How to Wash a Washer Safely and Thoroughly

You’ve had your washing machine for two years. It cleans your clothes every week, and you’ve never once thought about cleaning the machine itself. After all, it runs soap and water through every cycle, so it should be self-cleaning, right? Wrong. The warm, damp environment inside a washing machine is the perfect breeding ground for mold, bacteria, and detergent buildup. If you’re not washing your washer, your washer is making your clothes smell worse, not better.

Washing a washer is the process of cleaning the internal and external components of a washing machine to remove detergent residue, fabric softener buildup, hard water minerals, mold, and bacteria. It involves cleaning the drum, dispenser, gasket (front-loaders), filter, and exterior.

To wash a washer safely and thoroughly, clean the detergent dispenser monthly, wipe the gasket weekly (front-loaders), run a hot cycle with a washing machine cleaner monthly, clean the drain filter monthly (front-loaders), and leave the door open between loads. Use a dedicated cleaner, not vinegar, for the drum and internal components.

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: How to Wash a Washer

Step 1: Clean the detergent dispenser.

Remove the detergent and fabric softener dispenser drawer. Most pull out or snap out. Soak it in warm water with dish soap. Scrub with an old toothbrush to remove residue. Rinse and dry before replacing.

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

Step 2: Wipe the gasket (front-loaders only).

The rubber gasket around the door is the number one source of odors in front-loading washers. Wipe it with a cloth dampened with warm water and dish soap. Pull back the folds and wipe inside. You’ll likely find a slimy buildup of detergent, fabric softener, and bacteria.

Don’t use vinegar on the gasket, as the acid can degrade the rubber over time.

Step 3: Clean the drum.

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.

The tablet dissolves and circulates through the internal components, cleaning areas you can’t reach by hand: the outer tub, drain pump, internal hoses, and heating element.

Step 4: Clean the drain filter (front-loaders only).

Front-loading washers have a drain filter behind a small access panel at the bottom front of the machine. Place a towel underneath. Twist the filter cap counterclockwise and remove it. Clean out any debris (lint, coins, hair). Replace the filter.

Step 5: Wipe the exterior.

Wipe the top, sides, and front of the machine with a damp cloth. Dry with a clean cloth. Don’t use abrasive cleaners that can scratch the surface.

Step 6: Leave the door open.

After cleaning, leave the door (or lid for top-loaders) open to let the interior dry completely. This prevents mold from growing back.

How Often to Wash Your Washer

Component	Frequency	Method
Drum (cleaning cycle)	Monthly	affresh tablet on hot cycle
Dispenser	Monthly	Remove, soak, scrub
Gasket (front-loaders)	Weekly	Wipe with damp cloth
Drain filter (front-loaders)	Monthly	Remove, clean, replace
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 the Need to Wash Your Washer Frequently

Use less detergent. The most common cause of washer buildup is using too much detergent. Use 2 tablespoons per load, not the cap line. Less detergent means less residue.

Skip fabric softener. Fabric softener leaves a waxy film that builds up in the machine. Use vinegar in the rinse cycle instead (in the fabric softener dispenser, not the drum).

Leave the door open. After every load, leave the door or lid open to let the drum dry. Mold needs moisture to grow. Air circulation prevents it.

Use HE detergent. If you have an HE washer, use HE detergent only. Regular detergent creates too many suds and leaves more residue.

Don’t wash one load after another. Give the machine time to dry between loads. If you have multiple loads, leave 30 minutes to an hour between them.

Top-Loaders vs. Front-Loaders

Task	Top-Loaders	Front-Loaders
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

Front-loaders need more attention because the rubber gasket traps water and the door creates a tight seal. Top-loaders have more natural air circulation but still need monthly cleaning.

FAQ

How do you wash a washer? Clean the detergent dispenser, wipe the gasket (front-loaders), run a hot cycle with a washing machine cleaner tablet, clean the drain filter (front-loaders), wipe the exterior, and leave the door open to dry. Repeat monthly.

How often should you wash your washer? Run a cleaning cycle with a washing machine cleaner once a month. Clean the dispenser monthly. Wipe the gasket weekly (front-loaders). Clean the drain filter monthly (front-loaders). Clean sooner if you notice odors.

Can you use vinegar to wash a washer? Vinegar can 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.

What is the best cleaner for washing a washer? 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 your washer smell after washing? Odors are caused by mold, bacteria, and trapped residue in the drum, gasket, dispenser, and internal components. The warm, damp environment is ideal for microorganism growth. Clean monthly, use less detergent, and leave the door open to prevent odors.

Do you need to clean a top-loading washer? Yes. Top-loaders don’t have a rubber gasket, but they still develop residue and odors from detergent buildup. Run a cleaning cycle monthly and clean the dispenser and agitator.

What happens if you never wash your washer? Detergent residue, fabric softener, and hard water minerals build up in the drum and internal components. Mold and bacteria grow in the warm, damp environment. Your clothes start to smell sour, look dull, and feel stiff. The machine may also develop mechanical issues from the buildup.

References

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