Front-loading washing machines were made for good reasons. They are a little easier on your clothes than the machines with an agitator. They use less water and less friction, thus helping to do less damage on your fabrics.
Front loaders do not have agitators, but actually spin around in both directions to help loosen the soil in the clothing, thus they are more gentle on your clothes.
This all sounds like great news, but one of the biggest downfalls with front loaders is the mold that grows in the door or on the gasket around the door. It smells and is gross. Online chatter shows many people giving up on the front loaders for this reason, but this problem is easy to fix using these couple of tips.
Keep the door ajar in between washings. This helps to allow the machine to dry thoroughly. If you see mold starting to grow, clean the door with bleach, but make sure you completely rinse off the bleach before your next load, so that any clothes you put in do not get accidentally discolored.
Some people will also clean the rubber gasket with vinegar. Spray the vinegar onto the rubber and let sit for 2-4 hours. After that time, the rubber should easily wipe clean.
You may also want to run the machine on empty with hot water and a little bleach every once in a while to give it a good cleaning.
If your washer starts to smell, you can easily fix this with a little baking soda. Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda in the drum and add a cup of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser. Run with no clothes in it, using hot water.
We hope these tips help you keep loving your front loader for many years. Your clothes will appreciate it.
Page Hardware and Appliance Co. 