Re: More on my washer--not that anyone can figure it out

[Guest guest]

I have a Sears front loader and always leave the door open without a

problem. I also got a product from Sears called Washer Magic which cleans,

freshens

and maintains the washer. I also use the Dishwasher magic that does the same

thing. I use it about 4x a year. I have seen the Dishwasher magic in the

grocery store but not for the washer.

Sue

All front loaders, or many I should say have this problem. I have a

front loading Maytag and there was class action suit on it. Basically

you cannot close them up since there is always some water siting in

them. I'm not sure, again, just like air conditioners, why they cannot

make things that DRAIN OUT COMPLETELY!, but they don't. You have to

leave it open when not in use. If you aren't going to use it for

awhile, service man who was here, said to pour some white vinegar into

machine to keep smell from developing, AND leave door open always. For

me, just leaving door open works. If I don't use for awhile, I do a

hot wash with ammonia and baking soda even if I have to clean over

again things that are already clean, seems better than running it

empty.

**************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel

deal here.

(http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047)

[Guest guest]

All front loaders, or many I should say have this problem. I have a

front loading Maytag and there was class action suit on it. Basically

you cannot close them up since there is always some water siting in

them. I'm not sure, again, just like air conditioners, why they cannot

make things that DRAIN OUT COMPLETELY!, but they don't. You have to

leave it open when not in use. If you aren't going to use it for

awhile, service man who was here, said to pour some white vinegar into

machine to keep smell from developing, AND leave door open always. For

me, just leaving door open works. If I don't use for awhile, I do a

hot wash with ammonia and baking soda even if I have to clean over

again things that are already clean, seems better than running it

empty.

>

> My little Eco Egg washer has been closed for a few days.

[Guest guest]

Be sure to wipe out the gasket around the door. This was a source of

serious mold for me and my daughter. I now wipe the gasket each time I finish

doing laundry for the day.....making sure it is dry inside. Leaving the door

open on my machine did not control the mold. I have to wipe it and leave the

door open.

All front loaders, or many I should say have this problem. I have a

front loading Maytag and there was class action suit on it. Basically

you cannot close them up since there is always some water siting in

them. I'm not sure, again, just like air conditioners, why they cannot

make things that DRAIN OUT COMPLETELY!, but they don't. You have to

leave it open when not in use. If you aren't going to use it for

awhile, service man who was here, said to pour some white vinegar into

machine to keep smell from developing, AND leave door open always. For

me, just leaving door open works. If I don't use for awhile, I do a

hot wash with ammonia and baking soda even if I have to clean over

again things that are already clean, seems better than running it

empty.

[Guest guest]

I thought you already threw it out and got a bigger one or was that someone

else?

 

I may have an answer on this one by luck. My parents bout a set of the new type

" front loader " washer and dryers. We had problems with bolth at first but the

best information came when they came out and held our hands and told us how to

properly use them. The most important thing on these front loader and/or new

closed washers is much like a new car and house. They are sealed when closed. If

it is not running the door must be left open to air out and dry. If not they

will begin to " stink " as they say. Also if yours has a rubber seal around the

opening pull that seal back (not off, back) and wipe that out. Especially with

sweaters towles and if you have pets lint gathers under that seal and will  " you

know what "

 

Hope that helps some...

[Guest guest]

Yup.... Same one here I am sure. The one feature I use alot is the clean the

washer option. It is a long, hot cycle with bleach. wipe out that seal and leave

it open because there is nothing I like more than to bang my knees on this so

fancy washer that was so muc more expensive.

 

A few more times and I am goin to class action kick it..

From: ssr3351@... <ssr3351@...>

Subject: Re: [] Re: More on my washer--not that anyone can figure

it out

Date: Sunday, August 31, 2008, 8:30 PM

[Guest guest]

Thanks all. Barb--I agree, why can't they drain?

The portables for apartments probably drain less.

I really liked the Eco Egg so I'm trying to find another. However I

don't want one that was drowned in Downy so to speak.

The Avanti portable that does a 13 pound wash--I tried to use it

today, and the drain hose is shot. It began spurting onto my bathroom

floor. In addition, what came out had black flecks of gunk in it. And

it does retain water too as I could hear it sloshing when I rolled it

over to the bathroom sink. Since she hadn't used it in a month and I

bought it a few weeks ago, it probably hasn't had a wash in 2 months.

