Anyone have a newer Frigidaire front load washer?

Zeke · 06-03-2009, 04:28 PM

The wife just picked up a pair, a washer and dryer on the cheap. Foreclosure house. She paid $400 for what supposedly cost about $1500. Well, I guess yours truly picked them up. Anyway, after getting them hooked up, I noticed this musty smell. We went a couple days wondering what this was. I even washed some car towels with a ton of bleach to try to kill the smell.

A key fell out of a pair of pants and finding it took us to this accordion type gasket in front of the tumbler. So we peel this sucker back and it's just nasty. You know that yellowish slippery mold or whatever it is? Yuck.

So, I proceed to clean this area with Clorox cleaner all the way around to the top. OK, found the source of the smell. So, I'm looking at hos this thing works and I see that it leaves an ounce or water in there each load. It never dries out. That's some piss poor engineering, AFAIC.

The question is, does anyone know about this? Is there supposed to be some kind of drainage in there? I can't find anything. I'll go over to one of the appliance forums and search/post, but I thought I'd just do a quick post here in case.

It looks like this, but white:

If there's any consolation to this, I sold the old Maytags for $250. I'm wondering if I don't want those back.

WolfeMacleod · 06-03-2009, 04:38 PM

I now have a front load washer. I curse the woman who invented them. Hole so small you can't harly put a pair of jeans through it. Not sure what brand. I'll have to look.

Zeke · 06-03-2009, 04:43 PM

Well, it works great. And, I guess because of the extended spinning, the dryer takes half the time. I do think these puppies save energy and water. But, if there's a better design that doesn't get stinky, I'd recommend buying them instead of Frigidaire.

That is unless I can solve the problem. Right now I'm hand drying that gasket after each laundry session. PITA.

What happen to my pic? In "edit" I see the link.

Zeke · 06-03-2009, 04:53 PM

Do I need to slap its cratch?

peppy · 06-03-2009, 05:04 PM

Milt, there should be a clean cycle option. you run it with just bleach and then clean the front gasket. Take good care of the front gasket, you DO NOT want to have to replace it.

Zeke · 06-03-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peppy

Milt, there should be a clean cycle option. you run it with just bleach and then clean the front gasket. Take good care of the front gasket, you DO NOT want to have to replace it.

Well that sucks.

I just looked at the dial and the buttons. No dedicated "clean" cycle. We didn't get the manuals and we've looked online for .pdf's. We got some very generalized, multi model stuff, but no specifics.

peppy · 05:19 PM

Milt, inside the fold of the gasket there should be a hole that drains back inside the washer, clean this area.

The clean cycle is just all hot water and bleach, no soap about 30 minutes and an empty washer.

P.S. always use HE detergent the pump will cavitate.

Zeke · 06-03-2009, 05:45 PM

No hole, at least at 6 o'clock, where I'd expect it. I've looked several times as if I think it's going to magically appear.

What kind of "washing machine" has to have a cleaning cycle? Does that make sense? This ain't the oven!

I want my top loader Maytag back.

peppy · 06-03-2009, 05:54 PM

Sorry I was no help Milt, maybe I should ask my wife. She knows everything.

Zeke · 06-03-2009, 05:59 PM

Hey, don't apologize, man. I'll do what I can. I hear ya about replacing that gasket. I'll bet it's close to a hundred bucks plus labor. When that happens, it's Craigs List time. That's how I work things these days, buy CL, sell CL and throw away what isn't worth my time.

Esel Mann · 06-03-2009, 08:23 PM

Milt, we have a front loader frigidaire which smells too (FLA). However our seal is clean. I always wipe it out with either a paper towel or something already dirty ready to wash upon completion of each cycle. We still have "the smell" however. ikely from the crap which is left over (alas a tradeoff of front loaders).

The three approaches I'm aware of are (in substitute of detergent and w/o stuff you wash, wear, or sleep in): Vinegar, Bleach, Cleaner powder/tablet. With the humidity of FLA (our units are in the non-HVAC garage) we are currently on the cleaner/tablet solution.

I suspect the three work to varying degrees, hence their ability to remove smell would depend upon how long the smell substance has been there.

Regards,
Carlton (aka the Laundry *****)

Danimal16 · 06-04-2009, 05:28 AM

I used my sisters front loader. The darn thing seemed to take forever to do a load of wash. Is this normal? The reason why I ask is because the top loader I have is gonna need replacement soon.

Zeke · 06-04-2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danimal16

I used my sisters front loader. The darn thing seemed to take forever to do a load of wash. Is this normal? The reason why I ask is because the top loader I have is gonna need replacement soon.

Yes, the cycle is very long. I just put in a load of 2 bath rugs and a couple other things. I dialed in "heavy" and the panel made some selections. The timer said it would take 56 minutes.

The new dishwasher (well, a take home from a kitchen remodel) goes on for an hour and a half on some cycles. At least an hour on a common cycle.

the only quick thing is that new dryer and I think it's because the washer spins the heck out of the clothes.

Esel, thanks for the info.

Steve W · Steve W's Garage

This is a common complaint with front load washers. The door must be kept open after a wash to allow the moisture to dry out. You'll also need to run the clean cycle with bleach once a month to kill off the mold and bacteria that typically grow inside the folds of the front gasket. This is normally is specified in the owners manuals. It's almost a sure thing the PO never did any of this.

TimT · 06-04-2009, 12:06 PM

http://www.affresh.com/

Zeke · 06-04-2009, 12:07 PM

Thanks, Steve.

Well, I guess my wife got suckered into this. But, at a net cost of 150 for the pair, I'll live with it.

You know the funny part? These things work well with those stands they sell. The stands cost $500/pr.

Gonna get some plywood.

Zeke · 06-04-2009, 12:11 PM

And thanks to Tim for the link. I hope the appliances of the future are better engineered. That's just a major f*****g flaw. MFF, add that to your list of acronyms.

pwd72s · 06-04-2009, 12:20 PM

Milt, ours is a frigidaire. Yep, do the bleach thing... Our main gripe is that ours must have a wiring problem. Static on the AM radio band when it's running. Otherwise, it's been trouble free for what? 5-6 years, I'd guess...