How to Clean a Washing Machine (Front-Load and Top-Load)

It seems strange that a machine filled with soap and water every week needs cleaning, but it does. Detergent residue, fabric softener, lint, hair and minerals from hard water build up in places you never see. Add warm, damp conditions and you get a musty smell, gray film on the drum and sometimes black spots of mildew. The fix takes under an hour of mostly hands-off time.

Signs your washer needs a clean

• A musty or sour smell when you open the door or lid

• Laundry that smells stale even after a full cycle

• Black or gray spots on the rubber door seal

• Gunk or slime in the detergent drawer

• Water draining slowly, or an error code about draining

Before you start

Read the manual first. Manufacturers differ on which cleaners are safe for their machines and on how their cleaning cycle works. Some approve chlorine bleach, some recommend a specific washer-cleaner tablet, and some warn against heavy use of vinegar because acid can wear rubber seals and hoses over time. If you no longer have the paper manual, most brands post it online under the model number, which is usually printed inside the door or on the back of the lid.

What you will usually need:

• A washer-cleaner tablet or powder, or liquid chlorine bleach if your manual allows it

• Rubber gloves

• A microfiber cloth and an old toothbrush

• Mild dish soap and warm water

• An old towel and a shallow pan (for the filter)

Step 1: Clean the detergent drawer or dispensers

Pull the detergent drawer out completely. Most have a release tab in the middle; press it and the drawer slides free. Soak it in a sink of warm, soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub the corners and the fabric softener siphon with the toothbrush. Rinse and dry it.

While the drawer is out, look into the empty slot. Mold and detergent sludge often collect on the ceiling of the opening. Wipe it with a damp cloth and use the toothbrush to reach the back. Top-load washers with a fabric softener cup on the agitator, or bleach and softener dispensers around the rim, need the same treatment.

Step 2: Wipe the door gasket (front-load)

The thick rubber seal around a front-loader’s door is the most common source of bad smells. Water sits in its folds after every wash, along with lint and lost socks.

1. Put on gloves and gently pull back the folds of the gasket all the way around.

2. Remove hair, lint, coins and any debris.

3. Wipe the folds with warm, soapy water on a cloth.

4. For mildew spots, use a solution your manual approves, often a diluted bleach solution, and let it sit a few minutes before wiping.

5. Dry the gasket thoroughly with a clean towel.

If the gasket is torn or dark stains keep coming back, a replacement seal is often an affordable repair.

Step 3: Run a cleaning cycle on the drum

Most modern washers have a setting called Clean Washer, Tub Clean or something similar. It runs hot water and extra agitation through an empty drum.

1. Make sure the drum is completely empty.

2. Add a washer-cleaner tablet to the drum, or put the amount of bleach your manual specifies in the bleach dispenser. Do not add detergent.

3. Start the cleaning cycle and let it finish.

4. If your washer has no cleaning cycle, use the hottest, longest, largest-load setting with an extra rinse.

For a top-loader that is very grimy, some manuals suggest pausing the cycle after the tub fills so the solution can soak for an hour before you let it run on. Check whether your model allows this.

Never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia, and do not run a bleach cycle and a vinegar cycle back to back without a plain rinse cycle in between. Bleach combined with acids or ammonia releases toxic gases. Open a window or run a fan while you work.

Step 4: Clean the drain pump filter

Many front-load washers, and some top-loaders, have a small filter that catches coins, hair ties and lint before they reach the pump. It usually sits behind a small panel at the bottom front of the machine. Not every model has one, so check your manual.

1. Unplug the machine and wait until any hot water has cooled.

2. Lay down an old towel and set a shallow pan under the panel. Water will come out.

3. If there is a small drain hose next to the filter, use it to drain the water into the pan first.

4. Unscrew the filter slowly, counterclockwise, and let the remaining water drain.

5. Remove debris, rinse the filter under the tap and screw it back in firmly so it does not leak.

A clogged filter is a common cause of slow draining, smells and drain error codes.

How to keep your washer smelling fresh

• Leave the door or lid open between loads so the inside can dry. If you have small children or pets, keep the laundry room door closed instead.

• Take wet clothes out promptly. A load left sitting for hours can start to smell, and so can the drum.

• Use the right detergent. High-efficiency (HE) machines need HE detergent. Regular detergent makes too many suds for the small amount of water they use.

• Do not overdose. More soap does not mean cleaner clothes. Excess detergent and fabric softener leave the residue that feeds odors.

• Dry the gasket on a front-loader after the last load of the day.

How often should you clean a washing machine?

A good routine for most households:

• After each laundry day: leave the door open and wipe the gasket dry.

• Monthly: run the cleaning cycle and wipe the dispensers.

• Every one to three months: clean the drain pump filter, or more often if you wash a lot of pet bedding or have hard water.

Many newer machines show a reminder light when a cleaning cycle is due, often every 30 to 40 loads.

FAQ

Can I use vinegar to clean my washing machine?

Some people do, but it is not the best choice for every machine. Several manufacturers advise against regular vinegar use because acid can wear rubber parts over time. Follow your manual, and never combine vinegar with bleach.

Why does my front-load washer smell even after cleaning?

Check the drain pump filter and the gasket folds again, since both trap gunk that a cleaning cycle does not always reach. Then look at your habits: too much detergent and a closed door are the usual causes of the smell coming back.

Is it safe to clean a washer with bleach?

Usually yes, if your manual approves it. Use only the amount the manual specifies, put it in the bleach dispenser, ventilate the room and never mix it with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners.

Do top-load washers need cleaning too?

Yes. They smell less often than front-loaders, but residue still builds under the rim, in the dispensers and on the outer tub you cannot see. Run a monthly cleaning cycle and wipe the rim and lid.

Quick recap

• Check your manual for approved cleaners and the cleaning cycle.

• Soak and scrub the detergent drawer, and wipe the slot it sits in.

• Clean and dry the rubber gasket on front-loaders.

• Run a monthly cleaning cycle with an approved cleaner, never mixing bleach with vinegar or ammonia.

• Empty the drain pump filter every few months.

• Leave the door open, unload promptly and use the right amount of HE detergent.