Well that's sort of like keeping a dehumidifer tank full for 2 months.

Anything like that will begin to " mold " just like a/c's that don't

drain properly. And now the washer itself smells a bit icky and a bit

moldy.

It is really frustrating. But I concluded that the Eco Egg works best

for me in my situation if I can find another. It actually did 90% of

my laundry needs. And you can hold it upside down to drain out all the

water.

I hope I can find another one.

[Guest guest]

I have 2 front loaders and have not have had that problem. I have

read here that those washers that " do it all " like " dry cleaning "

have a problem.

I rarely have anything dry cleaned because of the off-gassing of the

perchlorate in your house.

I would rather throw the dress out or try washing something

on " delicate " - it is just not worth it to me to get sick from those

chemicals. Cotton clothes don't usually have that problem. The

manufacturer should have " foreseen " the problem. Sounds like a design

defect to me.

Except if a load of laundry is left in there for a couple of days,

because the " lazy children " have not taken it out and put it in the

dryer. I have been using " Arm and Hammer Washing Soda " along with

detergent and bleach and that works pretty well. I just keep throwing

the stuff back in until the smell is gone. Ammonia is good, too. I

like lemon sudsy ammonia. The Washing Soda might kill the stink. If

the machine is light enough, it might be taken out and given full

sunlight on a dry day, which helps get rid of odors as well.

I am using hot water on all whites, since I think it does a better

job with mold and bacteria. And boys stinky socks!

[Guest guest]

I always leave washer or dishwasher open.

>

> All front loaders, or many I should say have this problem. I have a

> front loading Maytag and there was class action suit on it.

[Guest guest]

Jill, you can't tolerate the Downey that is unscented also??

Have you tried doing a hot sudsy water in the Eco to save it. My

front loader had an awful stink and I called repair people. They

couldn't come out for a week, so after careful thought I remembered

doing some rugs and wondered if fibers from rug were cloggin, so did

several hot sudsy washes with strong clorox (to dissolve any fibers

left) and problem was gone. I let service man come anyway to discuss

and he said to put white vinegar in washer when I'm not going to use

it for awhile. He said white vinegar is better for machine than

letting chlorox sit in it, (of course). He said put a whole bottle

in, it's only a dollar if you have trouble, but if I leave door open,

after it's been cleaned of odor, I don't have any more trouble.

With main mold problem originally, that there was lawsuit over Maytag

came out and put a new rubber gasket in, since old one did have signs

of mold, circular marks in it, but after that, which has been several

years, I have no odor any more even without the vinegar just from

leaving the door open.

--- In , " jill1313 " <jenbooks13@...>

wrote:

>

>> I really liked the Eco Egg so I'm trying to find another.

[Guest guest]

I've found that bleach can stay in certain cotton knits forever. I

don't mind using bleach in my kitchen or bathroom to clean tiles and

floors, or softscrub with bleach, but I don't put it on my clothes.

Anyway, I still have not figured out my home washer situation. It's a

TOTAL DRAG. I will say I did my towels and rug downstairs in the

laundry room yesterday and they literally reek of fabric softener or

whatever crap people are using. I'm sure those washers are completely

caked with gunk as they have not been serviced and are in constant use

7 days a week about 18 hours a day.

>

> I have 2 front loaders and have not have had that problem. I have

> read here that those washers that " do it all " like " dry cleaning "

> have a problem.

>

[Guest guest]

>I had an idea-cashmere is organic but that means that it is a living

organism in some ways and if some of the fibers got loose from the

sweater while you were washing it and attached themselves to the

insides of your washer they could be decomposing. Also sometimes the

quality of the material determines how it smells when you wash it-from

personal experience natural fibers like cashmere have been really

smelly to me after washing-like a dead animal which of course it is

kind of like, isn't it? It's fur after all.

Now I know this is totally non science based but it makes sense to me.

Have you tried to get inside and wipe? Could there be fibers stuck

inside that are still smelling.

> My little Eco Egg washer has been closed for a few days. We opened it

> to smell it today. It smells AWFUL. It smells even worse than the wet

> wool did but sort of the same. It isn't perc. I don't know what it is.

