Got a Frigidaire front loader in Denver to stop smelling with a vinegar trick

This thing had that awful mildew smell no matter what I did. The customer was ready to toss it. I ran a hot cycle with two full cups of plain white vinegar, then wiped the door gasket with a half vinegar, half water mix. Smell was gone in an hour. What's your go-to for stubborn washer smells?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_pat1mo ago

Vinegar's a band-aid fix, it doesn't kill the root cause. That smell comes from biofilm in the hidden parts of the machine, and acid just masks it for a week. You need to hit it with actual washing machine cleaner or bleach on a hot cycle to break down the gunk. Leaving the door and soap drawer open after every wash is the only real long term fix.

grace_white1mo ago

Totally right, I learned that the hard way after my machine kept stinking no matter how much vinegar I used.

hannahs451mo ago

Ugh, you are so right! I was doing the vinegar thing for months and the musty smell just kept coming back, just like grace_white said. I finally caved and ran a hot cycle with bleach, and the gross black bits that came out of the drain hose were insane. Now I never shut the door all the way and it actually stays fresh.