How to Clean a Washing Machine

A washing machine cleans clothes every week, but the machine itself also needs occasional cleaning. Detergent, fabric softener, body oils, lint, hair, minerals, and moisture can gradually accumulate inside the drum, dispensers, seals, filters, and other areas.

Over time, that buildup can create musty odors, leave residue on laundry, or contribute to clothes that do not smell as fresh as they should after washing.

Fortunately, routine washing-machine maintenance is fairly simple. The exact procedure depends on whether you have a front-load or top-load machine, so your owner’s manual should always be your first reference.

The most important rule is to use the cleaning method and products recommended by your washer manufacturer rather than combining several household cleaners in an attempt to get the machine extra clean.

🧼 How Often Should You Clean a Washing Machine?

There is no single schedule that works for every household.

A machine used every day will generally need more frequent maintenance than one used only once or twice a week.

Many manufacturers recommend running a washer-cleaning cycle periodically, often about once a month or after a certain number of wash cycles.

You may need to clean your machine sooner if you notice musty odors, visible residue, a dirty detergent dispenser, buildup around the door gasket, or clothes that smell stale after washing.

Check your washer manual for its specific recommended cleaning schedule.

👃 Signs Your Washing Machine Needs Cleaning

One of the easiest signs is odor.

A clean empty washer should not have a strong musty, sour, or mildew-like smell.

You may also notice detergent or fabric-softener residue inside the dispenser, grime around a front-load gasket, lint or debris inside the drum, or laundry that comes out smelling less fresh than expected.

If several different types of clothes develop the same unpleasant odor after washing, the machine itself deserves attention.

Home Sparkle’s Why Is My Washing Machine Making Clothes Smell? covers the most common causes in more detail.

📖 Check the Washer Manual First

Before cleaning, locate the care and maintenance instructions for your exact machine.

Modern washing machines vary considerably.

Some have dedicated cleaning cycles. Some have user-accessible pump filters. Others have automatic dispensers or special self-cleaning systems.

Manufacturers may also specify which washer-cleaning product should be used.

Following those instructions is safer than assuming that every machine should be cleaned with bleach, vinegar, baking soda, or another homemade mixture.

🧺 Empty the Washing Machine

Remove all clothing before running a washer-cleaning cycle.

The cleaning cycle is intended for the machine itself rather than a load of laundry.

Check the drum for coins, tissues, hair ties, lint, or other objects.

If you have a front-load washer, inspect the area around the door seal for anything that may be trapped there.

🫧 Clean the Detergent and Fabric Softener Dispensers

Detergent and fabric-softener dispensers can develop surprisingly heavy buildup.

Liquid products may dry into sticky residue inside the compartments, while powdered detergent can clump when moisture reaches it.

If your dispenser is removable, take it out according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Wash it with warm water and remove visible residue from corners and channels.

A soft brush or cloth can help clean areas that are difficult to reach.

Do not force components apart if they are not designed to be removed.

🚪 How to Clean a Front-Load Washing Machine

Front-load washers require particular attention around the rubber door gasket.

Begin by opening the washer and carefully inspecting the folds in the seal.

Remove lint, hair, small objects, and visible debris.

Wipe the gasket according to your manufacturer’s instructions, paying attention to areas where moisture collects.

Clean the detergent dispenser and any accessible surfaces around the washer opening.

Then run the machine’s dedicated cleaning cycle using the cleaner recommended in your owner’s manual.

When the cycle finishes, wipe away any remaining moisture and allow the machine to dry as recommended by the manufacturer.

🧽 How to Clean a Front-Load Washer Gasket

The gasket is one of the most common places for moisture and residue to hide.

Carefully pull back the folds without stretching or damaging the rubber.

Remove any trapped debris.

Wipe the accessible surfaces using the cleaning method recommended for your machine.

Do not use abrasive scrubbers or unapproved chemicals on the gasket.

If you discover damage, cracking, persistent mold staining, or leaks around the seal, the gasket may need professional attention rather than more aggressive scrubbing.

🌀 How to Clean a Top-Load Washing Machine

Start with an empty drum.

Clean the detergent, bleach, and fabric-softener dispensers according to the machine instructions.

Wipe residue from the rim, underside of the lid, and other accessible surfaces.

If the machine has a dedicated clean-washer or self-clean cycle, run it according to the owner’s manual.

Use only a washer cleaner or other product approved for the machine.

Once the cycle has finished, wipe the drum and accessible surfaces if necessary and allow the washer to dry.

