How often should you clean your washing machine?

Short answer

Clean the washing machine once a month. Run a hot cycle with a washer cleaner tablet or a cup of bleach, scrub the detergent drawer, and clear the drain filter. On a front loader, also wipe the rubber door gasket dry after each wash day, because that fold of rubber is where the smell starts. The monthly clean takes 10 to 15 minutes of hands-on time and costs $0 to $5.

Why it matters

A washing machine is wet inside most of the time, and a machine that washes in cold water with gentle detergent, which is most of them now, doesn't get hot enough to kill anything. Detergent residue, fabric softener and the dirt from clothes build into a film on the drum, in the drawer and in the gasket. Mold and bacteria live in that film. The musty smell that comes from the machine, and then from the clean laundry, is what they produce.

A front loader's door gasket makes it worse. Water pools in the fold at the bottom and stays there, and the gasket grows black mildew that transfers to every load. The drain filter, a small trap near the bottom of the machine, catches coins, hair clips and lint, and when it's full the machine drains slowly or stops with an error. A monthly cleaning cycle and a dry gasket keep the laundry smelling like laundry.

When to do it more often

The index gives one modifier, and it's a habit rather than a date: on a front loader, wipe the gasket dry after each wash day and leave the door open between loads so the drum dries. That alone prevents most of the smell. Beyond that, a machine that runs several loads a day loads up faster than one that runs on weekends, and a household that uses lots of fabric softener, which leaves a waxy film, will find the monthly clean comes due sooner. If the clean laundry smells musty before the month is up, run the cleaning cycle then.

What you need

A cloth for the gasket and the drum
An old toothbrush for the detergent drawer and the gasket fold
Washer cleaner tablets, or household bleach
White vinegar, for the drawer and the soap scum

Steps at a glance

Pull out the detergent drawer, soak it in hot water with vinegar, and scrub the slots and the housing it slides into.
Pull back the door gasket on a front loader and scrub the fold with the toothbrush, then wipe it dry.
Open the drain filter cover near the bottom front, with a towel and a shallow tray under it, and empty the trap.
Run the hottest, longest cycle empty with a washer cleaner tablet or a cup of bleach in the drum.
Wipe the drum and the inside of the door dry when the cycle ends.
Leave the door and the drawer open to air out.

You're done when the drum smells of nothing, the gasket fold is clean and dry, and the drain trap is empty.

Signs it's overdue

A musty smell from the machine, or from clothes that were clean a minute ago.
Mildew spots on the door gasket.
Residue on clean clothes, gray streaks or waxy patches.
The machine drains slowly or stops with a drain error, which means the filter is full.

DIY or pro

This is an easy job, and most of it is the machine running a cycle by itself. The drain filter is the part people don't know about: it's behind a small door at the bottom front of most front loaders and some top loaders, and water comes out when you open it, so the towel matters. Check the manual if you can't find it.

There's no cleaning service for washing machines. A technician is for a machine that still won't drain after the filter is cleared, or that leaks from the gasket, which may need replacing if mildew has gotten into the rubber itself.

FAQ

Why does my washing machine smell?

Detergent residue and dirt build into a film inside the machine, and mold grows in it. Front loaders are worst, because water sits in the door gasket. A monthly cleaning cycle and a dry gasket fix it.

Can I use vinegar to clean a washing machine?

For the drawer and the soap scum, yes. For the drum, a washer cleaner tablet or bleach does more, and vinegar in every load can harden the rubber seals over time.

Should I leave the washing machine door open?

Yes, between loads. A front loader's drum and gasket dry out with the door open, which stops the mildew before it starts.

Where is the washing machine drain filter?

Behind a small door at the bottom front of most front loaders. Put a towel down before opening it, since the trap holds water.