Whirlpool and Sears have agreed to settle with owners of front-loading washing machines, nine years after claims of mold-growing washers appeared in court. The claimants said the front-loaders didn’t self-clean properly, and that the companies failed to warn them. About 5.5 million customers got notices in April about the possible settlement, according to NBC News. The companies didn’t admit fault in last week’s finalized agreement. Whirlpool, the manufacturer, said in a statement that less than 4 percent of the 2000s-era machines resulted in complaints, but a settlement will help the company move on.