How to Clean a Top Loading Washer Safely and Thoroughly

You have a top loading washer and want to clean it. Maybe your washer smells musty, you see residue in the drum, or your clothes aren’t coming out as clean as they should. Top loading washers need regular cleaning to remove detergent residue, hard water minerals, and mold. Here’s how to clean a top loading washer safely and thoroughly.

A top loading washer uses an agitator or impeller to move clothes through water. Over time, detergent residue, fabric softener buildup, hard water minerals, and mold accumulate in the drum, agitator, dispenser, and filter. This buildup causes odors, reduces cleaning performance, and can stain clothes. Cleaning a top loading washer requires running an empty hot cycle with a cleaner, then wiping all surfaces where buildup and mold hide.

To clean a top loading washer, run an empty hot cycle with affresh or 2 cups of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda, clean the agitator or impeller, clean the dispenser drawer, wipe the drum and lid, clean the filter, and leave the lid open. Don’t use bleach, don’t use cold water, and don’t close the lid between loads.

Step-by-Step: Cleaning a Top Loading Washer

Step 1: Run an Empty Hot Cycle with affresh

Place one tablet of affresh Washing Machine Cleaner in the washer drum. Set the machine to the hottest water setting and the longest cycle. Start the machine. The tablet dissolves and removes residue, mold, and odors.

Step 2: Clean the Agitator or Impeller

If your machine has an agitator, remove the fabric softener cup on top. Clean inside with an old toothbrush and warm soapy water. If your machine has an impeller, wipe it with a cloth and warm soapy water.

Step 3: Clean the Dispenser Drawer

Remove the detergent and fabric softener dispenser drawer. Soak it in warm water with Dawn Ultra Dish Soap for 15 minutes. Scrub with an old toothbrush to remove buildup. Rinse and replace.

Step 4: Wipe the Drum and Lid

Wipe the inside of the drum and the lid with a clean cloth soaked in warm water and vinegar. Remove any residue or debris.

Step 5: Clean the Filter

Some top load washers have a lint filter. Locate the filter (check your manual). Remove and clean it with an old toothbrush. If your machine doesn’t have a filter, skip this step.

Step 6: Wipe the Exterior

Wipe the exterior of the machine with a damp cloth. Don’t use abrasive cleaners.

Step 7: Leave the Lid Open

Leave the washer lid open between loads to allow the drum to dry. This prevents mold and mildew.

Alternative Method: Vinegar and Baking Soda

Step 1: Add Vinegar

Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the drum or to the detergent dispenser.

Step 2: Add Baking Soda

Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the drum.

Step 3: Run an Empty Hot Cycle

Set the machine to the hottest water setting and the longest cycle. Start and let it run.

Step 4: Wipe and Clean

After the cycle, wipe the drum, agitator, dispenser, and lid as described above.

For Severe Odors or Buildup

Run Two Cycles

If odors persist after one cleaning cycle, run a second cycle. Use affresh for the first and vinegar and baking soda for the second.

Soak the Agitator

For severe buildup on the agitator, remove the fabric softener cup and soak it in warm water with Dawn dish soap for 30 minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush.

Use Lysol for Disinfecting

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to an empty cycle for extra disinfecting.

Clean Twice Monthly

For severe odor problems, clean the machine twice monthly until the odor is gone, then switch to monthly cleaning.

Use the Right Products for Laundry

Detergent: Tide Free and Gentle

Stain removers: OxiClean Max Force Spray, Dawn Ultra Dish Soap, Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam

Ink remover: Amodex Ink and Stain Remover

How to Prevent a Dirty Top Loading Washer

Use the Right Amount of Detergent

Using too much detergent leaves residue. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle per load.

Don’t Use Fabric Softener

Fabric softener leaves a waxy residue. Use vinegar instead.

Leave the Lid Open

Leave the lid open between loads to allow the drum to dry.

Clean Monthly

Clean the machine monthly with affresh or vinegar and baking soda.

Use HE Detergent in HE Top Loaders

If you have an HE top load washer, use HE detergent. Regular detergent produces too many suds.

Remove Clothes Promptly

Remove clothes from the washer as soon as the cycle ends.

What Not to Do

Don’t use bleach. Bleach can damage rubber seals and gaskets. Use affresh or vinegar instead.

Don’t use cold water. Cold water doesn’t kill mold or dissolve buildup. Use hot water.

Don’t close the lid between loads. Closing the lid traps moisture and causes mold. Leave the lid open.

Don’t use too much detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue. Use the recommended amount.

Don’t use fabric softener. Fabric softener leaves residue. Use vinegar instead.

Don’t use abrasive cleaners. Abrasive cleaners can scratch the drum and lid. Use mild soap and water.

Comparison: Cleaning Methods for Top Loading Washers

Method	Cost	Best For	How Often	Ease of Use
affresh tablets	Medium	Deep cleaning	Monthly	Very easy
Vinegar and baking soda	Low	Monthly maintenance	Monthly	Easy
Bleach	Low	Disinfecting (use alone)	Every 3 to 6 months	Easy
Professional service	High	Severe problems	As needed	Not DIY

FAQ

How do you clean a top loading washer? Run an empty hot cycle with one affresh tablet, clean the agitator or impeller, clean the dispenser drawer, wipe the drum and lid, clean the filter, and leave the lid open.

How often should you clean a top loading washer? Clean your top loading washer monthly with affresh or vinegar and baking soda. Wipe the lid and dispenser every 2 to 4 weeks.

Can you use vinegar and baking soda to clean a top loading washer? Yes. Add 2 cups of white vinegar and half a cup of baking soda to the drum. Run an empty hot cycle. Wipe the drum and lid after.

Why does your top loading washer smell? Top loading washers smell because of mold and mildew caused by trapped moisture, detergent residue, and fabric softener buildup. Clean monthly with affresh and leave the lid open.

What is the best cleaner for a top loading washer? affresh Washing Machine Cleaner is the best cleaner. It removes residue, mold, and odors in one hot cycle. Use one tablet monthly.

References

1. Tide. “Top Load Washer Cleaning Guide.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Clean a Top Loading Washer.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Washer Cleaning Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. affresh. “Cleaning Guide.” affresh.com.