I've got a Kenmore Series 500 HE (no center agitator) top loading washer that smells terribly. I've tried multiple Affresh cleaner cycles, bleach soaks, bleach cleaner cycles, white vinegar soaks, white vinegar clean cycles. Nothing works. Is there anyway to thoroughly clean it without trying useless solutions and hoping for the best?

I took the bottom apart a few years ago (but don't really remember it) when I bought the machine (for $20) used from a coworker who thought it was broken (it turned out it wasn't). I seemingly had access to the tub. Anyway to remove the tub and inner strainer portion and check/clean the outer tub? Is it worth the effort? Any other suggestions?

Thanks

P.S. it's got to be a washer issue because i just fixed the drain plumbing and know the difference between the previous sewer gas smell caused by the trap siphoning and the current mildew smell lol

 

Series 500 means nothing to me. Need model # to see what machine you have.Model #will look like this. XXX.XXXXX Usually need a spanner wrench to remove basket to clean tub. Will find all kinds of nasty stuff in tub.

 

Need a model number!

If you are closing the lid then leave it open whenever the unit is not being used.

 

Sorry, couldn't find it... it's 110.25102310

This looks like it could be useful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N05FmUH2yqI


Edit: Question, there's water trapped in the upper plastic section of the inner basket...is that supposed to be filled? or is it condensation or something that's not draining?

And yeah bottom of the tub had an inch of s*** colored brown water....

 

Looks like you answered your own question.

Yes there is supposed to be water in the upper plastic section. It helps balance the tub.

As far as the water in the tub, check the drain is set up correctly.
Check the drain is clear in the tub.
If all OK then you may have to take a look at the drain pump.

 

Yeah, I kind of figured that. Thank you.

I cleaned the bottom of the tub, but honestly it didn't smell that bad and the water in drain pump outlet was pretty clear.

On the other hand, I just flipped the basket over upside-down outside and the most putrid smelly water started draining from the bottom of the basket*. What's the deal with trapped water in that section? Should it be there?

It's still draining so I haven't had a chance to inspect it closely... But is there anyway to clean it out or would it help if I drilled a few holes in the plastic bottom of the basket* so that it drains better?

Thanks

edit: The putrid trapped water is coming from gaps around the spindle. I'm thinking of drilling some drain holes (red Xs) on the bottom in each of the sections around the spindle, thoughts?

 

Small amount of water will remain in tub. he water will drain till empty but there is no check valve in hose or pump and water that is left in hose will drain back to washer.Every basket I have ever taken out the tub was nasty.

 

hahah it'll be interesting to see what you guys think of this fix...

Like I said in my last post, I tracked the source of the smell and putrid water to an area in the bottom of the basket where water was getting trapped and not draining at all (there was literally no way for the water to drain).

Anyway, I opened up each partition in the bottom of the tub to be able to clean it thoroughly and to facilitate draining. I also drilled holes in the top so that "fresh" water would be more likely to pass through the area as the tub drains, further cleaning it out...

The only real issue I'm concerned about is an extra drag the motor the "fan action" will cause while the basket is spinning at full speed...but hopefully by that point the tub is almost entirely drained so the impact will be minimal...

Thanks

 

I would guess that with load applied the center hub will break out. Does not seem there is enough support to last long.

 

Do ya think ya went just a tad overboard!!!!?

I sure hope you are not a dentist.
Go in for a cleaning and end up eating baby food for the rest of your like.

 

Lol all of those partitions I left are triangular shaped structural fins that fill the entire cone shaped bottom and (mostly) still seem very strong.. we'll see!

I got this machine used for $20 like I said and we're going to replace it soon regardless, so it only needs to last a little while. 🤞 lol

 

We bought an HE washer. After a month I would have paid you $20 to haul it away. What a smelly nasty piece of junk. If we didn't leave the lid open it stunk and our cloths stunk.

It crapped out a month or so after the warranty expired. The repair part alone would have been 1/3 of the cost of the washer new. I ave always suspected that my wife sabotaged it.