🚿 Check for a Washing Machine Filter

Some washing machines have a drain-pump filter or debris filter that homeowners are expected to clean periodically.

This filter may collect lint, hair, coins, buttons, and other small objects.

A dirty filter can sometimes contribute to drainage problems or unpleasant odors.

Not all machines have a user-accessible filter.

Check your manual before attempting to open a service panel or remove anything.

If your machine does have one, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully because water may drain out when the filter is opened.

💧 Clean Around the Washer Door or Lid

Residue does not stay exclusively inside the drum.

Detergent, lint, and moisture can accumulate around the washer opening, lid, hinges, and exterior edges.

Wipe these surfaces periodically with a damp cloth.

For a front-load washer, pay particular attention to the glass door and gasket.

For a top-loader, inspect underneath the lid and around the upper edge of the tub.

🧴 Don’t Forget the Detergent Drawer Housing

Cleaning the removable dispenser is only part of the job.

Residue can also accumulate inside the compartment where the drawer slides into the washer.

If the area is accessible according to your machine instructions, wipe away visible detergent or softener buildup.

Keeping this area clean can prevent old product residue from washing back into future loads.

✨ Run the Washer-Cleaning Cycle

Many newer machines include a cycle labeled something like Clean Washer, Tub Clean, Self Clean, or Drum Clean.

Use this cycle according to the manufacturer’s directions.

It may use a different water level, temperature, duration, or agitation pattern than an ordinary laundry cycle.

Some manufacturers recommend using a commercial washing-machine cleaning tablet.

Others allow chlorine bleach or another specified cleaner.

Follow the instructions for your individual machine rather than substituting a different chemical.

🍶 Can You Clean a Washing Machine With Vinegar?

White vinegar appears in countless homemade washing-machine cleaning recipes, but it should not automatically be used in every appliance.

Vinegar is acidic, and some manufacturers caution that frequent exposure may affect rubber seals, hoses, or other machine components.

Before pouring vinegar into a washing machine, check the owner’s manual.

If your manufacturer specifically allows it, use it only as directed.

For a broader look at where vinegar is and is not appropriate, see Cleaning With White Vinegar: Safe Uses, DIY Recipes & What to Avoid.

🧪 Can You Clean a Washer With Baking Soda?

Baking soda is also frequently included in homemade washer-cleaning recipes.

However, you usually do not need a collection of household ingredients if your machine has a manufacturer-approved cleaning procedure.

A commercial washer cleaner or the cleaning product recommended in the owner’s manual is simpler and removes the uncertainty about whether an ingredient is appropriate for the machine.

⚠️ Never Mix Washing Machine Cleaning Chemicals

Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar or other acidic products.

Doing so can release dangerous chlorine gas.

Chlorine bleach should also never be combined with ammonia.

Do not mix commercial washer cleaners with bleach, vinegar, or other cleaning products unless the manufacturer’s directions explicitly say the combination is safe.

Use one approved cleaning method at a time.

🧴 Remove Detergent Buildup

Using excessive detergent can contribute to buildup both on clothes and inside the washing machine.

The solution is not to add stronger cleaning chemicals after every few loads.

Instead, measure detergent accurately.

Follow the product directions based on your washer type, load size, soil level, detergent concentration, and water hardness.

If clothing already feels coated, see How to Remove Detergent Buildup From Clothes.

🫧 Remove Fabric Softener Buildup

Liquid fabric softener can accumulate inside dispenser compartments and other damp areas.

Clean the dispenser regularly if you use it.

Do not overfill the softener compartment.

And remember that some fabrics—including many towels, microfiber cloths, and moisture-wicking garments—may perform better without fabric softener.

For more help, see How to Remove Fabric Softener Buildup.

👃 How to Clean a Washing Machine That Smells

If your washer already smells musty, begin by cleaning the obvious buildup areas.

Inspect the detergent dispenser, gasket, drum, and any user-serviceable filters.

Then run the manufacturer-recommended cleaning cycle.

Afterward, allow the machine to dry according to the care instructions.

If the odor returns almost immediately, investigate drainage rather than repeatedly running cleaning cycles.

Standing water, a blocked filter, an incorrectly installed drain hose, or a pump problem can all cause persistent smells.

🌫️ How to Prevent Mold and Mildew Odors

Moisture is a major contributor to washing-machine odor.

Remove clothes promptly when a cycle ends.

Do not routinely leave damp laundry sitting in the drum overnight.

