How to Clean a Washing Machine—And What Happens If You Don’t

The average U.S. family does 300 loads of laundry per year. That’s nearly six loads per week! You’d think with all that action, your washer would clean itself, no need for you to bother learning how to clean a washing machine. But nope! In fact, getting your clothes clean actually makes your washer dirty. Case in point: A 2024 review in Antibiotics that found that bacteria can latch onto the drum, rubber gasket and detergent drawer with each wash, forming stubborn biofilms that build up over time unless the machine is regularly cleaned.

“Residue from previous washes—such as dirt, skin, food and excess detergent—can accumulate in washing machines if they aren’t cleaned regularly,” says Haven Chart, a product manager in the manufacturing industry and former laundry expert for Asko, the maker of Scandinavian-inspired laundry appliances. Next comes mold and mildew, smelly clothes and a shorter washer lifespan, she says. That’s why you should know how to clean a washing machine—and actually do it from time to time.

Great, you’re thinking. This better be easy. It is! You don’t need any fancy products either. Simple, natural products and a hot water cycle will do the trick. Reader’s Digest spoke to Chart and laundry expert and author Patric Richardson to bring you their pro tips and time-tested advice on how to clean everything in your washing machine, from the drum to the filter to the soap dispenser. Read on to find out how to keep your appliance running great and your clothes smelling fresh.

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How to clean inside a washing machine quickly

To keep smells at bay between deep cleanings, Chart says to spray the inside of your washing machine with vinegar, then wipe it down with a damp microfiber cloth and allow it to air-dry. If your machine has a self-cleaning cycle, use it. But you’ll still have to deep-clean your washer on the regular, she says. (Make sure to check your owner’s manual first to see what the manufacturer recommends or if any prohibitions might void your warranty.)

Supplies you’ll need

• Spray bottle
• White vinegar
• Microfiber towel or cloth

Directions

• Step 1: Mix up a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water in the spray bottle.
• Step 2: Spray the insides of your washing machine, including the gasket (large rubber seal around a front-loading washer’s door), the door or lid and the detergent compartments.
• Step 3: Wipe down all surfaces with a damp microfiber cloth.
• Step 4: Leave the door or lid open to fully air-dry.

How to clean a top-loading washing machine

The process of cleaning a top-loading washing machine is similar to cleaning a front-loading machine, but there are notable differences. According to Whirlpool, a top-loading machine is “less likely to develop mold or mildew odors,” but the agitator—the central post inside the washer—can make the job a bit trickier.

Keep in mind that top-loading washers come in two styles: the old-school kind with a central agitator and high-efficiency (HE) models with a low-profile impeller. Their interiors are shaped differently and therefore collect grime in different spots. An agitator may need extra scrubbing around the post, while an impeller’s flat plate calls for more focus on the drum itself.

The good news? Cleaning your top-loader is far from a Herculean task, regardless of the type of machine you’ve got. Here’s how to clean a top-loading washing machine in two simple ways.

Clean with borax and vinegar

Borax (sodium borate) is a natural, laundry-boosting mineral compound that’s popular around the world for its exceptional cleaning power and scrubbing ability. It and plain white vinegar are Richardson’s go-to choices for cleaning a top-loading washing machine.

For best results, Chart recommends removing the agitator if possible. Scrub its nooks and crannies in the sink before placing it back in the machine and running the cleaning cycle.

Supplies you’ll need

• Borax
• White vinegar
• Microfiber towel or cloth

Directions

• Step 1: Add 1 pound of borax to the drum of your top-loading washing machine.
• Step 2: Pour 1 gallon of white vinegar into the drum along with the borax.
• Step 3: Run your machine on the hottest washer temperature and longest cycle available.
• Step 4: When the washing cycle is complete, wipe down the drum, the dispenser and the lid with a cloth or towel.
• Step 5: Leave the lid open to fully air-dry the machine.

Clean with vinegar and baking soda

Using baking soda and vinegar in laundry goes back centuries, if not longer. And why not? Vinegar’s a natural disinfectant that cleans almost anything, and baking soda freshens as it gently scrubs. Below, Chart walks us through her favorite method for cleaning a top-loading washing machine using baking soda and vinegar. Again, if your agitator is removable, she suggests taking it out and scrubbing the crevices before replacing it and running the cleaning cycle.

Supplies you’ll need

• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Microfiber towel or cloth

Directions

• Step 1: Add 4 cups of white vinegar to the drum.
• Step 2: Run the hot cycle.
• Step 3: Add 1 cup of baking soda to the drum.
• Step 4: Run another hot cycle.
• Step 5: When the washing cycle is done, wipe down the insides of the drum and lid with a cloth or towel.
• Step 6: Leave the lid open to air-dry.

How to clean a front-loading washing machine

Front-loading washing machines are more efficient and use less water than top-loaders, but they might call for more frequent cleaning. That’s because the watertight front door has a gasket where water, mold and detergent residue hide. But you can easily clean inside a washing machine, even if it’s a front-loading one, using the following steps:

Clean with borax and vinegar

There’s a key difference between using borax and vinegar to clean a front-loader versus a top-loader: Instead of putting the vinegar into the drum, you’ll add it to the detergent dispenser compartment.

Supplies you’ll need

• Borax
• White vinegar
• Microfiber towel or cloth

Directions

• Step 1: Add 1 pound of borax to the drum, spreading it out evenly.
• Step 2: Pour 3/4 cup of white vinegar into the detergent compartment.
• Step 3: Run your washing machine on the hottest and longest cycle available (or on the self-cleaning cycle, if your washer has one).
• Step 4: Once the cycle is complete, wipe down the insides of the drum, the gaskets and the latches with a soft cotton cloth.
• Step 5: Leave the washer door open to let it fully air-dry.

