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Whirlpool Duet GHW9150PW1

by Anna Cheak
(Peachtree City, GA)

Whirlpool Duet - black mold pervasive. Makes you physically ill -- the smell on clothes and laundry room and kitchen -- read complaints on the Duet front loader.

Black mold is dangerous. Some consumers are having to take the washer apart and found design flaw that holds the water.

I will have to junk it and buy another brand. Look online and research complaints before you buy. The duet has hundreds of complaints. Heed this warning.



Comments for Whirlpool Duet GHW9150PW1

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Nov 05, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstar 		So far, so good (but it's only been an hour!) NEW
by: Jen

I bought this, used, tonight. I had a WONDERFUL HE washer and dryer from 2007, but it had all the problems I'm reading about with the Duet. When it started leaving the clothes soaked, I had no choice; I had to get something else. However, I was so sold on front loaders, and I'd learned enough, that I felt comfortable getting another...

This one was left in someone's storage unit, so it was dirty. He cleaned it some; I cleaned it the rest of the way. He was concerned about leftover water in the machine and begged me to PLEASE push bleach through it before starting. Well, I didn't listen, because I wanted to know exactly what to expect. I got nothing. No mold, no stink, no stains on my test material. It spins faster than my first washer (Frigidaire), and the hot water really gets hot!

This said, I should tell you the secret to this unit's success: the previous owner! By admission, he is OCD. He got ticked when twice his wife left clothes in teh washer and they got nasty. (Um, I did that on a continuous basis!) He decided to take over. ...
1) After each load, he takes a towel and wipes down that front rubber (drum? seal? whatever it's called). He makes certain there was no tiny socks, etc., left behind.
2) Once every three weeks, he tosses in a Tide HE washing machine cleaner. He swears by this.
3) He ALWAYS leaves the door open. Period. In fact, he dries the darn thing first, and THEN leaves it open!
I spoke with my landlord tonight, who said that she keeps one of those rectangular scrub brushes with a handle propped right in the door. This allows it to stay open WITHOUT taking up so much space.

So, no matter which HE unit you try, please try all four of these tips. I bet you that your next HE machine review will be much more pleasant.

Have a great day!
Jul 31, 2016
Rating
star 		Wish I would've never bought it! NEW
by: R. Reynolds

I know this is the older model, and I bought it brand new however many years ago that was. From the beginning I never thought my clothes were getting clean. After a wash cycle was completed I would get the clothes out and half of them didn't even look like they were wet.
Until I can buy a new washer, I have to use the soak cycle to get them clean. And if my husband our daughters use it I have to make sure they didn't leave any clothes in the washer for any length off time because they will smell!!
Mar 26, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Front load machine NEW
by: Anonymous

I have had this model for 10 years and have never had a problem, be it mechanical or with mold. I always keep the door ajar after washing. For the price I paid I am well satisfied with it. Whirlpool continues to be a very good company.
Jul 12, 2015
Rating
star 		Mold also NEW
by: Anonymous

Very disappointed - it was expensive to buy the Duet set but the mold is a very dangerous reality. Sears sells tablets to put in at least once a month to temper the situation. I've been running belch every so many cycles which has helped. However enough is enough we are buying a new washer and dryer today - the danger of sleeping on pillow cases and sheets and wiping our faces and hands with towels given this situation is no longer worth it. Highly disappointed that there is not a recall and reimbursement on this situation. NOTE TO WHIRLPOOL CUSTOMER RELATIONS - this ends a lifetime purchasing relationship with Whirlpool.
Nov 27, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I love mine duet NEW
by: Anonymous

maybe I got lucky with my duet washer and drier . I know what people are talking about the smell . That is due to leaving the door shut after doing a wash . If you keep the door open at all times You will never have any problems with any smells or mildew. The door has to seal in the water cause it's a front loader .. So by keeping the door shut it seals in moisture and water which causes mildew and smell DUH!. I had the washer and drier for about 8 years and pretty much use them every other day . Never have any problems . The washer broke one time . It wouldn't drain but cost me nothing to fix it cause I had a hose in my garage to replace it. I love my washer and drier cleans and dries pretty quick can't complain .. I think people need to take care of there stuff and follow the manual it comes with and maybe it won't have many problems lol you have to remember they don't make things like they use to lol
Apr 23, 2013
Rating
star 		No more front load washers for me!
by: Anonymous

