How to clean the washing machine
To clean a washing machine, wipe the door gasket once a month, clean the detergent drawer, run the tub-clean cycle and clear the drain pump filter on a front-loader. LG gives this monthly schedule for its washers. Use the cleaner your manual names, and never mix bleach with vinegar. Top-loaders usually have no pump filter to clear.
How often to clean a washing machine
LG publishes a clear monthly routine, so it makes a good baseline. If your washer is another brand, your manual comes first.
| Part | How often (LG) | If you skip it |
|---|---|---|
| Door and gasket, wiped dry | End of each wash day | Hair and lint build up and spoil the seal |
| Door and gasket, washed | At least monthly | The door can leak |
| Detergent dispenser | At least monthly | Residue builds up in the drawer |
| Tub clean cycle | About monthly | Residue and odor build in the drum |
| Drain pump filter | At least monthly, more with heavy use | Slow draining or an OE error code |
| Water inlet filters | Check regularly, especially with hard water | Poor fill |
Filter schedules differ by brand, so check yours. If you've never opened the pump filter on the washer that came with your house, do it this weekend. You may find coins, hair pins or a sock.
What you need to clean a washing machine
- A shallow pan and old towels for the pump filter
- A soft brush or sponge
- Warm water and a bucket
- Chlorine bleach or white vinegar for the gasket, but never both
- The washer cleaner your manual recommends, if it calls for one
- A flashlight
LG's gasket recipe is 3/4 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of warm water, with vinegar as a replacement. Don't use straight bleach on the gasket. LG warns that it can break the rubber down over time.
Bleach and vinegar together release chlorine gas, so finish with one product and rinse well before you try anything else. Washington's health department says even low exposure irritates the eyes, nose and throat. Higher levels can cause serious breathing trouble.
How to clean a washing machine, from gasket to pump filter
- Start with an empty drum
Turn the washer off and check that no water is sitting in the tub.
- Wash the gasket
Pull back the lip and wipe all the way around, especially at the bottom, using LG's diluted solution or your manual's method.
- Clean the drawer
Pull the dispenser out if it lifts free and scrub it with warm water and a soft brush. Keep it out of the dishwasher, since heat can warp it.
- Run the clean cycle
Press Tub Clean or your model's equivalent. LG says to use the Sanitary cycle if there's no tub clean button.
- Open the pump access panel
Set a pan and towels at the lower front. If your model has a small drain hose, drain it into the pan first and replace its plug.
- Clear the filter
Turn it counterclockwise and pull it out slowly. Remove any objects and lint, then wash it by hand.
- Close it up
Turn the filter clockwise until it stops, then refit the panel. Run a short rinse and look for drips.
- Let it air out
Dry the gasket and door glass with a towel after the last load of the day.
Washing machine smells, leaks and other warning signs
- An OE code or a tub full of water at the end of a cycle. Check the pump filter first.
- Water on the floor in front of the door. Look for hair or lint on the gasket, or a tear in the rubber.
- A smell that returns within days of cleaning. Look in the gasket folds, the dispenser and the filter. Too much detergent can also be a cause, so check your dose.
- Black spots on the gasket that won't wipe off. The gasket may need replacing.
- Water under the machine that isn't near the door. Check the hoses and the drain connection behind it.
- A burning smell, sparks or a tripped breaker. Unplug the machine if it's safe to do so, and call a repair tech.
Any leak that reaches flooring or drywall needs quick drying. EPA says to dry water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
How to clean a washing machine yourself, or call a repair tech?
Everything on this page is DIY. You don't need to take off any panel beyond the small access door at the bottom front. On LG washers, the pump filter is only on front-load and combo units. Top-loaders don't have one.
Call an appliance repair tech if clearing the filter doesn't fix a drain error, the pump hums but won't move water, the door lock fails, or you can hear grinding during the spin. Door gasket replacement is usually a job for a repair tech too.
If your laundry is on an upper floor, treat any leak as urgent. Turn off the two supply valves behind the washer until you find the cause.
What homeowners say about washing machine cleaning
Where owners disagree: Owners are split. Some long-time owners had never heard of them and say newer machines with a built-in filter or self-clean cycle don't need one. Others put a mesh lint trap on the discharge hose after lint clogged their drains. That's especially true for septic systems, old pipes, or washers that drain into a laundry sink. (Reddit)
Washing machine cleaning questions
How often should I clean my washing machine?
LG recommends general maintenance about monthly, including the gasket, dispenser and drain filter. Other brands vary, so use your manual if it gives a different interval.
Can I use bleach and vinegar to clean a washer?
Use one or the other, never both. Mixing bleach with an acid such as vinegar releases chlorine gas, and LG says not to put straight bleach on the door gasket.
Do top-load washers have a drain pump filter?
LG says its drain pump filter is on front-load and combo units only. For another brand, check your manual, since designs differ.
Sources: lg.com, doh.wa.gov, EPA
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.