Clean with vinegar and baking soda

Borax is an inexpensive, effective cleaner, but it can be harsh on your skin, and not everyone has it around. Once again, Chart recommends vinegar and baking soda, but she scales the proportions down for today’s water-saving front-loading washing machines.

As with a top-loading machine, you’re not putting the two cleaners in at the same time—vinegar (a weak acid) and baking soda (a weak base) create a bubbling mess that may look a lot like cleaning, but they actually neutralize the cleaning power of each other. Instead, follow the steps below.

Supplies you’ll need

• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Microfiber towel or cloth

Directions

• Step 1: Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser.
• Step 2: Run the hot cycle.
• Step 3: Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the drum.
• Step 4: Run another hot cycle.
• Step 5: When the final washing cycle has finished, wipe down the drum, gasket and door with a cloth or towel.
• Step 6: Leave the door open to air-dry.

How to clean a washing machine filter and accessories

You clean your dryer’s lint filter after each cycle, but how about your washing machine filter? Yep—washing machines have filters too, and they can get clogged with lint and hair. Cleaning one is even easier than cleaning the washing machine, but it can be a little messy, so you’re going to need an old bath towel and a bowl.

Find your washing machine’s filter by checking your manual—they’re usually located on the front, near the bottom—then follow the experts’ steps below to clean your washing machine filter.

And don’t forget to clean the rest of your washer’s parts, including the detergent, bleach and fabric softener dispensers, as well as any removable parts, like the top of the agitator, if your machine has one. “Other small parts should be cleaned by hand with a cloth or toothbrush,” Chart says.

Supplies you’ll need

• Old towel
• Small bowl
• White vinegar
• Old toothbrush

Directions

• Step 1: Open the filter cover. Inside, you’ll see a filter and a drainage tube.
• Step 2: Lay down your towel, then place the bowl on top.
• Step 3: Uncap the drainage tube and allow the water to drain into the bowl.
• Step 4: Remove the filter by unscrewing it with your fingers. Pull it out and remove any lint, hair and debris.
• Step 5: Pull the dispensers out of the machine and scrub them and the filter with white vinegar and an old toothbrush. Rinse and replace.
• Step 6: Put the cap on the drainage tube, reinsert the filter and close the filter cover.

How to clean the outside of a washing machine

When you think of how to clean a washing machine, the inside isn’t the only thing you need to focus on. Dirt, grime and water spots build up on the outside of your washer too, and you’ll want to remove all that without damaging the finish. Here’s how to do it best:

Supplies you’ll need

• Spray bottle
• White vinegar
• Microfiber towel or cloth

Directions

• Step 1: Mix up a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water in the spray bottle.
• Step 2: Spray the outside surfaces of your washing machine.
• Step 3: Wipe down the machine with a damp microfiber cloth.

How often should you clean your washing machine?

The frequency of cleanings depends, in large part, on your machine and what you’re using in it. “If you are using plant-based products, they tend to rinse cleaner and leave less residue, so once a year would work,” says Richardson. “If, however, you are using petroleum-based detergents, fabric softeners or fragrances, you should clean it more often—maybe every three to six months.”

Chart agrees that it’s best to stick to a regular cleaning schedule and says it’s “pretty easy to tell when it’s time to clean your washing machine” because you’ll see mold or it will start to smell. If that happens, take action! Molds can stink up your clothes and make you sick.

FAQs

Is bleach or vinegar better for cleaning a washing machine?

The experts recommend using vinegar for the regular deep-cleaning of your washing machine, but Chart says bleach is safe to use if you prefer. Bleach will kill molds, mildew and other microbes, and you can dilute it in a spray bottle—follow the directions on the bleach label—to clean the gasket of your front loader.

If you do use bleach to disinfect your washing machine, she suggests that you “always run a rinse cycle afterward, before washing any clothes, to be on the safe side.”

How do I clean a smelly washing machine?

Use the pro-approved methods above. Vinegar, bleach, borax and baking soda, along with the self-cleaning feature on your machine and a little elbow grease, should take care of even the stinkiest washing machine, as long as you keep on top of things. Don’t allow wet clothes to sit in the washing machine after a cycle.

Don’t use too much detergent either. Richardson says the most you ever need is 2 tablespoons. Excess detergents and fabric softeners lead to washing machine buildup.

How do I get rid of mold in my washing machine?

Both bleach and vinegar (but never together!) will kill molds in your washing machine, but bleach is stronger and kills more microorganisms, including mold. (For what it’s worth, both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency recommend using bleach to kill molds after flooding events and other disasters.)

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece on how to clean a washing machine, Ally Childress tapped her experience as a seasoned home and cleaning reporter, and then Ann Russell, the author of How to Clean Everything, gave it a rigorous review to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. For this piece, we relied on reputable sources who are experts in cleaning, laundry and washing machines. We verified all facts and data and backed them with credible sourcing, and we will revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Additional reporting by Maryn Liles.

Sources:

• Haven Chart, product manager with laundry appliance experience; email interview, Jan. 5, 2024
• Patric Richardson, founder of the Laundry Evangelist, host of the Discovery+ series The Laundry Guy and author of Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore; interviewed August 2021
• Energy Star: “Clothes Washers”
• Antibiotics: “Microbial Colonization, Biofilm Formation, and Malodour of Washing Machine Surfaces and Fabrics and the Evolution of Detergents in Response to Consumer Demands and Environmental Concerns”
• Whirlpool: “Front load vs. top load washers: which type is better?”

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