I learned that my front loader washing machine didn't do much for cleaning the mildew smell out of clothes. The older front loading machines get the mildew smell in them and if you don't take your clothes out immediately they will start to smell. Used vinegar and baking soda and it took me 3 washings to get the smell out.
When the plumber misdiagnosed my leaking washing machine problem, I bought a basic top loader machine without any bells or whistles. What a difference it made. Turned out that I had a cracked pipe and didn't need to buy a new washer afterall. Even though it ended up costing me an extra $350 for the new washer, I am glad I bought a new one. My clothes smell a lot better than they used to. The one fly in the ointment is that you can just soak your clothes as the washer empties the water out after 15 minutes.