Mildew smell inside wash tub of my Whirlpool Cabrio

SOURCE: mildew smell

water may not be draining completely out cause something is stuck in drainage area.

Other posts tell how to remove the top of washer to look between white outer tub and inner wash tub for sock or something else that is lodged.

Look at my post on "eco smart won't drain, smells hot" for instructions on removing the black motor/white plastic housing from bottom of washer. I had a sock stuck in the very lowest part of the drainage system, water wouldn't drain out and couldn't see the sock until I removed the motor. I was able to pull the sock through the quarter-sized hole in bottom of tub and drain the remaining very stinky water. I used a dog dish (need a low edge bowl to fit under washer), tipped washer forward, then back and just kept emptying the dish.

Saw another post said don't tip washer back. There is something on backside of washer that you could break if you tip backwards. So, if you tip forward i guess you won't break anything--i haven't...yet.

Noticed a musty smell lately, and also had gray streaks on my clothes. Think the standing water that wouldnt' drain out has been my issue for some time now and when the motor burned out, I finally had to research the other issues.

Justin Duby

• 370 Answers
• Posted on Nov 20, 2008

SOURCE: Kenmore 110 elit serires washer smell like mildew. er

Buy whirlpools new affresh washer cleaner. They are tablets that you run through the washer cycle with the hottest water setting. They kill the black mold and keeps it from coming back if used regularly.

SOURCE: tub smells like mildew, how do i get all the

You need to manually wipe out the inner seal(lining) every time you finish with the washer. This is one of the main complaints with front loading washing machines. You also neep to leave the door open(ajar) after you finish washing so the machine can completely dry out inside otherwise you will get a buld up of mildew. Also run a dishwashing packet like cascade(yes the stuff for the dishwasher) when you run the clean cycle. It is the same as the expensive washing machine cleaning packets that the appliance servicemen from sears sells to customers.

SOURCE: 5 month old Whirlpool Cabrio washer has moldy

Smelly washers are common. Cabrio washers are HE and therefore use less water. By using less water, it doesn't rinse ITSELF as good as an older non-efficient machine. Things you can do to solve the problem. Buy a cleaner from Whirlpool called Affresh. It's 3 tablets that you throw in the washer without clothes and run it on the longest heavy duty cycle possible. Use the hot water setting and the longest duration. For existing smells use all 3 tablets. Then use 1 tablet every month to prevent reoccurring odors. You can also try the same type of cycle on hot water with a half of a gallon of bleach in the tub, or try it with a half of a gallon of vinegar. One of the 3 should do the trick.

SOURCE: My Whirlpool Cabrio smells like mildew and that

Try using a bottle of vinegar.