I have a Kenmore 'Elite' front loading washer that produces a 'sewer gas' smell when the first load of wash is run after sitting for a week. I have checked for open drains etc and found nothing that seems to be a source. The smell seems to be coming from the discharge water from the wash cycle. Any suggestions would be welcome.
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The Kenmore Elite Washer has a "large Item filter" located under the steel front panel. This is definitely where your moldy sewer smell is coming from. It traps large items from going down your drain, but they put it behind a metal panel so you wouldn't even know it's there. You need to remove 3 bolts from the front panel, the panel will slide down. You will see a white plastic knob right in the center, push a folded towel underneath the knob then carefully unscrew it. Lots of icky black water will come out. Recognize that smell? You'll probably also find some paperclips and bobby pins and other laundry debris. Remove the filter grating and clean that thing with hot water until it's white again. I squirted some anti-mildew agent inside and let it air out for a few hours, then reassemble and run a Whitest Whites cycle (empty) with some bleach. Smell will be gone. (until next time...)
Have you been leaving the door cracked open after washing a load? If not, mildew will form and smell. If you have, then it would be something else. Respond with any questions.
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