Reader Views - Whirlpool Duet Laundry Appliances

Received from reader M.O.

On the exterior of the barrel there is significant and constant mold in my washer. Not a new problem to them (Whirlpool). A repairman came out and replaced the rubber ring but STILL there is mold on that ring and the underneath area. They emailed me a way to control the mold with bleach---still no relief. It is an ongoing problem. We don't have a mold problem anywhere in our house.

And, the dryer will stop after one item is dry. The sensor is set to sense something dry and then just turns off. You come home and the rest of the load is still damp. The only way to override this is to time dry every time. In addition, if you want to dry two tshirts or a small load of some kind, the items come out smushed together and wrinkly. Have to iron whatever it is. The bars inside the dryer hold some items on them so that they don't get to "fluff" and dry without wrinkles.

I wouldn't buy and haven't recommended either of these. I have told many people who ask NOT to buy either one. If I could get my money back, I would!!

If you had the mold problem, you would notice it right away. Black spotting on the outer rubber ring and then, mushy yuck forms on the inside metal part. Consistent bleaching helps but BOY! is it inconvenient and costly. There are six of us in our family and I do a lot of laundry. Always, at night, the door is open on the machine. Prior to travel I bleach the heck out of it and then leave the door wide open. I learned the hard way about that! I have the larger set, model GHW9150PW0. Have never complained about a product before.

Submitted by reader M.O.

Update: Email This Reader has Received from Whirlpool

Thank you for contacting Whirlpool. We are sorry to hear that you are still experiencing an issue with odor (mold/mildew).

There is a new product that has just hit the market called Affresh.

AffreshTM washer cleaner is the first and only product specially formulated to help keep HE washers fresh and operating at peak performance by cleaning and removing the odor-causing residue that can build up in HE washing machines from normal use. AffreshTM washer cleaner combines commonly used cleaning agents with special ingredients that strip away the residue that builds up on the surfaces of HE washing machines. AffreshTM washer cleaner is 100% water-soluble and safe for the environment.

Affresh™ washer cleaner has oxygenated cleaning power that penetrates, dissolves and removes residual dirt and detergent quickly and effectively. Unlike many products currently on the market, Affresh™ tablets are able to penetrate hard-to-reach areas, lifting away the film and residue that cause odor. The oxygenated bubbling action helps to lift and remove the residue which builds over time in HE washers. It is safe for both washers and septic systems.

Affresh has been tested and proven effective in removing odor-causing residue from HE washers including those with and without and “clean wash” cycle. If the machine does not have a special “clean wash” cycle, place an Affresh™ tablet in the empty wash basket and run a normal cycle.

Affresh™ washer cleaner can be purchased at www.Affresh.com and www.Affresh.ca and will be available at national and regional retailers this fall.

You are a valued Whirlpool customer and we appreciate your support of the Whirlpool brand. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to assist you today.

Whirlpool Customer Loyalty Team
Whirlpool Customer experience Center
http://www.Whirlpool.com

Update From Reader M.O. - Result of Trying Washer Cleaner

Today is the "purewasher" trial. I mixed the powder (1T) with water and soaked a few areas. It appeared to work! Bleach doesn't even do it but, this looked like it worked on the areas where I applied it. Now I have the larger amount (2T), mixed with 2 quarts of water, in the washer and on hold for two hours. Need to do another and hold overnight. Then, a few rinse cycles tomorrow. Maintenance after that.

They say the cause of the fungus is, "overuse of detergent and fabric softener". They recommend using 1/4 the amount of HE only detergent and then mix softener with 1/2 water or use dryer sheets instead. This was the most important message from them:

"In front load washers, overuse of detergents (even overuse of HE detergent) for an extended period will ruin a high speed spin bearing that spins the basket. This spin bearing, tub shaft and seals must be replaced and are very expensive to replace." It goes on to say how important HE detergent is.

Further Update After Washer Cleaning

The wash for the front loading machine did not do anything. Maybe if I had a big smell it would have worked. Mostly, I have the mold present but, not a lot of smell. It didn't really do much. Kind of disappointing. So, I would not recommend it unless there is a smell. The directions talk a lot about SMELL and not so much about the presence of mold.


Have you had this mold problem with a Whirlpool or other front-loading washer?
Have you found a better solution to deal with the mold?
Other washer owners can benefit from hearing how you have resolved this problem.

Check how other consumers are dealing with this mold issue from comments left on the original post: Mold Issue With Whirlpool Duet Washer


Read More About Laundry Appliances:

• Solutions for Front-Load Washer Mold
• High-Efficiency Front-Load Washers & HE Detergent 101
• Laundry Appliances - Resources
• What are HE Detergents?
• Before You Buy a Dryer
• Compact Laundry Units
• Laundry Room Accessories