How to Remove Odors from a Washer
Removing Odors from your Whirlpool Stacked Laundry Center Washer
Have you run a monthly washer maintenance cycle?
- Run the Clean Washer cycle every month to maintain washer freshness. This procedure helps keep odors from developing in your washer. The Clean Washer cycle uses higher water volumes in combination with Affresh® washer cleaner or liquid chlorine bleach to thoroughly clean the inside of the washer.
- Unload washer as soon as cycle is complete.
Recommendations to Help Keep Your Washer Clean and Performing at its Best
- Always use High Efficiency (HE) detergents and follow the HE detergent manufacturer’s instructions regarding the amount of HE detergent to use. Never use more than the recommended amount because that may increase the rate at which detergent and soil residue accumulate inside your washer, which in turn may result in undesirable odor.
- Use warm and hot wash water settings sometimes (not exclusively cold water washes), because they do a better job of controlling the rate at which soils and detergent accumulate.
- Always leave the washer lid or door open between uses to help dry out the washer and prevent the buildup of odor-causing residue.
Read these instructions completely before beginning the routine cleaning processes recommended below.
Cleaning the Inside of the Washer
This Washer Maintenance Procedure should be performed, at a minimum, once per month or every 30 wash cycles, whichever occurs sooner, to control the rate at which soils and detergent may otherwise accumulate in your washer.
Clean Washer Cycle
This washer has a special cycle that uses higher water volumes in combination with Affresh® Washer Cleaner or liquid chlorine bleach to clean the inside of the washer.
Affresh® Washer Cleaner Cycle Procedure (Recommended for Best Performance):
- Open the washer lid or door and remove any clothing or items.
- Place an Affresh® Washer Cleaner tablet in the bottom of the washer basket.
- Do not place an Affresh® Washer Cleaner tablet in the detergent dispenser.
- Do not add any detergent or other chemical to the washer when following this procedure.
- Close the washer lid or door.
- Select the CLEAN WASHER cycle.
- Touch and hold the START/PAUSE button for 3 seconds to begin the cycle. The Clean Washer Cycle Operation is described below.
NOTE: For best results, do not interrupt cycle. If cycle must be interrupted, touch POWER. After the Clean Washer cycle has stopped, run a Rinse & Spin cycle to rinse cleaner from washer.
Cleans even where you can't see
affresh® cleans deep inside your appliances reaching components such as the tub, racks, pump, valves, drain, and recirculation hoses.
Cleaners are available at many retailers or can be purchased here.
Chlorine Bleach Procedure (Alternative):
- Open the washer lid or door and remove any clothing or items.
- Add 1 cup (236 mL) of liquid chlorine bleach to the bleach compartment. NOTE: Use of more liquid chlorine bleach than is recommended above could cause washer damage over time.
- Close the washer lid or door.
- Do not add any detergent or other chemical to the washer when following this procedure.
- Select the CLEAN WASHER cycle.
- Touch and hold the START/PAUSE button for 3 seconds to begin the cycle. The Clean Washer Cycle Operation is described below.
Description of Clean Washer Cycle Operation:
- This cycle will fill to a water level higher than in normal wash cycles to provide rinsing at a level above the water line for normal wash cycle. Always remove all clothing items from washer before running the Clean Washer cycle.
- During this cycle, there will be some agitation, tumbling and/or spinning to increase the removal of soils.
- After this cycle is complete, leave the lid or door open to allow for better ventilation and drying of the washer interior.
If you would like to download or view product literature for your appliance, please visit our Manuals and Literature page.