Ok, I did something dumb to my washer

[harrietsmama]

We had an old blanket covering our chest freezer and the chicken nesting boxes ended up on top because they are trained to come up on the porch to lay and my new freezer was in the way, loosing eggs, cleaning up poop, yuck.

Sooooo, tried to wash the blanket. It's been a year. my laundry always comes out smelling fine, even towels. My washer stinks. I have soaked in bac out for 24 hours, vinegar the same, went out and bought clorox yuck/bad for septic, still stinks. I've tried hot water with bleach. I've spun the extra water out before each load. I use bi-o-kleen premium laundry powder w/enzymes plus bac-out. what else can I do? Can I as an un-fixit type girl take the outer cover off and actually scrub clean the outside of the basket and the inside of what ever is housing it?

[UptownZoo]

Huh. If your laundry smells fine, I think the stink must be coming from somewhere other than in the basket. You can definitely take it apart; your owner's manual will tell you everything you need to know. Washing machines are pretty simple machines - water pump/drain and a motor. Something must have gotten into the housing or under the basket. Is it front or top load? Top loaders are easier to take apart, but stuff can get into the housing easier.

How is it draining? Is there any chance something got caught in the stand pipe? It'd be cool if that was it since that would be super easy to fix.

[harrietsmama]

Well, it is a top loader. My dp doesn't have the info that came with it - he was a disorganized bachelor when I came into the picture on top of being very very ill with Crohn's and 3 surgeries, so digging out and finding the actual house under all the stuff was, um, an adventure! The machine has been moved once since I did the dumb thing, I'm not sure what the pipe thing is that you mentioned. does that narrow it down any? You seem to know your way around a washer oh, and it is draining fine

[thewaggonerfamily]

What about the pump? When I unhook and clean out the pump, there are oodles of things in there (baby socks, coins, safety pins and other pocket detrus) Perhaps the smell is on stuff in the pump housing? Repairclinic.com has take apart diagrams and info I think.

[harrietsmama]

Thanks! I'll check that out!

[UptownZoo]

Yes, I know my way around a washer, though not because I have any natural fix-it ability! I was a broke single mom for several years and I learned a HUGE amount about maintaining a home and fixing my appliances in that time. Good info to have. I'm glad I was too proud in those years to ask my ex or friends to help me. Also, almost every appliance has a set of tech specs hidden somewhere in or on it. Those are there for repair people and include the electronic specs and other things that I can't read, but they usually have an exploded diagram of the appliance. That's the most helpful thing of all because it tells you how to get to what you need and, even better, how to put it all back together when you're done. When you're doing anything like this, wear work gloves! I learned this the hard way (including some stitches): the inside edges of the metal housing is not machined smooth like the outside, so be careful! A lot of it is also greasy, so throw down a drop cloth or old blanket to protect your floor (also a lesson I learned the hard way).

For almost all major appliances (the ones I've owned, anyway), you can find the owner's manual online at the manufacturer's website. If not, the company will usually send you one via snail mail.

Anyway, the stand pipe is the pipe or hose that comes from the back of your washer. It usually ends in a hook shape that goes into the drain in your wall. You can disconnect that from the back of the washer and run a pipe snake through it to make sure it's clear.

You definitely want to look a the pump like the PP said. Last time I had a washer problem, there was a little hunk of plastic spoon that was slowing things down in there. It's the most likely place for something to be trapped since there's no other exit from the basket (usually, though in a top loader things can sometimes spill over the top into the housing).

You might also try leaving the machine open except when you're using it. Letting it dry completely can help with odor problems. This is more true of front than top loaders, but still helpful.

[harrietsmama]

Originally Posted by UptownZoo

Yes, I know my way around a washer, though not because I have any natural fix-it ability! I was a broke single mom for several years and I learned a HUGE amount about maintaining a home and fixing my appliances in that time. Good info to have. I'm glad I was too proud in those years to ask my ex or friends to help me. Also, almost every appliance has a set of tech specs hidden somewhere in or on it. Those are there for repair people and include the electronic specs and other things that I can't read, but they usually have an exploded diagram of the appliance. That's the most helpful thing of all because it tells you how to get to what you need and, even better, how to put it all back together when you're done. When you're doing anything like this, wear work gloves! I learned this the hard way (including some stitches): the inside edges of the metal housing is not machined smooth like the outside, so be careful! A lot of it is also greasy, so throw down a drop cloth or old blanket to protect your floor (also a lesson I learned the hard way).

For almost all major appliances (the ones I've owned, anyway), you can find the owner's manual online at the manufacturer's website. If not, the company will usually send you one via snail mail.

Anyway, the stand pipe is the pipe or hose that comes from the back of your washer. It usually ends in a hook shape that goes into the drain in your wall. You can disconnect that from the back of the washer and run a pipe snake through it to make sure it's clear.

You definitely want to look a the pump like the PP said. Last time I had a washer problem, there was a little hunk of plastic spoon that was slowing things down in there. It's the most likely place for something to be trapped since there's no other exit from the basket (usually, though in a top loader things can sometimes spill over the top into the housing).

You might also try leaving the machine open except when you're using it. Letting it dry completely can help with odor problems. This is more true of front than top loaders, but still helpful.

I totally appreciate your descriptions! I have been leaving it open since it happened. I had the same problem with my last washer, but that was left with my ex. He gets the 4 years of cloth diaper washing stink. I think I will share this info with him cuz we even called out a repair guy to try & find it & never did. He is one of those guys that you love the effort but cringe because although he thinks he is mechanically inclined, it often ends in disaster He made a great house husband though!: