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I have a hunch and I’m trying to at least anecdotally prove it to a degree.
Has anyone ever encountered the dreaded smelly washing machine syndrome on stainless steel tanked machines to any great extent?
My hunch is that this is largely a product of plastic tanks.
K.
Re: A Hunch On Smelly Washers
kwatt wrote:My hunch is that this is largely a product of plastic tanks.
A reasonable conclusion I would think averall. As you know the plastic tank provides a greater opportunity for malodour to gain a foothold due to its thermal qualities over vitreous enamalled and stainless surfaces.
I would guess if you placed a malodorous culture on a metal dish and another on a plastic one at room temperature the latter would develop by a greater degree?
Re: A Hunch On Smelly Washers
In this soft water area I have seen Bosch & AEG stainless steel machines with a thick coating of slimy soap residue and discoloured door seals, can’t say that they smell though.
Doing a large number of Hotpoint drum supports I often find the stainless steel inner drum also has a thick orangy layer of slime on it as well.
Jim.
Re: A Hunch On Smelly Washers
I’d have said it was more a case of low temp washes combined with the ever decreasing quality of the water supply.
No, I know what causes it, I’ve written a fair bit about it over the years. 😉
What I’m thinking is that it is less of a, or not a, problem where you have a stainless tank as it appears that this problem has grown massively since they were introduced. Obviously it’s a double whammy as we also have lower water and temperatures as well but I can’t recall having the problem arise too much on anything bar plastic tank machines.
There again, how many plastic tanks do you see without score marks after they’ve been in a year or so which will allow bacteria cultures and great place to breed.
K.
Re: A Hunch On Smelly Washers
iadom wrote:I often find the stainless steel inner drum also has a thick orangy layer of slime on it as well.
Ah!:lesson:
That’s your Rhodotorula pilimanae otherwise commonly known as red pigmented yeast culture I think you’ll find?
Nasty but harmless 😉
Re: A Hunch On Smelly Washers
never used to get problem with smells 10+ years ago, I’m sure its repeat washing at low temp combined with non bio detergent and when you mention to customers “do you do a maintenance wash”, they reply WHATS THAT ?
Re: A Hunch On Smelly Washers
Down south here I get stainless ones thick in the goo, it is easier to clean and smells bad, but I have not diagnosed if it is worse in the plastic ones.
Kirk
Re: A Hunch On Smelly Washers
hard to tell because low temp washing and plastic tanks seem to have come about together in time ❓
Re: A Hunch On Smelly Washers
You also have to take into account the fact that the use of non bleech containing colour preserving liquid detergents has also grown dramatically over recent years.
Another useful piece of data might be the residual
ambient tempreture of the different tub types between washes. I would hazard a guess that plastic tubs remain warmer due to the fact that plastic is an insulator rather than the conductive propeties of metal tubs, thereby plastic tubs might be acting as huge slightly warmer Petri dishes encouraging the growth of bacteria.I suggest this only because like other guy’s I have always seen residues in tubs even in the old metal tubs but the smell from some machines has definately got worse in recent years. In fact I would say that as an industry we should start encouraging the use of either barrier creams or latex gloves when working on appliances.
As ever just my opinion.
Sean
Re: A Hunch On Smelly Washers
Metal drums, plastic drums, rubber door boots and dispenser drawers are all the same to malodour. Old style, new style, high water level, low water level and constant low temperature washings makes no never mind to the problem.
The problem source is the end user ‘cos they don’t :rtm:
You’ll always find those customers with smelly front loaders also have stinking fridges. 😉
When they ask “Would you like a cup of tea luv?” then open the fridge to get the milk out it’s best to stand back and hold your breath! 😆
Re: A Hunch On Smelly Washers
Martin wrote:
When they ask “Would you like a cup of tea luv?” then open the fridge to get the milk out it’s best to stand back and hold your breath! 😆
I no longer drink anything at a customers house. I’ve seen too much after 20 odd years :eeek:
Re: A Hunch On Smelly Washers
We have had a theory for years now, not only with the horrible smells you get but using lower wash temperatures and combination of using non bio or sensitive powders that there a connection with the amount of bacteria breeding in these machines causing an increase in Astma and other skin conditions in children. This is our opinion and have no scientific evidence, but surely it cant be healthy ❗
Steven
Re: A Hunch On Smelly Washers
Hi folks
Washing machines aren’t vented like they used to be either which used to allow for a bit of air circulation instead of machines sweating with doors closed like they do now – personly think its all a combination of things but a fortune to be made for the person who invents a device to get rid of it..
Mick
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