How to Clean a Washing Machine (Yes, It Needs Cleaning Too)
If laundry has started smelling musty even right out of the wash, the machine itself is the likely culprit. Here's how to actually clean it, front-load and top-load both.
Why a Washing Machine Needs Its Own Cleaning
It sounds backwards — the appliance that cleans everything else building up grime of its own — but detergent residue, fabric softener buildup, and trapped moisture create exactly the environment mold and mildew need, especially in front-load machines with a rubber door gasket that stays damp between loads.
Signs Your Washing Machine Needs Cleaning
- Clothes smell musty or sour even immediately after a wash cycle
- Visible residue or a slimy film around the detergent dispenser or door gasket
- A persistent odor from the machine itself, even when it's empty
How to Clean a Front-Load Washing Machine
- Wipe the door gasket thoroughly — pull back the rubber seal and clean inside the fold, where moisture and grime collect most (this is the single biggest source of odor in front-loaders)
- Remove and clean the detergent dispenser drawer, soaking it if there's visible residue buildup
- Run an empty hot-water cycle with either a washing-machine cleaner or a cup of white vinegar, which breaks down residue and mineral buildup inside the drum
- Wipe down the drum interior once the cycle finishes
- Leave the door open between loads going forward — this single habit prevents most future buildup by letting the interior actually dry out
How to Clean a Top-Load Washing Machine
- Run an empty hot-water cycle with washing-machine cleaner or vinegar, same principle as front-loaders, to break down residue
- Wipe down the agitator, lid, and rim where residue tends to accumulate
- Clean the detergent and fabric softener dispensers, which collect buildup over time
- Leave the lid open between loads to let the drum dry out
How Often to Clean It
A deep clean roughly once a month is a reasonable baseline for most households, more often for heavy use or if odor becomes noticeable sooner. The door-open habit between loads matters as much as the monthly deep clean itself.
Bottom Line
A washing machine that smells or leaves clothes smelling off almost always needs cleaning itself, not a different detergent. A monthly cycle with vinegar or a dedicated cleaner, plus leaving the door open between loads, solves the overwhelming majority of cases. If the rest of the home's cleaning is what's actually falling behind, get a free price estimate to see what help would cost.