My Whirlpool Duet front loading washer has mold and mildew growing even though I clean it out often. It makes the laundry room smell.

It probally mildew growing inside the wash tub and associated water connnections like the pump housing, drain hoses. Mildew growth is common problem with front load washers. You can try to reduce the occurance of mildew by leaving the door and soap dispenser door open when not in use. Also wipe with door gasket with a rag to dry it.

To kill the mildew in the machine wash an empty load with hot water and vineagar about once a month. Repeat as neccessary. There other products to help reduce mildew such as affresh. Hope this helps you.

Leave the door open all the time and it will dry out and the mold and smell will subside.

Any washing machine will grow mold & mildew when there is moisture in it and the door is shut. When you do a load of wash, the smell transfers to the clothing. To eliminate it, run a load just water & chloring bleach. This will kill the spores. Adding a little color safe bleach to each load or leave the door open when not using the washer will keep the problem from coming back.

Towel mildew smell is being transferred from the washer. The washer must be cleaned first. The problem is not "brand specific" all clothes washers have mold growth to a certain degree. Bleach or vinegar will kill the mold inside your washer but won't remove it or the residue it grows on thereby making the situation worse because it leaves a "base" for more detergent to collect on and more mold will grow.

Washing machine mold / mildew odor is caused by:
#1 cause is overuse of detergents. Detergent companies are notorious for instructing to use too much detergent. Especially with soft water or when using liquid detergent no more than 1 tbsp of any detergent should be used.
#2 most common cause is using fabric softener because it's dispensed in the rinse cycle and will coat the inside of the outer tub with residue that is a food source for mold to grow.
#3 using only cold water for washing is fine but makes preventative maintenance very important. A weekly hot soak will dissolve odor-causing residue from inside your washer.
#4 not using the washer. If the clothes washer isn't used very often maintenance is especially important. If leaving for a vacation it's a good idea to clean your washer. Do a search to "remove washer odor" to read just how big the problem is. There are all natural washer cleaners that will also remove mildew odor from towels and clothing after the washer has been cleaned.

first try to clean it with clorox bleach. or some bathroom mold cleaner scrubing bubbles, ect
and if it still needs to be changed look on the computer and find the part shipped to you.

Yup, my front loader has the same issue. I found the rubber seal around the door has a fold in it that holds water and sometime candy wrappers and various stuff from pockets.
By wiping the fold in the seal out on occassion and not closing the door in between uses, the issue was resolved.

Try running the washer with detergent and a box of baking soda--no clothes--and HOT water. Do you have very hard water in your area?

are you useing he detergent? if not this is your problem the washer cannot get ride of the soap so what it does is leave a layer of film in your washer and odor causeing bacteria forms in it. There is a product called AFFRESH you can buy it at SEARS it is made specifically for this. Do you leave the door open ragularly? The reason I am asking is because your washer is like your bathroom if you do not ventilate it properly it will grow mold and it needs to be cleaned. By leaving the door closed all the time it is very easy for the bacteria to grow.
So my advice is to leave the door open, make sure you are useing the correct soap (HE) high efficiancy soap, clean the washer with no clothes hot water and bleach and use the affresh or washer magic. Since you can smell the smell you are going to have to keep cleaning it abouit 2-3 times a month till it goes away. Then once a month. This is not a machanical problem or a whirlpool problem and is very commen in ALL front loader if you do not clean it regularly.

The following link explains how to minimize wash tub odor, and what generally can cause it:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r513372-front_loader_mildew_odor

I personally own one of these washers and have followed this same regiment since I purchased it new 9 years ago. I have never had a mildew or odor problem. Consumers that are not in the habit of using hot water very often will also run into odor and mildew problems, because detergent alone does not always kill bacteria. It is recommended that you run a "Clean Cycle" from time to time, to sanitize. Some newer models have a clean cycle added on the control panel.

NOTE: It is normal to have residual water in the drain lines and in the drain pump. If you need to clean, or check the drain pump, please follow the advice in this next link:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r385845-checking_drain_pump_in_whirlpool_duet

Debris caught in the drain pump reservoir can often cause some unwanted odors.

If the rubber door bellow develops mildew and mold, use a non abrasive pad (the little green pads are considered non-abrasive) and scrub the rubber with bleach diluted with water (50/50 mix). This will often kill and remove unwanted mold and mildew. If the door bellow becomes embedded with mold or mildew, it may have to be replaced in order to get rid of it.

If you establish and maintain a diligent routine, these washers will not mold or smell. Often what seems to be a dream appliance that is supposed to make your life easier, may actually require more attention in order to maintain it properly.

If you have questions or comments, please let me know. I hope this helps you.

Make a boil wash (with no clothes and detergents) put in the powder's drawer a cup of bicarbonate of soda. It should clean the machine and move out the bad smell. Good luck!