Love it. My front loader smells too. I just did a quick search on Benefect and it seems to be perfect for this application. Recommended applications include food preparation areas and baby toys. Makes me think its perfectly safe for cleaning a washing machine. I'm going to give it a try. See link: http://www.benefect.com/canada/products/applications.htm

I've had a front loader for six years and never had a problem. I think it's because, like pp suggested, leave the washer door open.

My front loader (Miele) never smells.

You should post this on the Laundry Forum.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gardenweb's Laundry Forum

I've alway left my door open. And ran it on HOT with bleach, and used vinegar, fabreeze, smelly wash, borax, oxyclean, baking soda and opened up the unit and cleaned out the drains I could detach. Trust me, it may work for a couple of washes, but it ALWAYS comes back. I give you 1-2 more years before you start to smell it. With my first washer, I didn't even realize what the smell was. I thought the washer wasn't cleaning well. I would rewash thing again and again. Also, it starts with towels and mens work out shirts. My clothes for some reason never smelled.
One more thing I do now is- I have a little fan. If I am not using the washer, I sometimes prop it in the door and let it run. These machines are a pain in the butt.

I just posted to the laundry forum. Sorry, Just trying to help.

Please don't apologize- I found your information helpful and I only check the laundry forum if I need laundry help. I've had my Kenmore front loaders for 6 years and I never had a smell problem as long as I leave the door ajar and the soap dispenser open.

But in case i do have smell issues I've jotted down the names of the 2 products you mentioned right in my owner's manual. Thanks again.

I give you 1-2 more years before you start to smell it

My Miele front loader is 4 years old, and there is no smell.

My Bosch front loader is 6 and has no smell. I've had front loaders back in England for 20 years (different machines) and never had a smell. I don't deny what you're smelling, but I'm puzzled, because it never seems to be a discussion in the UK. I wonder what's different here? Water quality? Drum size ?(European machines are generally smaller, so they fit under a kitchen counter. Brits don't use bleach in their wash either).
It does seem odd that so many people over here complain about it.

I've had the Kenmore (Frigidaire) front loader for over ten years and have never had a smell problem in the unit or in anything I've washed. I do always wipe out the rubber gasket after the last load and leave both the door and detergent tray open an inch. Once every week or two I do a white load with 1/3 cup of bleach.

I also lived in Europe for 6 years with a front loader that didn't smell, but when I bought one here it started to smell like a sewer after about 2 years. After trying every product recommended on the laundry forum, I finally switched to powdered detergent (which I used exclusively in Europe), stopped using liquid fabric softener (which I never used in Europe) and I leave the door open (without drying the gasket) and haven't had a problem since. I really believe the culprits are liquid detergent and fabric softener. Have those of you who've never had a problem used liquids or only powders?

Sara,
You make a really interesting point about the lack of mold issues with front loaders in europe. I have a 10year old Miele and I never leave the door open nor have I ever wiped down the gasket. I just wiped it after reading the last post and there was nothing there.
I am going to postulate that some of issue has do to with the fact that many people don't do hot washes. I regularly use the 190F setting at least once a week. I also don't use a lot of additives. I use persil detergents, perwoll for some items, and black magic for dark items. I use vinegar rinses for most things and ecover fabric softner for bedsheets. I also mix that with vinegar and use about 1/2teaspoon of the fabric softner.

Good luck!

I have had a Samsung front loader for 6 months and have only used liquids--no smell so far.

I use Seventh Generation liquid detergent. But I don't use the dispenser drawer: I use the plastic detergent balls you get in Europe for liquids (I grab one from my mother every now and then when I visit). Don't know if somehow that makes a difference. I don't use softener much, but when I do, I use Seventh Generation and use the dispenser drawer. I hardly ever use the 'hot' wash.

I wonder whether its something to do with varying water quality?

9 years using my Notorious Maytag Neptunes and no problems. No smell. I use liquid detergent too. Just leave the door open for a day or so after loads and that's about it.

THANK YOU for posting this! I have a 7 year old Kenmore H3 pair and our towels have been smelling bad for the past few years. I thought I was just a laundry-idiot and would buy new towels every few months. I ALWAYS leave the door open, use a powder HE detergent and do not use fabric softner.

Now our baby's bibs (terry cloth) are starting to smell sour and I have tried everything from bleach runs, to soaking them in baking soda to adding vinegar to the rinse.

I have looked under the lip, and haven't seen mold, just what kind of ick you would expect after 7 years of washing our clothes.

I am running a HOT Benefect load right now and will soak our towels and bibs in it tomorrow.

If that doesn't work, I will have to get a new one with the fancy "clean tub" feature. I can't stand my baby smelling icky.