Front loader LG washing machine has an inlet pipe which smells fine. Once the water has gone from here through the machine to the detergent tray it comes out smelling stale/stagnant. This is then transferred to the clothes as all 'clean' water (including final rinse water) smells. Any ideas why/what I can do? I have given the tray the recess it sits in a thorough clean with a toothbrush to remove all old deposits but the water smells as it comes squirting into the tray. Do I need to call the service agents to pull it apart & clean the internal workings?

Rebecca, August 2005

rebecca, I had nothing but trouble with the clothes having a stale, musty odor. I thought it was the water. I looked on line at several web sites and found that a large number of complaints are about the smell of the clothes after they are cleaned and dried. I called lg and they told me that the odor is from the stale water that lingers on the ruber seal. I am to wipe that seal clean every time and run a empty load with a quarter cup of bleach twice a month. Also, I was told I am only to use the HE detergent. HE is for high efficiency. I did this and the smell is gone!

John, January 2007

I had exactly this issue.
Take a look at U-bend on the outlet and then the pipework to the drain.
Mine blocked and the smells were horrendous!

bigV, August 2005