the little flexible apron just in front of your washer drum has mildewed. Take a look and see if it is holding water, and look for mold while your'e at it. Use a good bathroom mold and mildew remover to kill the mess and deodorize it.
0helpful
1answer

Musty/Mildew smelling clothes...

lg has a known problem with smelly mildew cloths. If you call LG they will tell you its not there problem. Cheapest solution is to wash door gasket with some clorox and then betwen washes leave door open. On the washing supply shelves there is a product you put in the washing machine run a wash without cloths and it does the same thing except it costs $7.If you bought it a t Lowes go back and ***** to store manager my friend did exactly that and got the machinje replaced
0helpful
1answer

LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

Don't know if this is the same as your problem, but I had a Kenmore washer, (made by Whirlpool) that did the same thing. It was a high efficiency model without an agitator. I finally found out that this type of washer never drains completely but always has some water left in it. This water is somewhere internal that cannot be seen unless the machine is taken apart. That water goes bad and stinks. Everything smelled like mildew and for some while my husband thought I was was washing clothes and leaving them in until they dried. I ended up having to just buy a new machine and when the stinky washer was taken away, just tilting it caused all this foul water to come out everywhere. Also I found this on the internet http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/lg_washing_machine.html
scroll down and see how other people feel about this machine. I decided that instead of buying the newest, latest, greatest, with all the bells and whistles appliances, from now on I will buy the time tested, plain jane models.
1helpful
1answer

LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

have you tryed a boil wash with nothing in the washer to soften and expel any caked powder in the drum?i know this does help
0helpful
2answers

LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

Causes of grease, slime and black mould inside washing machine Your problem has nothing to do with the washing machine, any washing machine - even the best can be affected. I suspect your problem is mostly related to using liquid detergents that contain no bleaching agents
5helpful
3answers

LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

I have an LG washer that had the same problem. Go to the site www.nufreshnow.com and read all about why this is happening, how to fix it and how to keep it from comming back. A few different ways of cleaning the machine are explained.

The site sells a product that you may or may not need but the explanations are really good.
6helpful
7answers

LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

If you're not used to seeing water come down the front of the inner glass portion, then your return tube, and/or gasket drainage is most likely clogged. I have the LG WM2277HW front loader and this is what worked for me:

1. Locate water recirculating outlet at the top inside of the gray rubber door gasket- it will have a white plastic piece that directs the water flow inward.

2. Check for blockage at that outlet. Mine had one about 2 inches long. Pull it out with your fingers or tweezers.

3. Check the 3 small rectangular drain holes at the bottom of the gasket; make sure they're not plugged up as well. This is where the smelly water pools from bacterial growth

4. Run through a sanitizing cycle- no detergent, just bleach and watch for more blockage that might come out the tube from the top...it collects on the glass before falling all the way in. Don't wash any clothes before this step, or the gunk will end up in your load.


Hope that helps...pictures posted.

7d40c49.jpga60c365.jpgcf5a3e0.jpga27149f.jpg45b3f7a.jpg
0helpful
1answer

LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

Same problem and I was told to only use detergents with "HE" on the front of them for high energy. the soap without HE is too foamy and hence never truly drains out and causes a mildew smell. I also purchased something called "A" Fresh that I run in the washer every 6 weeks to keep the smell out. I got it at an appliance store for about $11.00 for 3 tablets
22helpful
8answers

LG washing machine has AWFUL mildew smell

LG model WM2688H front load washer Once you follow this, the smell will go & you only need to run the tub clean mode with oxiclean once a month. This has worked for my client. Her washer made the entire house smell & your eyes tear when you got near it...not any more. 1) Leave the door open! Detergent door too when not in use. 2) Clean the filter (bottom left below door on front) You need a container to catch about a cup of water, or a towel to clean up the cup of water that will spill. Remove the rubber hose...twist off the cap...drain water out of tube. replace cap, replace tube. Next to tube is a twist cap. Turn counter clockwise, remove and clean filter, put back in. 3) I boil water (2 gallons) mix in some bleach 1/2 cup, and put the solution inside the washer. I let it sit for 10 minutes. With my hand I rotate the drum 1/5 of a turn and let soak for 10 minutes. rotate 1/5, sit, rotate, sit until entire tub has sat in the boiling water for 10 minutes. Boiling =212 degrees. Kill Mold= 108 degrees. Water Heater= 120 typically 4) If there is a sink nearby, run the hot water prior to starting a cleaning cycle!!! Screw the environmentalists. (sorry, but you want to get rid of your mold) Because of the minimal quantities of water used in a wash cycle, the water in your pipes does not remain hot all night long, and the washer does not have a built in heater to raise the temp. So you're using cold water to wash everything...including the clean cycles &/or bleaching. 5) I leave the boiling water in, add a scoop of Oxiclean. There is a "Tub Clean" mode on the LG. It's a 1 1/2 hour hot wash made especially to clean the inner tub. Check your owners manual!!! It's in there, for some reason they think people read these things...or if you don't like reading on this model it's the 3rd button on the right side options. The button says EXTRA RINSE in BIG BOLD Letters and in smaller letters...tub clean. Hold the button down for 3-5 seconds, the door will lock & it will ask you to add bleach. Fill the bleach compartment. Use liquid bleach Clorox, NOT the HE gel bleach. 6) Don't use AFFRESH!!! Oxiclean 1,000 times better. 7) HE Powder over HE liquids definately. You should be mold free. Do this once a month.
Not finding what you are looking for?

1,605 views

Ask a Question

Usually answered in minutes!

Top LG Washing Machines Experts

Mike Cairns
Mike Cairns

Level 3 Expert

3054 Answers

ZJ Limited
ZJ Limited

Level 3 Expert

17989 Answers

Cindy Wells

Level 3 Expert

6688 Answers

Are you a LG Washing Machine Expert? Answer questions, earn points and help others

Answer questions

Manuals & User Guides

Loading...