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How to Clean a Washing Machine

Home/Resources/Cleaning & Laundry/Cleaning a Washing Machine
DH
Written & researched by Derek Holt Home & Appliances Editor
Updated August 2026
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Cleaning a washing machine is an easy DIY maintenance job that takes about 15 minutes of active work plus a cleaning cycle or two, costing only the price of vinegar or a cleaner tablet. No permit or pro is involved. The goal is to clear the detergent residue, hard-water scale and biofilm that cause musty smells and leave film on clothes. The routine is the same monthly: clean the gasket, dispenser and drum, run a hot tub-clean cycle, and leave the door open to dry.

How to Clean a Washing Machine — DIY Pinto

Step-by-step: deep clean and freshen

  1. Clean the door gasket. On a front loader, peel back the rubber seal and wipe out trapped water, lint, hair and gunk with a cloth and a mild cleaner or diluted vinegar.
  2. Remove and scrub the dispenser. Pull out the detergent and softener drawer, soak it in warm water, and scrub off the slimy residue and mold before rinsing and replacing.
  3. Run a hot cleaning cycle. Add a machine-cleaner tablet or about two cups of white vinegar and run the tub-clean or hottest cycle to cut scale and odor.
  4. Run a baking soda cycle. Sprinkle a quarter to a half cup of baking soda in the empty drum and run a second hot cycle to lift remaining residue.
  5. Wipe the drum and door. Wipe the drum, glass and door edges with a clean damp cloth to remove loosened film.
  6. Clear the drain filter. On a front loader, open the small front access door, place a shallow pan and towel, and unscrew the pump filter to drain water and remove coins, lint and debris.
  7. Clean the exterior and controls. Wipe the top, front and control panel, and clean under a top loader's lid.
  8. Leave the door open. Prop the door and dispenser open to air-dry so moisture does not feed new odor.
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Tools and materials

You need white vinegar or a machine cleaner, baking soda, microfiber cloths, an old toothbrush and a shallow pan for the filter. A clean machine is only half of fresh laundry, so it pairs with using the right amount of the right product, which is where our laundry detergent picks matter, since overdosing HE detergent is a leading cause of the residue you just cleaned out. For the laundry-room floor and the dust behind the machines, a tool from our steam mop roundup handles the finish.

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Mistakes that keep a washer smelly

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Notes and safety

This is low-risk DIY. The only real cautions are never mixing vinegar or cleaners with bleach, since the fumes are dangerous, and checking your manual before using vinegar because a few manufacturers advise against it on certain seals. When clearing the drain filter, have a pan and towel ready for the water that comes out. There is no code or permit involved. If the machine leaks, will not drain, or smells of burning rather than must, that is a repair issue rather than a cleaning one.

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More from this hub: Cleaning & Laundry · Clean a washing machine gasket · Clean a dryer vent · Descale a dishwasher · Best laundry detergent · How we rank

Straight Answers

Frequently Asked

How often should you clean a washing machine?

Run a cleaning cycle once a month, and wipe the gasket and leave the door ajar after every wash on a front loader. Monthly maintenance keeps detergent residue, hard-water scale and the biofilm that causes odors from building up faster than you can remove them. High-efficiency front loaders especially need it, because they use little water and the door seal traps moisture. If your machine already smells musty or leaves residue on clothes, start with the deep clean below, then keep to the monthly schedule to stop it coming back.

What is the best thing to clean a washing machine with?

For routine cleaning, either a commercial washing-machine cleaner tablet or plain white vinegar works, and many machines have a dedicated tub-clean or self-clean cycle designed for exactly this. Vinegar cuts scale and freshens; a scoop of baking soda helps lift residue and odor. Avoid combining vinegar and bleach, which creates hazardous fumes, and never assume more product is better, since excess just leaves its own residue. Check your machine's manual, because some manufacturers advise against vinegar on certain seals and recommend their own cleaner.

Why does my washing machine smell bad?

The musty smell is biofilm: a mix of detergent residue, body oils and moisture that feeds mold and bacteria, and it concentrates in the door gasket, the detergent dispenser and hidden crevices of front loaders. Using too much detergent and washing only in cold water accelerate it, and leaving the door shut after a wash traps the moisture it needs. The fix is to deep clean the gasket, dispenser and drum, then prevent recurrence by using the right amount of HE detergent, running an occasional hot cycle, and leaving the door open to dry.

How do you clean a front load washer versus a top loader?

The steps overlap, but a front loader demands extra attention to the rubber door gasket, where water and gunk pool, and often has a drain-pump filter behind a small door at the bottom front that needs clearing. A top loader has no door seal to worry about but benefits from wiping under the lid and around the tub rim. Both get a hot tub-clean or self-clean cycle with cleaner or vinegar, both need the dispenser removed and scrubbed, and both should be left open to air out after washing.

Can you clean a washing machine with vinegar and baking soda?

Yes, it is a common and effective method. Pour about two cups of white vinegar into the drum or dispenser and run a hot cycle to cut scale and odor, then sprinkle a quarter to a half cup of baking soda in the drum and run a second hot cycle to lift residue. Do the two separately rather than mixing them, since combined they mostly fizz and neutralize. Never mix vinegar with bleach. Finish by wiping the gasket and dispenser, and check your manual, as a few makers advise against vinegar.