Some manufacturers recommend leaving the washer door or lid open between loads so the interior can dry.

Follow the directions for your model.

If you do leave the washer open, make sure the laundry area is safe for children and pets.

🧺 Don’t Leave Laundry Sitting in the Washer

Leaving clean clothes inside a closed washer for many hours creates a warm, damp environment.

The clothes may begin smelling musty, and the machine can remain damp longer as well.

Transfer laundry promptly whenever possible.

If a forgotten load already smells stale, wash it again rather than simply putting it in the dryer.

🚰 Hard Water Can Contribute to Washing Machine Buildup

Hard water contains relatively high concentrations of dissolved minerals.

Over time, those minerals can contribute to deposits inside appliances and on laundry.

If your household has hard water, follow the detergent recommendations for those conditions.

A water softening system may also be worth considering if mineral buildup is a recurring household problem.

🧴 Use the Right Amount of Detergent

Overdosing detergent is one of the easiest habits to correct.

Modern concentrated detergents may require much smaller quantities than you expect.

High-efficiency washers also use relatively small amounts of water, so excessive detergent may not rinse away properly.

Measure instead of pouring by eye.

More detergent does not necessarily produce cleaner laundry.

🧺 Avoid Overloading the Washing Machine

Laundry needs room to move.

A tightly packed machine cannot wash and rinse efficiently, which can leave additional detergent, soil, and lint behind.

Towels and bedding are especially easy to overload because they become very heavy when wet.

Follow the appliance’s load-capacity recommendations.

Two appropriately sized loads can be more effective than one oversized load.

🧽 Wipe the Washer After Messy Loads

Some laundry leaves more residue than others.

Pet bedding, muddy clothes, heavily linting fabrics, or particularly dirty workwear may leave debris behind.

Check the drum after these loads.

Removing loose hair, dirt, or lint prevents it from remaining inside the washer until your next load.

🐾 Cleaning a Washer After Pet Bedding

Pet bedding can leave large amounts of fur and debris behind.

Remove as much loose hair as possible before putting bedding into the washer.

After washing, check the drum, gasket, and filter areas for fur.

Follow your machine’s maintenance directions if a substantial amount remains.

This can help keep pet hair from transferring to the next load.

🚽 Why Does My Washing Machine Smell Like Sewage?

A sewage odor may not be a cleaning problem at all.

Possible causes include an improperly installed drain hose, plumbing vent issue, dry trap, blocked drain, or wastewater backing up toward the appliance.

If the washer smells like sewage even after it has been thoroughly cleaned, investigate the drain and plumbing system.

A plumber or appliance technician may be needed.

🥚 Why Does My Washing Machine Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

A rotten-egg or sulfur smell can be associated with stagnant water, drainage problems, bacterial growth, or household plumbing.

If the smell appears only when water drains from the machine, the drainage system is a likely place to investigate.

Do not simply cover strong sulfur or sewage odors with fragrance.

Identify the source.

🧼 How to Keep a Washing Machine Clean

The easiest washing machine to clean is one that is maintained regularly.

Use the correct amount of detergent.

Avoid excessive fabric softener.

Remove wet clothes promptly.

Clean dispensers before heavy buildup develops.

Wipe the front-load gasket regularly.

Check user-serviceable filters according to the manual.

Run the cleaning cycle at the recommended interval.

Allow the interior to dry between loads when your manufacturer recommends it.

These small habits can prevent most serious washer odors and residue problems.

🛠️ When Does a Washing Machine Need Repair Instead of Cleaning?

A cleaning cycle cannot fix a mechanical problem.

Consider contacting a qualified technician if your washer:

Does not drain properly
Leaves standing water in the drum
Displays recurring drain errors
Makes unusual pumping noises
Leaks
Produces a persistent sewage odor
Smells bad again immediately after thorough cleaning
Consistently leaves laundry dirty or foul-smelling

The underlying problem may involve the pump, drain hose, plumbing connection, or another component.

✅ The Bottom Line

Cleaning your washing machine regularly helps prevent detergent residue, fabric-softener buildup, musty odors, and stale-smelling laundry.

Start with your owner’s manual.

Clean the detergent dispensers, inspect the gasket or lid area, check any user-serviceable filters, and run the machine’s recommended cleaning cycle.

Avoid unnecessary homemade chemical combinations, and never mix bleach with vinegar, acids, or ammonia.

Once the machine is clean, correct detergent dosing, appropriately sized loads, prompt laundry removal, and good airflow between washes can help keep it that way.