A front opening horizontal axis washing machine having an outer wash tub and a rotary inner tub basket for receiving items to be laundered. The inner and outer tub have an annular gap about respective frontal portions thereof, and an annular guard is fixed to the outer tub for reducing the size of the gap. The guard has an inner lip portion that extends radially inwardly and rearwardly with respect to the front opening of the basket for defining a relatively small axial gap with a front side of the inner rotating basket for more effectively preventing migration of foreign objects between the inner and outer tubs. The inner lip of the guard has a radial clearance with the frontal portion of the inner tub that is greater than the axial gap, but recessed from sight to a user of the machine.