How do you clean a washing machine?

Run an empty hot-water cycle using either the machine's dedicated clean or tub-clean cycle or a washer-cleaning product, or add white vinegar and then run a second cycle with baking soda. While it runs, or after, wipe the door gasket, the detergent and softener dispenser, and the door glass by hand — those trap the residue and mold a cycle alone will not reach. Leave the door and dispenser drawer open afterward to let everything dry. This monthly routine keeps odor and residue from building up.

How often should you clean a front-load washer versus a top-load?

Front-loaders need cleaning more often — about monthly — because their door seal creates a rubber gasket that traps water, lint and detergent residue, which breeds the mold responsible for the classic musty smell. Top-loaders, especially older non-HE models, are less prone to this and can often go every one to two months. High-efficiency machines of either type use less water, so residue concentrates more and benefits from the monthly schedule. The gasket on a front-loader is the single most important part to wipe.

Why does my washing machine smell bad?

Odor comes from mold, mildew and bacteria growing on trapped detergent residue and moisture, most often in a front-loader's door gasket, the dispenser drawer, and the drum. Contributing habits include using too much detergent, always washing cold, and leaving wet laundry or the door closed between loads. The fix is a hot cleaning cycle plus hand-wiping the gasket and dispenser, then keeping the door and drawer open to dry. Persistent smell after that can mean residue deeper in the machine or a clogged filter.

Can you use vinegar to clean a washing machine?

Yes — white vinegar is a common, inexpensive washer cleaner. Add a couple of cups to the drum (or the dispenser) and run a hot cycle, which helps dissolve detergent and mineral buildup and neutralize odor; some people follow with a second hot cycle after sprinkling baking soda in the drum. Wipe the gasket and dispenser afterward. Note that a few manufacturers advise against regular vinegar use on rubber seals over the long term, so check your manual, and dedicated washer-cleaning tablets are a fine alternative.

Should you leave the washing machine door open?

Yes, leaving the door (and the dispenser drawer) open between loads is one of the best habits for a front-loader, because it lets the drum and gasket dry out instead of staying damp and sealed — the condition mold needs. Closing the door traps moisture and is a leading reason front-loaders develop a musty smell. If small children or pets are a concern, close it once the interior has dried. This single habit reduces how often you actually need to run a cleaning cycle.

How Often Should You Clean a Washing Machine?

Written & researched by Derek Holt Home & Appliances Editor

Updated October 2026

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Clean a washing machine about once a month, particularly if it is a front-loader. Detergent residue, lint, hard-water minerals and moisture build up inside the drum, the dispenser drawer and — on front-loaders — the rubber door gasket, where they breed the mold and mildew behind that classic musty smell. A monthly hot cleaning cycle plus a hand-wipe of the gasket and dispenser keeps that in check. Top-loaders and older non-HE machines are less prone to it and can often go every one to two months. Clean sooner any time the machine or your clothes smell musty.

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How often, by machine type?

The right interval depends mostly on design, because front-loaders trap water where top-loaders drain it. Here is the baseline, which you should shorten if odor appears:

Machine	Clean the machine	Key spot to wipe
Front-load (HE)	Monthly	Door gasket / seal
Top-load HE	Monthly	Drum and dispenser
Older top-load (non-HE)	Every 1 to 2 months	Drum and lid area

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How do you run a cleaning cycle?

The cycle and the hand-wiping are two parts of one job. Run the machine empty on its dedicated clean or tub-clean cycle, or on the hottest normal cycle, using a washer-cleaning tablet — or add about two cups of white vinegar to the drum, run a hot cycle, then sprinkle baking soda in and run a second. Either way, the cycle handles the drum, but you must hand-wipe the parts water alone cannot reach: peel back the front-loader's door gasket and clean out the trapped gunk, pull the dispenser drawer and scrub off softener residue, and wipe the door glass. Finish by leaving the door and drawer open to dry.

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Why do washers smell, and how do you stop it?

The musty smell is mold and bacteria feeding on trapped residue and moisture, concentrated in the front-loader gasket, the dispenser, and the drum. Three habits make it worse: using too much detergent (which leaves more residue), always washing cold (which never gets hot enough to break residue down), and leaving the door shut with the interior damp. The cure is the monthly hot clean plus the daily habit of leaving the door and dispenser open. If the smell persists after all that, suspect a clogged drain filter or residue deeper in the machine — see why a front-load washer smells musty.

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What everyday habits reduce buildup?

Between cleanings, a few habits do most of the work. Use the correct amount of high-efficiency detergent — more is not better and leaves residue that feeds mold. Move wet laundry to the dryer promptly instead of letting it sit. Wash a hot load now and then rather than always cold. And leave the door and dispenser drawer open so the interior dries. These stretch the interval and cut how much scrubbing each monthly clean requires. The right detergent matters too; see our best laundry detergent roundup.

A clean washer works with a clean dryer vent — see how often to clean a dryer vent — and correct wash temperatures, covered in what temperature to wash towels at and how often to wash bed sheets. More in the cleaning and laundry hub.