How to Clean a Washing Machine Top Loader Safely and Thoroughly

You’ve had your top-loading washing machine for three years. It still runs fine, but lately your towels have a sour smell even fresh out of the dryer. You looked inside the drum and noticed a gray film on the agitator and a pinkish residue around the rim. Your washer has been cleaning your clothes but nobody has been cleaning the washer.

A top-loading washing machine is a clothes washer with a lid on top and an agitator or impeller in the center of the drum. Unlike front-loaders, top-loaders don’t have a rubber gasket, but they still develop residue and odor from detergent buildup, hard water minerals, and fabric softener.

To clean a top-loading washing machine, run a hot cycle with a washing machine cleaner, scrub the agitator and drum with a brush, clean the dispenser, wipe the rim and lid, and repeat monthly. The most important step is using a dedicated cleaner rather than vinegar, which can damage internal components over time.

What You Need

• Washing machine cleaner tablets (like affresh)
• An old toothbrush or small cleaning brush
• A microfiber cloth
• Warm water
• Dish soap

Don’t use bleach, vinegar, or abrasive cleaners. Bleach can damage rubber and metal components. Vinegar can degrade rubber seals and hoses over time. Abrasive cleaners can scratch the drum surface.

Step-by-Step Cleaning Process

Step 1: Clean the dispenser.

Remove the detergent and fabric softener dispenser cups. Most top-loaders have removable dispensers that pull out or snap out. Soak them in warm water with dish soap. Scrub with an old toothbrush to remove residue. Rinse and dry before replacing.

If your dispenser isn’t removable, wipe it with a cloth dampened with warm water and dish soap. Use the toothbrush to reach into the corners.

Step 2: Wipe the rim and lid.

The area where the lid meets the drum is a prime spot for residue buildup. Wipe under the rim with a damp cloth. You’ll likely find a gray or pink film. This is a combination of detergent, fabric softener, and bacteria.

Wipe the underside of the lid and the top of the drum. Dry with a clean cloth.

Step 3: Clean the agitator or impeller.

If your washer has an agitator (the tall post in the center), unscrew the cap on top and remove the cup underneath. You’ll find a buildup of lint and residue. Clean it with the toothbrush and warm soapy water. Replace the cap and cup.

If your washer has an impeller (a low, flat cone instead of a tall post), wipe it with a damp cloth. Check the gap between the impeller and the drum for trapped debris.

Step 4: Run a cleaning cycle.

Drop one affresh Washing Machine Cleaner tablet directly into the drum (not the dispenser). Set the washer to the hottest water setting and the longest cycle. If your washer has a dedicated “Clean Washer” or “Self-Clean” cycle, use that.

Let the cycle run completely. The tablet dissolves and circulates through the internal components, cleaning areas you can’t reach by hand.

Step 5: Wipe the drum.

After the cycle finishes, wipe the inside of the drum with a dry microfiber cloth to remove any loosened residue. Leave the lid open to let the drum air dry.

How Often to Clean Your Top-Loader

Component	Frequency	Method
Drum (cleaning cycle)	Monthly	affresh tablet on hot cycle
Dispenser	Monthly	Remove, soak, scrub
Rim and lid	Weekly	Wipe with damp cloth
Agitator/impeller	Monthly	Scrub with toothbrush
Exterior	Monthly	Wipe with damp cloth

If you notice odors between cleanings, run a cleaning cycle sooner. Don’t wait for the monthly schedule if the machine smells.

Preventing Buildup in Your Top-Loader

Use less detergent. The most common cause of buildup is using too much detergent. Use 2 tablespoons per load, not the cap line. Excess detergent leaves residue that coats the drum and feeds bacteria.

Skip fabric softener. Fabric softener leaves a waxy film that builds up on the agitator, drum, and dispenser. Use vinegar in the rinse cycle instead.

Leave the lid open. After every load, leave the lid up to let the drum dry. Mold and bacteria need moisture to grow. Air circulation prevents it.

Don’t overload. Overloading prevents clothes from moving freely, which means detergent doesn’t dissolve properly and leaves more residue.

Use HE detergent. If you have an HE top-loader, use HE detergent. Regular detergent creates too many suds that leave residue.

Top-Loader vs. Front-Loader Cleaning

Task	Top-Loader	Front-Loader
Gasket cleaning	Not needed	Weekly (critical)
Dispenser cleaning	Monthly	Monthly
Filter cleaning	Rarely needed	Monthly
Cleaning cycle	Monthly	Monthly
Air circulation	Leave lid up	Leave door open
Odor risk	Lower	Higher

Top-loaders are easier to clean than front-loaders because they don’t have a rubber gasket. But they still need monthly cleaning to prevent residue and odor.

FAQ

How do you clean a top-loading washing machine? Remove and clean the dispenser, wipe the rim and lid, clean the agitator or impeller, run a hot cycle with a washing machine cleaner tablet, and wipe the drum afterward. Repeat monthly.

Can you use vinegar to clean a top-loading washing machine? Vinegar can help freshen the drum surface, but regular use can degrade rubber seals and hoses over time. For the drum and internal components, use a dedicated washing machine cleaner like affresh tablets, which are formulated to clean without damaging components.

How often should you clean a top-loading washing machine? Run a cleaning cycle with a washing machine cleaner once a month. Clean the dispenser monthly. Wipe the rim and lid weekly. Clean the agitator monthly. Clean sooner if you notice odors.

What is the best cleaner for a top-loading washing machine? affresh Washing Machine Cleaner tablets are formulated to clean the drum and internal components without damaging rubber or metal parts. Drop one tablet in the drum and run the hottest cycle.

Why does my top-loading washing machine smell? Odors are caused by detergent residue, fabric softener buildup, and bacteria in the drum, dispenser, and agitator. The warm, damp environment after washing is ideal for bacteria growth. Clean monthly, use less detergent, and leave the lid open to prevent odors.

Do you need to clean the agitator on a top-loading washer? Yes. Remove the cap on top of the agitator and clean the cup underneath. Lint and detergent residue build up there and can cause odors. Clean it monthly with a toothbrush and warm soapy water.

Can you use bleach to clean a top-loading washing machine? Bleach can disinfect the drum surface but can damage rubber and metal components over time. It also doesn’t remove detergent residue as effectively as a dedicated cleaner. Use affresh tablets instead of bleach.

References

1. affresh. “How to Clean a Top-Loading Washing Machine.” affresh.com.
2. Consumer Reports. “How to Clean a Washing Machine.” consumerreports.org.
3. The Spruce. “How to Clean a Top-Loading Washing Machine.” thespruce.com.
4. Maytag. “Stop Using Vinegar to Clean Your Washing Machine.” maytag.com.