Care Required for Front Loaders - Preventing Mould and Mildew

14 years ago

As some of you may have noticed, I have M&M issues on my Miele .

I have had the infamous Moulding Gaskets from purchasing the 1st neptune model.

When that broke down, I replaced it with the Miele.

I always wipedown the gasket after every use and leave the door ajar. Other than that, I thought having a dry gasket was good enough .

After much thorough checking yesterday, there is quite considerably more mold/mildew in the inner gasket if not in the outer housing of the drum.

With that said, it looks like I was not doing enough hot water washes if not bleach rinse cycles.

Seems like soap may be a culprit too.

I use Woolite, Tide HE Liquid and Downey Liquid.

Can ya'll please advise what is the proper care and feeding required for front load washers to prevent mould and mildew.

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Comments (10)

asolo
14 years ago
I've used these products in my FL, too, with no trouble.

What is cubic feet capacity of your machine? Can you say your typical amounts of products used for full load? Do you know hard/soft water?

M&M needs something to grow on. Something's being left in there. I'm suspecting quantity of products being used and/or incomplete rinsing.
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a1an
Original Author
14 years ago
Probably medium-half load to semi full load.
NYC - VERY Soft water.

When I do gasket wipedown, it never dawned on me to open up and wipe the inner of the gasket, Just the surface surround.
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asolo
14 years ago
What quantity of product used for those loads, please. And what is capacity of machine?
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cynic
14 years ago
I too suspect excess dosing. Wipe the inner gasket, that seems to be where the water is held. Are you getting a lot of suds? That would indicate too much detergent.

To add to what Asolo said, I'd run an occasional hot cycle. Probably could use it for some of your clothes anyway or else just run a cleaning cycle possibly with some old towels in there. Maybe a bleach cycle occasionally. Many just use dishwasher detergent or use Tide washer cleaner, Affresh or something like that. But I think an occasional hot cycle might go a long way in solving your troubles.

Being in NYC you shouldn't have excess moisture issues. Does the air circulate where you have your machine?

I think Asolo was alluding to what capacity machine you have? Model? If it's the small capacity you shouldn't need to use much and with either, you need to measure carefully. Powders seem to be easier for many people to measure than liquids. Some claim that liquids cause trouble more than powder but I've had no such experience.
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a1an
Original Author
14 years ago
If normal clothes, on the fill line of a Tide HE cap, I am usually 1/2 of that fill cap, or smigen less. Never suds in the water...

If using hand wash/sensitive items. 1/4 cap-3/8 full mark with Woolite.

I tend to only hot on whites.

Sensative whites - never hot - always cold
Normal - warm

Never really use bleach when washing.
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panamamike
14 years ago
How about the detergent tray. It leaves water behind, it's a bit of a pain to dry..

Mike
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a1an
Original Author
14 years ago
I don't recall how it was setup on my previous but on my Current Miele, you can pull it out, rinse it...let it dry while the interior is open to dry as well.

Actually, as I type this I could have sworn I said *wow*, that's a great idea as my previous unit was ~fixed
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asolo
14 years ago
Have you measured the actual temperature inside the drum during "hot", "warm", and "cold" selections? Notwithstanding the labels on the dial or buttons, I've learned my own machine's hot/warm/cold ideas are far from my own. For example, with 130F water flowing into my drum from the first drop, my actual wash temperature with a "hot" setting is only 100-105F. That's how much heat the mass of drum and laundry bleed away from the small amount of incoming water used. Wondering if there's a failure-to-activate issue with your laundry products due to temperature that may be unknown to you. Wondering if a change of products would solve the problem.

Obviously fishing here. Not understanding why you're having this problem.
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czechchick2
14 years ago
Clean water left behind in dispenser or the bottom pump will not cause mildew.
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mayguy
14 years ago
Are you a cold wash person? I am not a fan of liquid stuff. (Detergent and softener)
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Care Required for Front Loaders - Preventing Mould and Mildew

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asolo

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Care Required for Front Loaders - Preventing Mould and Mildew

Comments (10)

asolo

a1anOriginal Author

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asolo

cynic

a1anOriginal Author

panamamike

a1anOriginal Author

asolo

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mayguy

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a1an
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