How to Clean a Washing Machine: Top Loaders, Front Loaders, Filters and Drawers
A monthly cleaning cycle plus a few minutes on the drawer, seal and filter keeps most washers fresh. Use bleach or vinegar, never both.
To clean a washing machine, run its clean or tub-clean cycle about once a month with an empty drum and either a washer cleaner tablet or the amount of liquid chlorine bleach your manual gives, then scrub the detergent drawer, wipe the door seal or lid rim, and clear the drain filter if your model has one. The whole job takes about 20 minutes of hands-on time. The key warning: use bleach or vinegar, never both, and never add bleach to a machine that still has an acidic or ammonia-based product in it.
Washers get dirty because they run on warm water, detergent and whatever comes off your clothes. Residue, lint and body soil collect in places the rinse water does not reach, and that film is what turns into a musty smell or gray specks on clean laundry.
What you need
- Your washer’s manual (or the maker’s support page for your model)
- A washer cleaner tablet or regular liquid chlorine bleach (not thickened or splash-less)
- Dish soap, warm water and an old toothbrush
- Microfiber cloths and a dry towel
- A shallow pan and old towels if you will drain the filter
- Rubber gloves
Before you start: check the manual
Every maker words this a little differently, so the manual wins over any general guide. As an example, Whirlpool’s washer cleaning instructions say to run the Clean Washer cycle every month or every 30 washes, whichever comes first, using either a washer cleaner tablet in the drum or 1 cup of liquid chlorine bleach in the bleach compartment, and warn that using more bleach can damage the machine over time. Other brands give different amounts and cycle names, and some say not to use vinegar at all because it can wear rubber parts. If your manual is silent, a cleaner sold for washing machines and labeled for your type (HE, front load or top load) is the simplest choice.
How to clean a front-load washer
- Empty the drum and pull out any socks or small items caught in the door seal.
- Wipe the rubber gasket. Fold back the folds of the seal and wipe out lint, hair and slime with warm water and a little dish soap. Our guide to cleaning a front-load washer gasket covers mold spots in detail.
- Remove the detergent drawer. Most slide out once you press a release tab. Soak it in warm soapy water, scrub the channels with a toothbrush, and also clean the cavity it slides into, where mildew often hides.
- Run the cleaning cycle with the product and amount your manual names. Do not add detergent or any other product.
- Clean the drain pump filter if your model has one, usually behind a small panel at the bottom front. Put towels and a shallow pan down first, drain the hose, unscrew the filter slowly and rinse off lint and debris. Screw it back firmly so it does not leak.
- Dry and air it out. Wipe the glass and seal dry and leave the door and drawer open until the inside is dry.
How to clean a top-load washer
- Wipe the lid, rim and underside of the lid, where detergent splashes collect. A damp cloth with dish soap is enough.
- Clean the dispensers. Many top loaders have removable fabric softener or bleach cups, and some agitators have a softener cup on top. Lift them out and rinse.
- Run the clean cycle with a cleaner or bleach as directed. If your machine has no clean cycle, the manual usually suggests the hottest, largest, longest setting with the drum empty.
- Check for a lint filter. Some older top loaders have one inside the agitator or along the drum rim; many newer ones are self-cleaning and have none.
- Leave the lid open after the cycle so the tub can dry.
Bleach, vinegar or washer cleaner?
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Washer cleaner tablet or powder | Residue and odor; made for this job | Follow the package dose; place it where the label says (often the drum, not the drawer) |
| Liquid chlorine bleach | Mildew and musty smell | Use only the amount in your manual; regular bleach, not thickened or splash-less; never with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners |
| Distilled white vinegar | Light mineral buildup in hard-water areas | Some makers advise against it because it can wear seals; never in the same cycle as bleach, and run a rinse cycle between them |
| Dish soap and a cloth | Drawer, gasket, lid and door | Use a small amount; too much creates suds |
Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or any acid-based cleaner. These combinations release toxic gases. If you used one product and want to try another, run a full empty rinse cycle in between. Keep the laundry room ventilated while you work, wear gloves when handling bleach, and keep products in their original containers away from children and pets. If someone swallows, inhales or gets a cleaning product in the eyes, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (US) or emergency services.
How often to clean a washer
| Task | How often |
|---|---|
| Leave door or lid open to dry | After every load |
| Wipe the door seal or lid rim | Weekly, or whenever you see lint or residue |
| Clean cycle with cleaner or bleach | Monthly, or as often as the manual says |
| Detergent drawer and dispensers | Monthly |
| Drain pump filter (if fitted) | Every few months, or per the manual |
Habits that keep it clean longer
- Use less detergent. Excess soap does not rinse out in low-water machines and builds up as residue. See how much laundry detergent to use.
- Use HE detergent in HE machines. Regular detergent makes too many suds.
- Wash warm or hot now and then. Constant cold washes leave more residue behind; makers such as Whirlpool suggest mixing in warmer cycles.
- Unload promptly. Wet clothes left in the drum feed mildew in both the machine and the laundry.
If a smell keeps coming back even after cleaning, work through our guide to getting rid of smell in a washing machine, which covers hidden spots like the drain hose and standpipe.
Bottom line
Run your washer’s cleaning cycle monthly with the product your manual names, clean the drawer and seal by hand, and clear the filter every few months. Pick one cleaning product per cycle, ventilate the room, and leave the door open afterward. That routine costs very little and prevents most odors before they start.
FAQ
Can I clean my washing machine with vinegar and baking soda?
Some people use them for light buildup, but check your manual first because some makers warn against vinegar. Never use vinegar in the same cycle as bleach. Baking soda and vinegar together mostly neutralize each other, so they are not a stronger cleaner combined.
Why does my washer smell even though I clean it?
The usual causes are too much detergent, a dirty drain filter, a damp gasket or a door kept closed between loads. Cut the dose, clean the filter and leave the door open.
Do I need a special washer cleaner?
No. Many manuals accept regular liquid chlorine bleach as an alternative. A cleaner made for washers is convenient, but use what you already have if the manual allows it.
Can I run the clean cycle with clothes in it?
No. Cleaning cycles are meant to run with an empty drum, and the bleach or cleaner dose can damage fabrics.
