Stinky towels We wash our towels, and they come out smelling fine. When we dry off with them they stink like mold or something. We have even changed towels, and the new ones did the same thing. We don't know what to do. Please tell me how to clean out the washer or something. Thank you for your prompt response.

I will continue to post this to everyone in hopes that enough people will add their voices to mine.

What is the mater with us that we are accepting this outrageous product flaw?

Let's put the blame exactly where it belongs and keep it there until manufacturers clean up their act!

What in the world are we thinking when we allow ourselves to be forced to jump through these ridiculous hoops just do do laundry!?

I am furious and it is over something as stupid as a washing machine! A WASHING MACHINE!!!!

The new government regulations for new water efficiency washing machines has my family’s clothing smelling like a stinking, rancid, moldy basement! This is absolutely absurd! I have been told to change laundry detergent, run hot bleach water through my washer and, get this; my washing machine is 1 year old and my clothes smell filthy!!! The mold and mildew from these nasty machines have wreaked havoc through skin rashes and allergies in my children!

I paid $1,000.000 for this da*ned washing machine and THIS is what is being sold to the public under the disguise of efficiency!!?? I have been on the phone about this problem. I have, over the past 3 months, with a technician on the phone, been instructed to do the following:

*Make sure I use high efficiency detergent THAT will fix my problem.
Wrong.
*Cleaned the lint trap (..that is stupidly behind a metal access plate that you have to use a screwdriver to remove screws to get to it EVERY TIME) and THAT will fix my problem.
Wrong!
*Cleaned the water hoses; THAT will fix my problem.
Wrong!
*Cleaned the gasket around the door. THAT will fix my problem
Wrong!
*Cleaned the tub with bleach water. THAT will fix my problem.
WRONG!
*REMOVED the hoses and cleaned the pump. THAT will fix my problem.
WRONG AGAIN!
*Take the pump out entirely and clean all inlet, outlets and hoses. THAT will fix my problem.
WRONG! WRONG!! WRONG!!!

NONE of this fixed my problem of filthy, wet, stinking, rancid clothing that has endangered my family's health! I even washed my children's clothing out by hand in the bathtub and put them in the washer just to rinse and spin and they STILL smelled horrific.

Finally, at the end of my rope, I returned to the appliance store from which I purchased this machine and they have told me that they cannot accept a return. They will not accept a return and I have to deal directly with GE. I HAVE dealt with GE up until the final straw when I they told me I needed a new pump, but so sorry, your warranty JUST expired 3 days ago!!!

Furthermore, my pump was fine. I did NOT need a new pump and have now been told that I cannot return the new, unused pump that cost me another $183.00. I have now been told that this is a problem with ALL front loading washing machines and I should do the following:

*First, run a full complete wash cycle on hottest setting containing Bleach – * Note: wash cycle takes 1 hour and 20 minutes
*Next, run a full wash cycle on hottest setting using high efficiency laundry detergent for another 1 hour and 20 minutes
*Next, run a full wash cycle on hottest setting using Cascade automatic dish washing detergent for an ADDITIONAL 1 hour and 20 minutes
*Next, using Bleach water, wipe down entire interior of washing machine
*Next, using clean white cloth, wipe entire interior of washing machine dry
*Next, leave door ajar to air out machine

*Finally, I have now been informed that I cannot use fabric softener in the machine even though there is a fabric softener dispenser right in the machine because the new front loading machines cannot handle fabric softener!!

Furthermore, I was told that this is new technology and since it is so new, no one really knew these kinds of problems were going to manifest themselves and I just need to try to work with these problems because it is not the manufacturers fault but the GOVERNMENT’S fault! Sorry.

Are you kidding me??

Now I have a $1000.00 piece of junk that the appliance companies are pawning off on unsuspecting consumers and hiding their horrible designs by blaming the government.

So, now this is what I want!

I want the legislature to force manufacturers to properly inform the public of these problems and those who did NOT inform consumers of these issues, COMPENSATE their customers for the $$$$$ it has cost us and the misery and frustration caused by THEIR neglect by NOT informing the consumers of these issues. I want this to be retroactive BACK to at least the year 2005. Furthermore, I want compensated for the cost of buying a top loading washing machine in an effort to keep our families away from the mold and mildew and filthy mess this has caused! Finally, I want manufacturers to own up to the fact that they disregarded the health and safety of consumers in their efforts to profit as much as possible while touting efficiency.

Now I have heard that they have a new 'product' they can sell to us to inhibit the stench of mold and mildew. This is absolutely unacceptable!

This is outrageous and we need to speak out about this and make sure our voices are heard!

I have had the same problem with stinky towels. : ( I put them in dry them take them out and they smell wonderful. The next morning. MILDEW smell. I am really confused as my unit is new and they come out fine and soon after are bad. I will say though I hang 90% of my clothes and they are fine. But I FOLD my towels. Maybe there is some correlation to that. I wash shirts and sweaters and robes made of the same towel thick material and when they hang they do fine. I have thought for quite some time that they towels are not FULLY dry before I fold them since they are soooo absorbant maybe they are holding on to the moisture longer. I would say that we DOUBLE dry the towels and see if that will help!!! Also, I was going to try a water filtration system on my water lines to the washer. I think this might help but I am not sure I will try and see. Good luck to you all.

I now give all my towel loads an extra rinse and max extract then you have to make sure your towels are VERY dry...the dryer balls work well for drying...so when it comes to HE not very efficiency...but over all I think the best solution is the most expensive one.....buy a new machine lol...but the above solution does seem to help.

This used to happen to me with my front loader. I do miss it, tho. Here is what helped: First, never leave wet clothes in the machine--always take them out right away. Second, it helps if you regularly run a load of whites with hot water and bleach, at least once a week, more often in summer. Third, leave the door open whenever possible so it can air out. This makes a huge difference. Fourth, regularly clean the inside of the door gasket--it can get nasty in there. (If you have never looked in there, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise.)

That's what you do after the smell is gone. How did I get rid of the smell? I have a device that makes colloidal silver, and I ran a pint of it in the washer with the stinky towels, then dried them in the sun. Worked great on machine and towels. Colloidal silver is pricey in the health-food store, but cheaper than washer parts. If you cannot find colloidal silver, you might try hydrogen peroxide, or Nature's Miracle, something to kill the smell.

Never dry clothes that are the least bit stinky. Thy might seem okay after they are dried, but as soon as you dry with the towel or sweat in the shirt--ewww!

Wash your towels with HOT water for the wash and use an extra rinse

Go to this link - it is he best way to clean out your machine; http://ezinearticles.com/?Cleaning-Your-Washing-Machine&id=109993 if it doesnt work first time, then second time is nearly always ok. (If you have trouble getting rid of the vinegar smell afterwards, just run an empty hot wash with a couple of teaspoons of baking soda.) If the vinegar doesnt help after trying it a couple of times, you will need to take the machine apart and clean each bit of the system - if you fancy doing it yourself then please ask again and we can probably talk you through it. The only other thing worth trying is to change detergents - some can react strangely with certain water supplies etc, and all behave differently. Hope this helps :)