How to Clean a Washing Machine: Step by Step, Plus How to Stop Mold and Odor
Short answer: run your washer’s tub-clean cycle (or a hot-water cycle with a washing machine cleaner) about once a month, and clean the door gasket and detergent drawer by hand. Then prevent the smell from coming back: use the right amount of HE detergent, skip fabric softener, move wet laundry out right away, wipe the door and gasket dry after the last load and leave the door and drawer open to air out.
Why washers get smelly
Too much detergent is a big part of it. When a machine can’t rinse out the excess, the leftover detergent coats gaskets, the drum and internal channels; that residue traps lint and dirt and becomes a perfect place for mold and mildew to grow. Fabric softener can leave a residue too. Front-loaders are most prone: in a Consumer Reports owner survey, 16 percent of front-load washer owners reported mold, mildew or odor problems, though design improvements have cut the risk.
From Consumer Reports, “CR Laundry Expert Reveals How He Keeps Our Washing Machines Clean” and “How to Minimize Mold in Your Washing Machine”, read October 31, 2026.
How to clean a washing machine, step by step
- Check the owner’s manual for your model’s cleaning cycle and any cleaner it recommends.
- Clean the detergent drawer: remove it if it comes out, rinse it with water, wipe away soap buildup and let it dry.
- Clean the door gasket (front-loaders): gently pull back the rubber seal, wipe it clean, then dry it. Look for socks and small items trapped in the folds.
- Wipe the top-loader rim: on a top-loader, wipe the circular upper rim of the tub and the agitator now and then.
- Run a tub-clean cycle: how often varies by maker, often monthly or every 50 loads. No such cycle? Run the sanitary cycle, or a hot-water cycle with a washing machine cleaner that contains bleach, about once a month.
- Dry it and air it out: wipe the inside of the door, the gasket and the drawer with a microfiber towel, then leave the door and drawer open until dry.
Steps summarized from Consumer Reports, “How to Minimize Mold in Your Washing Machine” (front-load maintenance tips) and “CR Laundry Expert Reveals How He Keeps Our Washing Machines Clean”, read October 31, 2026.
How to keep it clean
| Habit | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Measure detergent | CR’s experts suggest about 1½ ounces for a normal load, roughly a shot glass. Use only HE detergent in high-efficiency machines; regular detergent is too sudsy and leaves soap scum. See how much detergent to use. |
| Skip fabric softener | It can leave a layer of residue inside the washer. Dryer balls are a residue-free alternative in the dryer. |
| Unload right away | Wet clothes left sitting keep moisture in the drum. |
| Wipe and dry after the last load | Door, gasket (inside and around it) and detergent tray. CR’s laundry expert does this at home and says his four-year-old machine looks like new. |
| Leave the door open | Lets moisture escape. Only if small children and pets can’t get into the laundry room; an open washer door can be a hazard. |
| Keep it level | A washer that isn’t level may not drain properly. Adjust one foot at a time and check front to back and side to side with a level before tightening the lock nuts. |
| Check the drain hose | In general it should go only 6 to 8 inches into the drain pipe; deeper, and it can siphon foul water back into the washer. |
From Consumer Reports, “CR Laundry Expert Reveals How He Keeps Our Washing Machines Clean” and “How to Minimize Mold in Your Washing Machine”, read October 31, 2026.
Shopping for a new washer?
Some newer front-loaders include features aimed at mold and odor, such as a fan or drum-drying cycle that circulates air after the wash and antimicrobial door seals. In Consumer Reports’ limited tests of two such systems, running the drying feature lowered the humidity inside the drum, while drums left closed without it stayed very humid. If you want less upkeep, look for these on the spec sheet, or compare types in our front-load vs top-load washer guide.
From Consumer Reports, “How to Minimize Mold in Your Washing Machine”, section on front-load washers with mold-fighting features, read October 31, 2026.
Our own tips (not from that source): clean the drain-pump filter if your front-loader has one (usually behind a small panel at the bottom front; have towels and a shallow tray ready, and follow the manual); and if a bad smell persists after cleaning, check the drain hose and drain for a blockage before buying a new machine.
Washer cleaning checklist
- Monthly: tub-clean cycle, or hot cycle with a washer cleaner
- Monthly: detergent drawer out, rinsed and dried
- After the last load: wipe the door and gasket dry
- Every load: HE detergent, measured
- Every load: unload promptly and leave the door ajar (if safe)
- Now and then: check the machine is level and the drain hose depth
Shop washers and washer-dryer combos on Amazon
Check each listing’s size, tub-clean cycle, drum-drying or venting features, door seal and warranty.
Keep reading
See all washers and washer-dryer combos, or learn how to clean a dryer vent.
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