> It smells fetid. It seems more like bacteria to me than mold but I

> don't know. Does anybody have any idea what could have come out of the

> cashmere that, even after I washed it multiple times with a

> vinegar/hot water wash, a baking soda/hot water wash, a hydrogen

> peroxide in hot water wash, AND a regular soap hot water wash, could

> grow in the washer--especially since I would turn it upside down and

> dump it out? It is something from that cashemere/wool set but I have

> no idea what the heck it could be. I have to throw the washer out.

>

[Guest guest]

From the sounds of it am I correct in saying you are sharing or useing public

washer and dryers, like in an apartment building.

If this is the case then you are right. After we (my parents and I) got the

dryer balls and used them only. I still could smell the dryer sheets for several

days. We only used the uncented (suposedly) type. Finally when the smell had

gone away my mom (without me knowing) used the sheets on night with her night

wear. I know the first load of wash I did. Again it took a few days for the cent

to go away and several loads to finaly not hove it on my cloths because of it.

So if you have to use public or shared w/d's I dont see any way to get away from

that problem and I can only imagine how bad it is.

Just as a side note, ours are not more that a couple or so months old. Otherwise

I dont see how I would be able to get rid of that smell. i am with you. It

creats havoc with headaches etc.

[Guest guest]

Anytime I wash wool in the washer on delicate, I use a little gentle

detergent and ammonia. And, only cold water to prevent shrinkage. It

is the only thing that gets rid of the smell. Hope this helps.

--- In , " surellabaer " <surellabaer@...>

wrote:

>

> --- In , " jill1313 " <jenbooks13@>

wrote:

> >I had an idea-cashmere is organic but that means that it is a

living

> organism in some ways and if some of the fibers got loose from the

> sweater while you were washing it and attached themselves to the

> insides of your washer they could be decomposing. Also sometimes the

> quality of the material determines how it smells when you wash it-

from

> personal experience natural fibers like cashmere have been really

> smelly to me after washing-like a dead animal which of course it is

> kind of like, isn't it? It's fur after all.

> Now I know this is totally non science based but it makes sense to

me.

> Have you tried to get inside and wipe? Could there be fibers stuck

> inside that are still smelling.

>

> > My little Eco Egg washer has been closed for a few days. We

opened it

> > to smell it today. It smells AWFUL. It smells even worse than the

wet

> > wool did but sort of the same. It isn't perc. I don't know what

it is.

> > It smells fetid. It seems more like bacteria to me than mold but I

> > don't know. Does anybody have any idea what could have come out

of the

> > cashmere that, even after I washed it multiple times with a

> > vinegar/hot water wash, a baking soda/hot water wash, a hydrogen

> > peroxide in hot water wash, AND a regular soap hot water wash,

could

> > grow in the washer--especially since I would turn it upside down

and

> > dump it out? It is something from that cashemere/wool set but I

have

> > no idea what the heck it could be. I have to throw the washer out.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I don't use bleach either on my clothes generally but I use baking soda

in wash cycle and ammonia is first rinse.

I used strong bleach and hot water a few weeks ago when I had stinky

wash machine problem. In this case, I thought heavy throw rugs I did

may have clogged drain with link they put off and strong bleach might

disintegrate fibers so it would unclog if there was a clog and it

worked but usually I don't use bleach on my clothes either.

Anyway, I just meant maybe you shouldn't give up on washer. There just

could have been some stinky water in there and a few loads, even empty

loads with hot water and ammonia, vinegar or bleach, whatever cause you

less trouble, might freshen it up a bit. Sounds better than community

laundry machines. It might work to run a hot wash in community

machines first without any of your clothes in it, to wash junk other

people use out before doing your laundry too.

>

> I've found that bleach can stay in certain cotton knits forever.

[Guest guest]

This is not really on subject but is a little. I bought a washer and

dryer at a yard sale. Being the cleaning fanatic that I am since being

poisoned with mold, I took both apart to clean outside. I noticed in

the tub of the washer there was mold formed on the top. After I

cleaned all I could out side of the house, I took it in and ran on hot

water with Clorox. Then I ran vinegar. The mold stains were still there

on the wash tub. I called a washing machine repair man and he said it

was OK that it would not get on the clothes. This still disturbed me so

I asked here. The suggestion I got was to leave the washer door open

when not in use and that I do now. I have not taken it apart to see if

the mold is still there but I do let it run every couple of weeks with

nothing in it but hot water and vinegar. I have a top loading one by

the way.

