GE Can't Drain Washing Machine Class Action

[The Straight Story]

GE Can't Drain Washing Machine Class Action

(CN) - General Electric cannot dismiss nationwide class allegations that its front-loading washers accumulate mold, mildew and foul odors, a federal judge ruled.

Stanley Fishman, Suzanne Bowser and Vicki Plunkett are the lead plaintiffs in a New Jersey federal class action alleging that defects in the drums, doors, and door seals of GE's front-loading washer machines build up moisture, residue, and bacteria, which in turn form mold, mildew, and foul odors that permeate clothing.

....
They claimed to have paid far too much - from nearly $600 to over $2,000 - for the supposedly Energy Star-certified machines, which began to mold within months. GE allegedly recommended that Bowser and Fishman keep their machine doors open to prevent molding, and even gave Bowser a box of Tide washing machine cleaner to remedy the problem, but the measures were unsuccessful, according to the complaint.

The consumers also said that GE owner's manual specifically warns that leaving the washer door open creates a risk of injury to children and pets who might be enticed to hang on the door or crawl inside the washer.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/05/09/57496.htm

[Warpy]

1. It helps if you do a load of cotton sheets and towels

every couple of weeks and use bleach.

Then again, try finding 100% cotton anything, including sheets and towels.

[Purveyor]

2. The appliance guy on the local detroit station rails against any "front load' washer. Makes sense

actually...

I'll stick with my old Maytag 'wringer' washer....

[Throckmorton]

4. I just dumped my front loader

Eight years old and not worth repairing. It just sucked, bad smells, broken door latches (at $125 a pop), and leaky door seals. When its controller died, a $375.00 bill just for the part, I threw in the towel. I bought a new top loader to replace it, with a mechanical timer to run it.

Oh, and mine was a Kenmore.

[laundry_queen]

3. I don't think this is GE specific

most front loaders get smelly after awhile, so I've learned talking to friends about this issue (I've owned a few myself too). The only one I've used that didn't get smelly was my mom's whirlpool. I currently have a brand new Whirlpool and it's totally fine so far (3 months). My LG, that I had bought new with my previous home, smelled within a few weeks. I tried cleaners - natural cleaners, commercial washer cleaners, bleach - you name it - I also got it serviced, tried leaving the door open - nothing helped. I think it does have something to do with how the washer is designed. I'll be interesting to see how this plays out. I absolutely think it's stupid to expect people to keep the doors open all of the time (I do it as a preventative measure, but I don't have pets or toddlers around).

[jberryhill]

5. I have to bookmark this thread

...the next time someone asks "Why are people not storming the streets for social justice!"

[Warren DeMontague]

7. because their clothes stink of mildew, that's why.

And sadly, we can't all wash our clothes in the river of our own superior moral perfection.

[MADem]

6. An appliance salesman told me, when those things first came out, to not waste money.

Expensive bullshit, is what he called it. They save a bit of water, but unless you're washing a ton of clothes your savings are negligible. Also, they do have the mold problem, AND you have to bend down to load/unload them. Top loaders are way easier to operate, don't stink and are way, way cheaper. A three hundred buck machine does everything an average person would need, and it does not smell.

Same deal with the stupid dryers--who wants a round door to open, when a flat door that opens so you can stage the clothes on it makes so much more sense.

[House of Roberts]

8. Thanks for this post.

I might not have bought a front-loader anyway, but I won't have to consider one now.