How to Clean a Washing Machine

By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.
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Updated on 10/11/24
Reviewed by
Rhea Mehta
Dr. Rhea Mehta, PhD
Reviewed by Rhea Mehta
Rhea Mehta, PhD, is an award-winning toxicologist who has worked to empower people to lead healthier lives, starting in their homes, for over a decade. Rhea holds a PhD in Toxicology, with over 15 scientific publications, and a certificate in integrative health coaching. 
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Fact checked by
Sarah Scott
SS
Fact checked by Sarah Scott
Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design.
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In This Article
Project Overview
  • Working Time: 15 mins - 20 hrs
  • Total Time: 15 mins - 1 hr
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $0-5

Learning how to clean a washing machine is straightforward, keeping your clothes smelling fresh. Over time, grime, mold, leftover detergent, and hard water mineral deposits from the washer drum and hoses can build up.

If you're trying to figure out how often to clean, the rule of thumb is to clean a standard top-load washer at least twice yearly or every three months if you have hard water to prevent mineral deposits. Clean high-efficiency top-load and front-load washers more often—usually every month. Increase the frequency if you wash exceptionally heavily soiled clothes or live in a hot, humid area where mold is more of a problem.

Washing machines are easy to clean using a commercial cleaner, bleach, or vinegar. Here are a few simple steps for cleaning your washer.

a person wiping down a washing machine

The Spruce / Fiona Campbell

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • 1 soft cloth
  • 1 measuring cup
  • Small saucepan or microwave
  • Small bottle brush (optional)

Materials

  • 1 quart chlorine bleach
  • 1 quart distilled white vinegar

Instructions

chlorine bleach, vinegar, and cloths
The Spruce / Fiona Campbell

How to Clean a Washing Machine

To clean a standard top-load clothes washer, ensure no laundry is inside and no detergent or fabric softener in any dispenser. Do not add any detergent to the washer during this process.

Warning

Never use bleach and vinegar together (at the same time). The two produce toxic chlorine gas, which is dangerous even in small amounts. Use a fan or open windows to ensure good ventilation whenever cleaning with bleach.

  1. Run a Cycle With Bleach

    Run a complete hot water cycle with bleach. Here's how much to add:

    • Top-load machine: Fill the washer drum with water, stop it before it agitates, and add 1 quart of chlorine bleach.
    • Front-load machine: Add 1/2 cup of liquid chlorine bleach to the detergent compartment and fill the bleach dispenser compartment to the fill line with chlorine bleach.
    adding chlorine bleach to the drum

    The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa

    person adding chlorine bleach to a washer dispenser

    The Spruce / Fiona Campbell

  2. Run a Complete Wash and Spin Cycle

    Allow the washer to run through its longest wash and spin cycle so that it completes a rinse and drain.

    setting the wash cycle

    The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa

  3. Add Vinegar and Run Another Cycle

    Run a complete cycle with vinegar. Baking soda can be added for front-loaders. Here's how much to add:

    • Top-load machine: Use the washer settings to fill the washer's drum with hot water, stopping it before it agitates. Add 1 quart of distilled white vinegar to the water.
    • Front-load machine: Fill the detergent and fabric softener dispenser with distilled white vinegar to the fill line. For extra cleaning and deodorizing power, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda directly into the drum.
    filling the washer again with hot water

    The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa

  4. Wipe the Seals and Door

    When the cycle is complete, use a soft, absorbent cloth to dry around the washer door opening, flexible gasket, and door glass. This will help ensure any mold residue (which the bleach would kill) is removed.

    person wiping down the washer

    ​The Spruce / Fiona Campbell 

  5. Clean Dispenser Drawers

    Built-in dispensers for detergent, fabric softener, and bleach must be cleaned every four to six weeks to keep them working well and dispensing accurately.

    • Heat 1 cup of white vinegar in the microwave or a small saucepan (hot, not boiling).
    • Pour the heated vinegar into the dispenser and allow it to sit for a few minutes to loosen any buildup. If heavy residue is still visible, use a bottlebrush to loosen it.
    • Run the machine using a regular cycle.
    Cleaning a washer with hydrogen peroxide

    The Spruce / Olivia Inman

Is Bleach or Vinegar Better to Clean a Washing Machine?

Bleach and vinegar both play critical parts in the cleaning instructions (although used separately) because each is an effective cleaner with its strengths. Bleach is a powerful sanitizer that eliminates mold and germs. Vinegar can kill germs and fend off mold to a lesser extent, but it is not as powerful. Vinegar's most significant benefit is that it neutralizes odors. It is also more environmentally friendly, less harsh, and a cheaper ingredient.

Tips to Keep Your Clothes Washer Clean Longer

  • Open the lid or door: After each load, leave the lid of a top-load washer or the door of a front-load machine open to allow the drum and seals to air dry, reducing the risk of mold and mildew growth.
  • Wipe the drum: After washing heavily soiled clothing, wipe the drum with a nonabrasive household cleaner and rinse thoroughly or run a cleaning cycle.
  • Check for rust: Little brown spots on your laundry may be caused by rust from the washer. Use a flashlight to check your washer basket carefully for chips in the finish. You can either replace the washer basket (which is expensive) or get a kit to repair and repaint the porcelain coating.
  • Keep the top clear: Never store or place laundry products on top of the washer at any time. Spills can damage the finish or electronic controls.
  • Run cleaning cycles: Use the machine's built-in cleaning cycle every month or so, or run an empty washer with the hottest water setting.
  • Use the right amount of detergent: To prevent residue build-up, always use the amount recommended on the detergent container for each wash load.
FAQ
  • If I use vinegar in my washing machine, will it damage the machine?

    Vinegar used directly on rubber or gaskets can degrade or wear down those parts. But since it is used infrequently and mixed with water from the washing cycle, using vinegar occasionally to clean should not damage the machine.

  • Are there any disadvantages to cleaning with vinegar?

    Some of the biggest disadvantages of cleaning with vinegar are its smell, its ability to harm some surfaces, and its ineffectiveness as a disinfectant.

  • Is vinegar an effective disinfectant when cleaning?

    The Environmental Protection Agency does not recognize vinegar as an effective disinfectant or sanitizer. It does not kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, like Staph, MRSA, or COVID-19, which it needs to do to be considered "effective."

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Some Things Just Dont Mix: Poison Control Tips for Chemicals. Missouri Poison Center.

  2. Selected EPA-registered disinfectants. Environmental Protection Agency.