How to Clean a Washing Machine and Its Filter (Front-Load and Top-Load)

If your "clean" towels come out smelling a little musty, you're not imagining it. The machine that cleans everything else in the house rarely gets cleaned itself.

Detergent residue, fabric softener, lint and hard-water minerals build up inside the drum, around the door seal and in a small pump filter most people don't know exists. The result is odor, slower draining and, eventually, error codes. The hands-on part takes about 15 minutes, and a cleaning cycle does the rest.

Why It Matters

Modern washers use less water than older machines. That's great for your water bill, but it means less rinsing of residue. Front-loaders in particular have an airtight door seal that traps moisture, a perfect setup for mildew. And a clogged pump filter makes the drain pump work harder, one of the more common reasons washers fail early.

San Diego's hard water adds mineral scale to the mix, so a regular cleaning cycle matters more here than in many other places.

What You'll Need

Microfiber cloths, an old toothbrush, a toothpick, a flashlight, a small bucket or shallow baking sheet, a couple of old towels, white vinegar or a mild cleaner, and one Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner tablet (Home Depot or Amazon).

How to Clean a Washing Machine: Step by Step

1. Turn it off and check the drum. Make sure the washer is empty and off, then open the door or lid. Pull out any coins, hair pins or lint left in the drum.
2. Clean the detergent dispenser. If the drawer is removable, pull it out, rinse it under warm water and scrub each compartment with the toothbrush to remove detergent buildup and mold. Wipe out the cavity it slides into, too.
3. Wipe the door gasket (front-loaders). Gently pull back the rubber seal and wipe inside the folds with a cloth dampened with vinegar or a mild cleaner. This is where soap residue and mildew hide. On top-loaders, wipe the lid and the rim of the tub.
4. Clear the gasket drain holes. Look for small drainage holes at the bottom of the gasket. Use a toothpick to clear any that are clogged with lint or soap.
5. Clean the pump filter, if yours has one. On most front-loaders it's behind a small access panel at the lower front. Unplug the machine, lay down towels and set the baking sheet underneath, since some water will come out. Unscrew the filter slowly, clear out lint and debris, then screw it back in firmly. Many top-loaders don't have an accessible pump filter; your manual will tell you.
6. Run a hot cleaning cycle. Place the Affresh tablet directly in the drum, not in the detergent drawer. Choose Tub Clean, Sanitize or a hot heavy cycle with the hottest water setting. The tablet dissolves detergent residue, biofilm and mineral buildup.
7. Wipe the interior. When the cycle finishes, wipe the drum, the door glass and the gasket with a microfiber cloth to remove anything it loosened.
8. Clean the outside. Wipe the control panel, knobs, door handle and top of the machine with an all-purpose cleaner.
9. Leave the door open. Prop the door or lid slightly open so moisture can evaporate. Make this a habit after every load.

How Often Should You Do This?

Every 90 days is a good rhythm for most households. If you do a lot of laundry or use fabric softener heavily, wipe the gasket monthly in between.

While You're at It

Pull the washer out a few inches and look at the hot and cold supply hoses. Bulging, cracking or rusty fittings are a warning sign, and a burst washer hose is one of the most common causes of home water damage. Braided stainless steel hoses are an inexpensive upgrade, and a water leak sensor behind the machine adds an early warning.

Let Our Team Handle It

Crawling around with a baking sheet under the pump filter isn't anyone's idea of a good Saturday. For Livd members, your dedicated handyman cleans the washer every 90 days as part of your proactive maintenance plan, with the cleaning tablet included, and keeps an eye on the supply hoses while they're back there.

Already a Livd member? Add "clean washer and filter" to your task list in the Livd app and we'll take care of it on your next scheduled visit.

Not a Livd member yet? Schedule your free home walkthrough at livdhomes.com. We'll look at what your home needs and build a proactive maintenance plan to keep the little things from becoming big ones.