How to Fix a Bad Smell on a LG WM3900HWA Washer, Step by Step Instructions
Step by step instructions for the LG WM3900HWA (front load washer, direct drive). Parts and access points can differ a little by production year. The steps below cover the common layout for this platform, and the model notes flag its quirks.
You can fix a smelly washing machine on a LG WM3900HWA yourself in 30 minutes + cycles. Difficulty is easy. A pro charges living with it.
- 5 steps, 30 minutes + cycles, easy difficulty.
- Tools you need are old toothbrush, microfiber cloths.
- Parts to buy are washer cleaner tablets (or plain chlorine bleach).
- Unplug the machine before you start.
Never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia products, run them in separate cycles. Ventilate the laundry area.
Tools
- Old toothbrush
- Microfiber cloths
Parts
- Washer cleaner tablets (or plain chlorine bleach)
Step by step
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1 Clean the door boot folds (front loaders)
Peel back the gray rubber boot and wipe every fold with a cloth, the black residue you find is the smell. Scrub stubborn mildew with diluted bleach.
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2 Empty the drain pump filter
A sock decomposing in the coin trap out stinks everything else. See our filter cleaning guide, it’s a 15-minute job.
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3 Run two hot cleaning cycles
Use the Clean Washer cycle (or hottest/largest normal cycle) with a washer cleaner tablet or one cup of bleach, machine empty. Repeat once.
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4 Scrub the dispenser drawer
Pull the drawer fully out (most have a release tab) and brush out the softener sludge. Mold loves the dispenser housing roof, reach in with the toothbrush.
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5 Change the habits that caused it
Use half the detergent you’ve been using (HE machines need very little), leave the door and drawer cracked open between loads, and pull finished laundry promptly.
LG WM3900HWA notes & error codes
The direct drive motor is warrantied for 10 years, if a shop blames the motor, make sure they check the hall sensor and wiring first, and ask about LG’s parts warranty before paying for one.
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| OE | Drain error, filter, pump, or hose |
| IE | Fill error, taps, screens, inlet valve |
| LE | Locked motor / hall sensor |
| UE / uE | Unbalanced load (uE = machine self correcting) |
| dE | Door open / lock fault |
| tE | Thermistor (heater temp sensor) fault |
Full details for this machine, common problems, causes, and costs, are in the LG WM3900HWA repair guide. The general version of these instructions is here.
If the smell survives two cleaning rounds, mold is likely embedded inside the boot rubber or behind the drum, boot replacement or a tub clean teardown is a job for a pro. If you'd rather skip it entirely, find a washer repair pro near you
What this repair costs professionally
Sources
Where the safety, regulatory and warranty claims on this page come from. Repair costs are our own figures based on Arizona market rates and OEM parts pricing.
- Refrigerator Limited Warranty (PDF) LG Electronics U.S.A. Compressor and sealed system warranty terms, including which years cover labor.
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