I think the key is to have a dedicated laundry room that is not in the traffic path.
We have a laundry room that is off the hallway (not part of the hallway) so we can leave the front-loading washer door open at all times. Never had an odor issue.
We love the front loading (heh) and recommend getting the drawers underneath so that the washer/dryer doors are at a reasonable height. That eliminates stooping over and is much more of a plus than I would have ever imagined.