Hate this washer! No more front load washers for me. It has given a lot of our clothes and towels a musty smell. I use a commercial washer cleaner that has bleach in it but it don't help much. Catch all always has black crud in it when I clean it. What a hassle that is to clean all the time. They should of made it more simple to get to. I always leave the door open when not in use so I know it's not something I've done. Small items like socks are always getting caught in the seal crevice. Don't clean clothes worth a crap either. Right now I'm without a washer until I get the drain motor replaced. Wish I never bought the Duet set. Will buy a top loading washer from now on. Miss being able to just lift the lid to toss an extra item in. Have had to replace the heating element in the dryer already. I do like the Whirlpool brand though.
Jan 07, 2013
Rating
star 		piece of nightmare
by: Anonymous

What a piece of crap this washing machine is....disgusting mold problem and CONSTANT problem with the door lock. I want to take a sledgehammer to it. After reading these other reviews Im not going to waste any money getting it fixed...this was my first Whirlpool appliance and will be my last! Im off tomorrow to buy a different brand!
Dec 17, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		To all the people on this page
by: wc

Dear people I have a duet front loader and I have not had a problem at all mine is about 7yrs old as far as the smell if anyone bothered to look at the Manuel it tells you to run bleach through the unit for cleaning I do it once a month and I have no problem my unit stills works just like when I bought it and this unit does a lot of work.
Dec 11, 2012
Rating
star 		Something Stinks!
by: sunny fla

I purchased the whirlpool duet washer & dryer a couple of years ago. I have never had a problem with the dryer, but the washer has been a headache. Not only does it smell very foul, my clothes smell like they were wrapped around a dead animal. I'm not kidding. I've tried several attempts to rid the smell with no avail. I will never purchase a Whirlpool front loader washer in the future.
Oct 14, 2012
Rating
star 		Door Gasket
by: Ed Kirol

I have the whirlpool GHW9150PW1, Door gasket again is leaking, 2nd time in four years, Clothes do not come out really clean.
Aug 24, 2012
Rating
star 		Crap Smell
by: Anonymous

It's a piece of crap and smells like one too. Plastic pieces broke off the drum making a real bad noise
May 26, 2012
Rating
star 		piece of crap - worse purchase ever
by: john

the machine smells - odor is a killer -- mold on the grey door seal is pathetic even after cleaning with an cleaner designed to clean HE washers --- IF IF IF that's not bad enough - look at the underneath of the grey gasket --- black mold even after using a cleaner -- pull the gasket up and towards you and look underneath - sickening and I'm sure making us sick and definitely getting into our clothes too - the belt has been replaced - the door handle broke off -- electronic trouble - just a piece of shit - whole basement stinks if the machine not cleaned monthly
Feb 27, 2012
Rating
star 		Bad Investment
by: Anonymous

Bought 4.5yrs ago Besides mold and stench! Front tub began breaking off plastic pieces. Think rear bearing is out. Major fix. Hundreds of dollars!Anyone buying a Whirpool frontloader is making huge mistake.
Feb 11, 2011
Rating
star 		hate this
by: Anonymous

HATE IT !!!! MY CLOTHES STINK...NOT ENOUGH WATER TO GIVE THEM A GOOD WASH!!!
Feb 04, 2011
Rating
starstar 		the stupid sud message
by: not impressed

bought the set in 04. have not been greatly impressed with my purchase. as time goes on the sud message is becoming every load. yes i had used regular detergent earlier on but didnt use full cup dispenser levels. but lately have gone to strictly he detergent. still hasnt gotten any better. cycles are extra long...have also had the wet clothes where it doesnt drain properly. for the price we pay for these machines you would think they would have space age technology. i will not buy another set in the future.
Dec 04, 2010
Rating
starstarstar 		Spots on my laundry w/Whirlpool 9560
by: Anonymous

I have had problems with mold, but as other have said, I used l/2 bottle of vinegar and really hot water, and it all went away. The problem I am having is oil-like spots on the laundry. little oils spots on the sheets, shirts etc. No one has been able to tell me where they come from nor how to fix it. I really don't know if it is the washer or dryer. Anyone ever hear of such a thing happening? Also Had usual problems with rinse cycle, replaced the panel board and fill switch. Got those fixed but the spots, puzzling...
Nov 15, 2010
Rating
starstar 		Spider corrosion and smells
by: biguggy

Aluminium, and its alloys, are corroded when immersed in an aqueous solution with a pH value below about 4.0 (acidic) [nitric acid is a well known exception] or above about 8.0 (alkaline), most laundry aids, detergent including HE detergent, borax, bleach, sodium carbonate, sodium percarbobante, sodium hydroxide, Affresh and OxiClean can have pH values above 8.0 should the required concentrations be reached. At the normal operating levels found in washing machines these values are not exceeded. However when the machine is shut down the remaining water will contain, inter alia, soil from the laundry, products of the interactions between the soil and the laundry aids used, unused laundry aids, and the chemicals found in the tap water. As the water from this mixture evaporates the concentration of the ‘impurities’ rises until such time as a ‘smelly sludge’ develops and/or a pH level above about 8.0 is reached and corrosion occurs. The final spin, no matter how fast, will not, in my opinion, remove all the ‘water’ from theses recesses.
Prime areas for these deposits to occur are, in my opinion, the recesses found at, or very near, the hub of some of the aluminium alloys spiders found in front load washing machines
Not all manufacturers use spiders with recesses, Speed Queen do not (Speed Queen call them trunnions) niether do Miele.

