How to Clean a Washing Machine and Remove Smells
Deep clean your washing machine by descaling the drum, scrubbing the rubber gasket, clearing the drain filter, and sanitizing the dispenser drawer.
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🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Old toothbrush
- ✓ Microfiber cloths
- ✓ Shallow basin or baking dish
- ✓ Spray bottle
- ✓ Bucket
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ Washing machine cleaner tablet or powder
- ✓ White distilled vinegar
- ✓ Baking soda
- ✓ Mild dish soap
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Unplug the machine or ensure the cycle is completely powered off before reaching into drain pumps or electrical components.
- • Never mix bleach and vinegar together, as this combination creates toxic chlorine gas.
- • Allow the machine interior to cool completely if a hot sanitize cycle was recently run.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (5 Steps)
Remove and Scrub the Detergent Drawer
Press the release tab inside the dispenser drawer to slide it entirely out of the housing. Soak the drawer in warm soapy water and use a toothbrush to scrub away detergent residue and mold from the compartments and the housing cavity. Dry thoroughly with a microfiber cloth and slide it back until it clicks.
- • Dispenser drawer is completely removed from the machine chassis
- • Siphon caps and compartments are free of blue/white detergent sludge
- • Housing ceiling inside the machine cavity shows no black mold spots
- • Yanking the drawer with force without depressing the center release latch
- • Forgetting to scrub inside the dark upper cavity of the drawer housing
Deep Clean the Rubber Door Gasket
Peel back the rubber door seal folds to inspect the hidden crevice. Spray the area generously with equal parts white vinegar and warm water, then wipe down the entire circumference with a microfiber cloth. Use the toothbrush to dislodge trapped hair, lint, and mildew embedded in the bottom drainage holes.
- • Rubber fold pulled back showing clean grey/black rubber with no slime
- • Drain holes at the base of the gasket are open and clear of debris
- • Cloth comes away clean when wiped along the bottom lip
- • Wiping only the visible outer face without peeling back the rubber inner lip
- • Using sharp metal tools to pick debris out of the gasket drain slits
Drain and Clean the Pump Filter
Place a shallow basin and towel beneath the lower access door on the front panel. Open the access hatch, unclip the emergency drain hose to empty standing water into the pan, then unscrew the main filter cap counter-clockwise. Pull the filter screen out, wash off trapped lint and debris under running water, and wipe the interior pump chamber before reinstalling tightly.
- • Access door opened with a shallow tray catch in place
- • Filter cylinder removed showing lint and foreign objects washed clean
- • Filter screwed securely back into position until it stops firmly
- • Unscrewing the main filter immediately without using the drain hose, flooding the floor
- • Failing to tighten the filter properly upon reassembly, causing leaks
Run a High-Heat Sanitizing Drum Cycle
Place a washing machine cleaner tablet directly into the empty stainless steel drum (or add 2 cups of white vinegar). Select the 'Tub Clean' cycle, or set the machine to the hottest water setting and longest wash cycle available. Start the cycle and let it run completely to dissolve mineral deposits, scale, and remaining bacteria.
- • Empty wash drum with tablet placed flat on the bottom
- • Control dial illuminated on 'Tub Clean' or highest temperature setting ('Sanitize'/'90°C')
- • Machine actively running with foaming, agitated hot water visible through the door
- • Putting the cleaner tablet into the detergent dispenser drawer instead of the drum
- • Selecting a cold or quick cycle that fails to dissolve chemical deposits
Wipe Down Exterior and Air Dry
After the cycle finishes, wipe down the inside of the door glass and the drum rim with a dry microfiber cloth. Wipe the exterior control panel, sides, and top surfaces. Leave the washer door cracked open 2 to 3 inches and the dispenser drawer slightly ajar to allow maximum airflow.
- • Drum interior polished dry with no water puddling at the bottom
- • Glass door clear of water spots and streaks
- • Door and detergent drawer visibly propped open for ventilation
- • Closing the door completely right after the wash cycle ends
- • Spraying liquid cleaners directly into electronic control buttons
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by Pan The Organizer — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Washing machine cleaner tablet? 2 cups of white distilled vinegar or 1/2 cup of baking soda
- No Old toothbrush? Small detail brush or clean bottle brush