[Guest guest]

I have always had my own washers but now live in an apartment where I

have to use a washer downstairs that others use. I have been spraying

the washer and dryer with vinegar first, t then I do my towels and

white tea shirts in two different loads with a little bleach. Just be

careful in tne dryer not to spray that vent thing inside. Vinegar

would probably hurt it. I don't do well with bleach but I do put a

little tiny bit with my white towels since I have candida. I use to

rinse a second time but can't here but it seems to be okay. I haven't

detected anything on my clothes yet. I do my special whites last and

only dry them for a short time then hang them in the bathroom with a

fan blowing on them. It is a long day doing my wash these days though.

Just my tip.

>

> From the sounds of it am I correct in saying you are sharing or

[Guest guest]

There's probably always going to be some water you can't get out. Can

you do a hot soapy wash in it, and then leave it open for a couple days

and see. Maybe it's the water in it and not the machine that needs to

be flushed out with new fresh water. If you feel uncomfortable though

don't keep it, but my washer DID smell terrible too, but the hot washes

and now no problem. I don't put the vinegar in it betw washes like he

said, I just keep the door opened. It was just the one time that water

got stuck in there due to drainage clogged and before that keeping door

shut. Could you do it down stairs in the basement instead of your

apartment. After the washings stick in your storage bin or something

but with the door open. I'm just trying to save the washer since it

seems like you had a hard time finding it.

>

> My little Eco Egg washer has been closed for a few days.

[Guest guest]

I went on a camping trip once and due to not wanting to carry much,

just washed my one outfit out every night and hung to dry and it was

nice, never having a pile of laundry to clean, so I can see that.

Sometimes I think I should go back to living that way. Never any dirty

clothes.

>

I hand washed a bunch of

> summer shirts and two pairs of pants today--in a plastic basin I have.

> It really wasn't that difficult, they dried on the drying rack, and

> they smell excellent.

[Guest guest]

Maybe realizing how many chemicals, mold, stuff is around us, maybe

that is part of what is influencing me (making me more sound/noise

sensitive and irritable), but I am tending towards simplicity and

wishing to go in that direction in various ways. Like simple

interchangeable outfits of really healthy materials (cotton, silk,

wool, maybe rayon which seems okay for me). Not a ton of clothes, pare

it down.

And materials--no more upholstery. It is full of toxic foams, flame

retardants, and is a breeding ground for mites.

So elegant simple pieces, and things made of wood. Real wood. I was

thinking if I create a couch it will probably be a natural wood frame

and I'll either put wool felts on it or use a wool-fill " futon " .

You can wipe down surfaces, you can keep things clean, you can wash

elegant and simple clothes.

I'm not there yet but I see my tastes changing overall. I think it's a

reaction to stress, to infection, to realizing also what materials are

less easily contaminated.

I couldn't believe what my bf did today. I realize if others don't get

it they just don't get it. They can see you react but if they don't

react some part of them just doesn't believe it. He took the " stinky "

" fetid " Egg washer up to his place. I said keep it double wrapped in

the plastic and I'll figure out what to do later about a hot wash with

bleach or something (I wanted to research). I lucked out in finding

this other one anyway (pure luck). I'm very happy with these little

washers given my space and don't mind doing 3 loads instead of one.

Anyway, he fricken opened up the egg to " air it out " and put it right

in front of the window fan, so it blew all the smelly spores into the

apartment!!! Didn't clean it at all. I walked into his place today and

I said, " What is that SMELL? " The whole place smelled. Is he out of

his mind?

I told him to throw the stupid thing out. I said, what were you

thinking? He said, " It was just bad water in there that's all. " I

said, " What do you think bad water is? It is water that has bacteria

and mold growing in it, that's what you smell. It's probably all over

the drum of the machine. You want to just send all that stuff into

your whole apartment? Well that's a great idea. Now it's probably all

over your computer and papers and couch. The whole place smells! "

" Well, " he says, " the Egg doesn't smell anymore! "

I mean you have to laugh if you aren't going to cry.

> >

> I hand washed a bunch of

> > summer shirts and two pairs of pants today--in a plastic basin I have.

> > It really wasn't that difficult, they dried on the drying rack, and

> > they smell excellent.

>