Unfortunately the only way to cure the bad smell and/or corrosion in these cases is to strip the machine down, clean it, perhaps modify the spider, reassemble and alter your laundry practices. Not a popular solution I would guess!
Sep 26, 2010
Rating
starstarstar 		not impressed now
by: Anonymous

Purchased washer May '05 only two in household, it didn't rock and roll like others, but the capacity isn't what was advertised, mold building up around dispensors, water catching in dispensors after load washes, detergent leaking around door, now after short gray notched pieces are found in my laundry my tub spins freely both ways. Guess what??? MORE MONEY
Sep 08, 2010
Rating
star 		stench-mold-F8 locked door
by: Anonymous

Is this because it's top loading??
I have the stench in my clothes AND WILL NOT COME OUT!!,,so what do I do,,are you talking about the 'black tubing in the back-drain',,how does someone clean that??,,I am serious,,lol. And once that is done I am assuming, you leave it open.
I don't get why there has not been a recall,,does Maytag have the same problem?-as I go to check,,kicking myself for altering from traditional Maytag>maybe.
Has ANYONE received results/satisfaction from the company (whirlpool)
This machine is less than a year old!!!
Sep 04, 2010
Rating
starstar 		modle # GHW9160PWO duet
by: Anonymous

four years old, two adults using machine. Water accumulating in tub when not in use, now screeching sound reviled metal washer and other pieces in drum. cant retrieve other lose pieces falling apart. the company is going to get you one way or the other, warranty/no warranty you know?
Aug 19, 2010
Rating
star 		mold
by: Anonymous

The mold builds up in the soap dispenser, and the drain catch. You acutally have to remove the front lower panel, and draing the catch and figure out a way to clean the mold that is up in the black, rubber tubing... WISH I NEVER PURCHASED THIS ITEM!!!!!
Aug 03, 2010
Rating
star 		mold smell
by: Chester Fuller

This is a bad machine. The mold smell is terrible!
There should have been a recall on this product.
Jul 28, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		It's the design, people!
by: Anonymous


I noticed a moldy/mildewy smell in the Duet washer drum. I figured the sealed door design would, of course, produce this. Duh. After bleaching whites, the problem is gone. I just decided to leave it slightly open after each wash to let it air dry. I told may family to do the same. Well, go figure! The smell is gone. It's still the most efficient washer I've used. It spins enough water out that the dryer requires much less time for each load, thus eliminating the dryer bottle neck.
Jul 27, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		highly recommend
by: Cat Somerville

My Whirlpool Duet has been a great washer. Does laundry quicker and gets clothes cleaner than any washer I have ever owned before.

I read that people can get a moldy ,musty smell if the washer is left with the door closed after use. As I live in Florida ( the mold capital of the world) I monthly run a regular cycle with a 1/2 cup of bleach and no clothing through a wash cycle and I always leave the door ajar.

I have not had the problem yet and my washer is a few years old now.

This washer does large loads well, uses miniaml water, and spins at a high RPM to wring them well so it shortens usual drying time.

I would highly recommend this washer for families with kids and teens who wear lots of jeans and use lots of towels......as it can take this abuse and keep your electric bill down.

Just store between uses with the door open and run some bleach thru occasionally.
Jun 05, 2010
Rating
starstarstar 		Costly to maintain
by: Anonymous

After only 4 years and with very little use, the case center (outer rear tub) bearing has gone out. The part alone is over 200.00. I can't image how much the labor will cost to replace it.
Yikes! I wish I had read about the negative comments BEFORE I made this purchase.
May 18, 2010
Rating
star 		don't drain
by: Anonymous

My washer could not spin properly, my cloth always in wet. I could not buy any Whirlpool
Sep 10, 2009
Rating
star 		Whirlpool Duet Sport Washer
by: Anonymous

The Whirlpool Duet Sport Washer is the worst product I have ever bought. It is basically junk. I bought it in September 2007 and has had it worked on 7 times. Mostly the problems are mechanical errors. I paid $700.00 for the washer. I have spent almost $400.00 to get the washer fixed with 2 years. There was a problem with the door. A & E Factory Service came out and informed me that it would cost $400.00 to get the door fixed because of a defective latch. I will never buy another whirlpool again.

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