The Not-So-Sweet Smell of Efficiency...

I have a front load washing machine. They certainly have some good points:

• They save water (or so I thought...if you run a load once...)
• They save energy (again, or so I thought...if you run a load once...)
• They are easier on clothes (but again, only if you have to run that load once...)
• They look cool/look upgraded (professional opinion only, for home sales in particular)

But let me tell you - the front load honeymoon is OVER here in our house. The hubster confessed that he doesn't always notice this, but the thing more often than not SMELLS. Laundry "cleaned" in it often SMELLS. Even if you run to change the wet laundry over from the washer to the dryer the second the beeping starts, it is often still a funky situation. The clothes usually require rewashing (and still somehow smell), negating most if not all of the energy efficiency gained (not to mention more detergent, and more of my time). I did some Googling of this stinky situation as soon as I noticed--after about two months of ownership--and sure enough, this is a commonly reported problem with front load machines - across all model types and brands. So big in fact, that over the past few years, there have been several class action lawsuits on the matter--some of which were settled netting consumers top load replacement machines.

But why so stinky? Too much water stays behind in the front loaders after every load. It makes engineering sense. Gravity is not their friend here. With top load designs, the water drains with gravity assist, not to mention that additional fresh water is used more often in the cleaning process. And top loaders don't have gigantic rubber rings where the front door seals, with folds that have the potential to collect and trap even more visible (and hidden!) water that will eventually become stagnant providing an ideal environment for mold/mildew growth if someone doesn't thoroughly wipe the machine dry between loads. Simply put, these buggers take more work to maintain, even on a daily basis.

Common solutions manufacturers give to fight front loader stink?

• Make sure the machine dries out completely between loads (leave the door wide open, wipe the rubber ring dry and make sure the room the washer is located in is not overly humid)
• Minimize cold water wash cycles (but wait - isn't cold water washing a well-known MUST for energy efficiency? Another strike...)
• Follow the manufacturers recommendations for front loader maintenance (see your owners manual--they usually recommend cleaning out the lint trap, which unfortunately involves a screwdriver and more time to dedicate to the task than you probably have on a weekly basis)
• Use high efficiency designed machine fresheners every few weeks (several are now available due to serious demand--Tide makes one that is about $10 for three packets, and there is another I know of named "Affresh" - However, the "washing your washer" solve is temporary)

If you do all of these things as a part of your regular laundry routine, you just might be able to one day enjoy the smell of success. Hurray! But not all of these tips are so easy to accomplish on a regular basis. We are lucky enough to have a whole room dedicated to the laundry, so no problem with leaving the door wide open. But this might create some problems and safety issues...

• Not enough practical space to leave the washer door wide open enough to allow air flow/evaporation (for example, when laundry appliances are "hidden" behind bi-fold doors versus in a laundry room)
• Pets becoming curious of the space, and climbing inside the open door
• Young children hanging on the door, or worse, trying to climb inside... super scary thought

Other DIY ideas I have read on how to solve the problem...

• Use your blowdryer on the inside of the machine after a load to ensure it is dry (and say goodbye to the energy savings!) 
• Add a teaspoon of grapefruit seed extract to every other load (I like tea tree oil for antibacterial/antifungal properties as well, so thinking of using that...but also wondering what that essential oil inclusion might do to the rubber seal? Thinking the chemistry might be a problem there)
• Simply succumb to the smelly front loader beast, and opt to beat your laundry on a rock in a river instead and call it a day :)

Do you have a front load machine? Have you found any magic bullet solves to the problem of smelly washers? Share!