How to Clean Your Washing Machine (Monthly Maintenance Guide)

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A washing machine that isn't cleaned regularly leaves clothes smelling musty, deposits residue on fabrics, and runs less efficiently. Most machines need cleaning once a month, and the process takes about 15 minutes of actual effort. This guide covers front-loaders and top-loaders separately, with specific attention to the parts most people forget.

Quick Answer: Monthly Washing Machine Cleaning Checklist

• Drum: Run an empty hot cycle with a cleaning tablet or white vinegar
• Door seal / gasket (front-loaders): Wipe out folds with a damp cloth + white vinegar solution
• Dispenser drawer: Remove, soak in warm water, scrub, rinse, replace
• Filter / pump filter (front-loaders): Check and clear every 2–3 months
• Exterior drum and door glass: Wipe down with a damp cloth

Why Washing Machines Get Dirty

Every wash cycle leaves behind trace amounts of detergent, fabric softener, limescale, lint, and body oils. These accumulate in the drum, gasket, dispenser, and internal hoses. The warm, damp environment makes this residue an ideal breeding ground for mold, mildew, and bacteria — which then transfer to clothing. That's why clothes can come out smelling musty despite being freshly washed.

Front-loaders are more prone to this problem than top-loaders because the door seal creates deep folds where moisture collects. However, both types require regular cleaning.

How to Clean a Front-Loading Washing Machine

Step 1: Clean the drum

Run an empty hot wash cycle (60°C or the machine's drum clean program if it has one) with a washing machine cleaner tablet placed in the drum:

• Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets — designed specifically for drum cleaning, removes residue and odor-causing bacteria
• Washing Machine Cleaning Tablets — citric acid-based for combined limescale and residue removal

Alternatively: add 2 cups of white vinegar to the drum directly (no detergent, no clothing) and run on a 60°C cycle. Follow with a second empty rinse cycle to clear any vinegar residue.

Step 2: Clean the door seal (gasket)

This is the most important step for front-loaders and the one most people skip. The rubber door seal has deep folds around its circumference that accumulate black mold, lint, and detergent residue.

1. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a small bowl, or use a diluted all-purpose cleaner
2. Pull back each fold of the rubber seal and wipe thoroughly with a cloth soaked in the solution
3. Use an old toothbrush to scrub any visible black mold spots
4. Wipe dry with a clean cloth

For persistent black mold: apply a small amount of undiluted white vinegar or a diluted bleach solution (5ml bleach in 500ml water) to the affected area, leave for 10 minutes, scrub, and rinse. Dry thoroughly. After cleaning, leave the machine door open after each use to allow the seal area to dry — this is the most effective mold prevention measure.

• Microfibre Cleaning Cloths — essential for gasket and drum cleaning, lint-free and machine-washable

Step 3: Clean the dispenser drawer

1. Pull the dispenser drawer out completely (usually a tab or button on the underside allows full removal — check your manual)
2. Soak in warm water for 10 minutes to dissolve hardened detergent
3. Scrub all compartments with a small brush or old toothbrush
4. Rinse thoroughly and let dry before replacing
5. Wipe inside the cavity in the machine where the drawer sits — this area often has mold growth that doesn't get cleaned otherwise

Step 4: Check and clean the pump filter

Front-loaders have a filter (typically behind a small panel at the bottom front of the machine) that catches lint, coins, and small items before they reach the pump. A clogged filter reduces drainage performance and can cause odors.

1. Place a towel on the floor in front of the machine — water will come out
2. Open the filter access panel
3. There's usually a small drain hose — pull it out, remove the cap, and drain the remaining water into a bowl
4. Unscrew the filter cap fully and remove the filter cylinder
5. Remove any lint, coins, or debris; rinse under running water
6. Replace, close the drain hose, and close the panel

Check every 2–3 months, or whenever drainage seems slow. See How Often to Clean Your Dryer Vent for related appliance maintenance.

How to Clean a Top-Loading Washing Machine

Step 1: Clean the drum

Fill the drum with the hottest water available on the highest capacity setting. Add either:

• 2 cups of white vinegar, let the agitator cycle for 1 minute, then pause and let soak for 30–60 minutes
• Or a washing machine cleaning tablet placed in the drum before the water fills

After soaking, run the full cycle to completion.

Step 2: Wipe the drum interior and agitator

After the drum-clean cycle, dip a cloth in white vinegar and wipe down the top rim of the drum, the underside of the lid, and the agitator (if present). Scrub any visible residue on the agitator fins.

Step 3: Clean the dispenser compartments

Many top-loaders have a fabric softener dispenser in the center agitator cap and detergent compartments around the drum rim. Remove each part, rinse under warm running water, and scrub with a small brush if needed. Residue buildup in the softener cap is common and causes softener to dispense at the wrong point in the cycle.

Step 4: Wipe the lid and exterior

Clean the lid underside, control panel, and cabinet exterior with a damp microfibre cloth. Detergent drips and dust accumulate here and can fall into the drum.

White Vinegar vs Specialist Cleaning Products

White vinegar (acetic acid) is effective at dissolving mineral deposits, cutting through detergent residue, and killing bacteria and mold. It's a legitimate and cost-effective cleaning agent for monthly maintenance.

Specialist washing machine cleaners (tablet or liquid form) typically contain citric acid, surfactants, and sometimes oxygen bleach — making them more powerful for deep cleaning, particularly in very hard water areas where limescale buildup is significant. For monthly maintenance, vinegar works well. For a quarterly deep clean or after a period of neglect, a specialist cleaner gives better results.

Preventing Buildup Between Cleans

• Leave the door or lid open after every wash to allow moisture to evaporate — most mold and odor problems start with a closed machine
• Wipe the door seal after every wash (30 seconds with a dry cloth)
• Avoid over-dosing detergent — it's the primary source of buildup. See How Much Laundry Detergent to Use
• Skip fabric softener or reduce use — it contributes significantly to drum coating buildup. See Should You Use Fabric Softener?
• If you have hard water, use a descaling tablet monthly rather than just annually. See Hard Water Laundry Guide

Signs Your Machine Needs Cleaning Now

• Clothes smell musty after washing
• Visible black mold on the door seal
• White residue on dark clothes after washing. See White Residue on Clothes After Washing
• Machine smells bad when you open the door
• Drainage taking longer than usual (filter likely clogged)

FAQ

Can I clean the machine with bleach?

A diluted bleach solution (5ml bleach in 500ml water) is effective against black mold on the door seal when applied directly, left for 10 minutes, then rinsed. Don't run a full drum-clean cycle with bleach — the fumes are unpleasant and bleach can damage rubber components with repeated use. Use machine-specific cleaners or vinegar for drum cleaning.

How often should I clean the filter?

Every 2–3 months as routine maintenance. If you've had drainage issues, a soapy smell, or wash cycles taking longer than usual, check it immediately.

My machine has a self-clean program. Is that enough?

Self-clean programs clean the drum effectively but don't clean the gasket, dispenser drawer, or filter. They're a good foundation but need to be combined with manual cleaning of those components.

Is baking soda safe to use in the machine?

Yes — half a cup of baking soda added to the drum before a hot cycle provides mild cleaning and odor absorption. It's gentler than vinegar and can be used between deeper cleans.

Conclusion

A clean washing machine washes clothes better, lasts longer, and eliminates the musty odor that transfers to laundry. The full monthly routine takes 15–20 minutes and prevents the much more time-consuming process of dealing with heavy mold or scale buildup. The single highest-impact habit is simply leaving the door open after every wash — that alone prevents most front-loader mold issues. Combine it with a monthly drum clean and quarterly filter check, and your machine will perform reliably for years.

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