Our washer lid switch is going out, and sometimes, if I do not snap the lid shut firmly enough, the washer will stop at the end of the wash cycle. I've been a bit stressed out and scattered lately (we are moving to another state soon), and twice in the last few weeks I have forgotten to move my laundry into the dryer. Because it was actually still soaking, it sat soaking for a good 24 hours. Both times, when I opened the lid a strong sewer smell rose up and filled the laundry room. The second time, after I finished the cycle, I noticed a quarter in the wash that had tarnished to the color of copper!

So, unlike other previous posts with similar problems (sewer smell from drains when draining water is involved), in this case, no draining of water was involved. The water was just sitting there. Could it be that the full washer somehow created a suction that pulled the water up out of the trap into the washer, or flushed it out to the sewer? We have had a similar problem with the never-used sink in that room. I have to run some water into it every now and then because the water in the trap eventually evaporates, and sewer smell comes up into the house.

We are not on septic, use city water, and the house is 4-years old.

Thoughts?

(edited to add words in bold)

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Originally Posted by Cybele

Our washer lid switch is going out, and sometimes, if I do not snap the lid shut firmly enough, the washer will stop at the end of the wash cycle. I've been a bit stressed out and scattered lately (we are moving to another state soon), and twice in the last few weeks I have forgotten to move my laundry into the dryer. Because it was actually still soaking, it sat soaking for a good 24 hours. Both times, when I opened the lid a strong sewer smell rose up and filled the laundry room. The second time, after I finished the cycle, I noticed a quarter in the wash that had tarnished to the color of copper!

So, unlike other previous posts with similar problems (sewer smell from drains when draining water is involved), in this case, no draining of water was involved. The water was just sitting there. Could it be that the full washer somehow created a suction that pulled the water up out of the trap into the washer, or flushed it out to the sewer? We have had a similar problem with the never-used sink in that room. I have to run some water into it every now and then because the water in the trap eventually evaporates, and sewer smell comes up into the house.

We are not on septic, use city water, and the house is 4-years old.

Thoughts?

(edited to add words in bold)

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As far as I can remember, when mom used to soak our dirty clothes in the washer over time... it smelled very bad like sewer water.

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twice in the last few weeks I have forgotten to move my laundry into the dryer. Because it was actually still soaking, it sat soaking for a good 24 hours. Both times, when I opened the lid a strong sewer smell rose up and filled the laundry room. The second time, after I finished the cycle, I noticed a quarter in the wash that had tarnished to the color of copper!

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The water in the tub turned sour from setting. However the copper discoloration in the water leads me to believe that this is iron oxide,(rust) from your hot water heater. This happens when you don't flush your water heater on a regular basis. Let me show you how.
For long life and fewer troubles you should keep your heater clear of mineral build-up by flushing on a regular schedule. Attach a hose to the boiler drain at the bottom of the tank. With the pressure on, open the boiler drain and let it run until the water runs clear. You will see a spurt of red,(rust) followed by white or yellow grains,(lime or calcium carbonate). This shouldn't take more then a few minutes. Do this monthly to keep it clear. Now flush out your hot water lines on ALL fixtures that are affected . Now pull each aerator and clean the screens. Be sure you put them back togather the same way you took them out. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it.

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Could it be that the full washer somehow created a suction that pulled the water up out of the trap into the washer, or flushed it out to the sewer?

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No! This can't happen.
Hope this helps, Tom

I don't think you should base much of your problem on the color of the quarter since you have no way of knowing when/where the quarter changed colors. It could have been tarnished for years and just found its way into your washer. Really dirty clothes will smell bad over night so lets talk about why your are doing this. If you add detergent and soak for about an hour you will have achieved all the benefits of soaking. The next 23 hours of soaking aren't needed and cause the smell. Just stop doing the overnight soak, some of that smell is bacteria growing.

OOPS! My bad! I went back and read that it was a quarter and not the water that was copper colored. Thanks, Bal

Thanks for the answers everyone!

When my kids were babies, I soaked their cloth diapers overnight in cold water, but the lid was open then in order to stop it from going on to the spin cycle. I don't think I've ever intentionally left anything to soak with the lid closed for such a great amount of time. It does make sense that with all the soap, all the dirt, all the sweat, etc. that washed out of the clothes it was like "sewage." I suppose even graywater can turn to sewage if its biochemical oxygen demand isn't being met. (Shall I tell my kids that their sweat turned into methane?)

Thanks again,
Lita

p.s. I am pretty sure that quarter was quarter-colored before it ended up in the wash :)

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Originally Posted by speedball1

The water in the tub turned sour from setting. However the copper discoloration in the water leads me to believe that this is iron oxide,(rust) from your hot water heater. This happens when you don't flush your water heater on a regular basis. Let me show you how. <snip>

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Thanks, Tom. I will give that a try. Does it still happen with newer water heaters/homes?