A washer for the washer?

This article is the archived version of a report that appeared in July 2009 Consumer Reports magazine. Visit our washers and dryers pages to see the very latest information on washers and dryers.

Odor and mold continue to plague some front-loaders, our readers tell us. Leaving the door ajar, using bleach periodically, and wiping down the rubber gasket after each load can help prevent buildup. But what if you already have a problem? Some companies suggest Affresh, a tablet cleaner that uses oxygenated bubbles to "get rid of odor—and the residue that causes it—in all washers." A front-loader in our lab didn't smell, but it did have heavy residue around its gasket. The residue remained even after we ran three consecutive cycles with an Affresh tablet in each cycle. Instead, try using bleach more often. If that fails, call the manufacturer.