How to Clean Your Washing Machine and How Often You Should Do It

You wash your sheets because you want them to come out clean, soft, and fresh. But when's the last time you actually cleaned the machine doing that washing? It's one of those household tasks that's easy to overlook, since the washing machine is the one appliance whose entire job is to get things clean. It's easy to assume it's cleaning itself in the process.

It isn't, exactly. Over time, a washing machine can build up detergent residue, fabric softener film, body oils, lint, and trapped moisture in places like the rubber gasket, the detergent drawer, and the drum itself. None of this means your machine is teeming with harmful bacteria, but it can mean your "clean" laundry isn't coming out quite as fresh as it could, and that residue can eventually affect odor and washing performance.

This guide walks through why washing machines need regular cleaning, how often to do it, and exactly how to clean a front-load or top-load machine step by step, including the gasket, detergent drawer, drum, and filter. We'll also connect washing machine care back to your bedding itself, since a clean machine and a good bedding-care routine go hand in hand.

Why Should You Clean Your Washing Machine?

A washing machine handles soap, water, and fabric constantly, which makes it a natural place for a few things to accumulate over time:

• Detergent buildup, especially if more detergent is used than necessary, which can leave a residue that doesn't fully rinse away
• Fabric softener residue, which can coat surfaces with a waxy film over repeated use
• Body oils and skin cells, transferred from clothing and bedding during the wash
• Dirt and lint, particularly in filters and drainage areas
• Trapped moisture, especially in the rubber door gasket of front-load machines, which can create a damp environment
• Mineral deposits, more common in areas with hard water
• Odors, which typically develop from a combination of the factors above rather than one single cause

None of this means every washing machine is unsanitary or full of harmful bacteria. It simply means that, like any appliance that handles moisture and soap residue repeatedly, a washing machine benefits from routine maintenance to keep performing well and smelling fresh.

How Often Should You Clean Your Washing Machine?

Cleaning frequency depends on a few factors: how often you do laundry, your household size, your water hardness, whether you leave the door or lid closed between loads, and your specific machine type. That said, most manufacturers, including Whirlpool, generally recommend cleaning the drum roughly once a month, or after about 30 wash cycles.

These are general guidelines rather than strict rules. Always check your specific washing machine's owner's manual, since recommended cleaning cycles, compatible cleaning products, and filter access vary meaningfully between brands and models.

How to Clean a Washing Machine Step by Step

Step 1: Empty the machine. Make sure there's no laundry inside before you begin.

Step 2: Clean the detergent dispenser. Remove the drawer if your machine allows it, and rinse away any built-up detergent or fabric softener residue. A soft brush or old toothbrush can help reach corners where residue tends to collect.

Step 3: Clean the rubber door gasket. For front-load machines especially, gently pull back the folds of the gasket and wipe both the visible surface and the hidden folds, where moisture, lint, and debris commonly collect.

Step 4: Clean the washing machine drum. Many machines include a dedicated cleaning cycle designed for this purpose; check your manual for a "Tub Clean," "Drum Clean," or "Self Clean" setting.

Step 5: Clean the filter, if your machine has a user-accessible one. Not every washing machine has a filter you're meant to access yourself. Always consult your owner's manual before attempting to open or remove one, since the process and location vary significantly by brand and model.

Step 6: Run the appropriate cleaning cycle. If your machine has a dedicated cleaning cycle, use it as directed. If you're using a commercial washing machine cleaner instead, follow that product's specific instructions rather than assuming a general routine applies.

How to Clean a Front-Load Washing Machine

Front-load washers have a few areas that need particular attention due to their design:

• The rubber door gasket is the most common source of odor in front-load machines, since it holds moisture and can trap lint, hair, or small debris in its folds. Wipe it down regularly and check inside the folds specifically, not just the visible surface.
• The door itself should be wiped down periodically, particularly around the seal.
• The detergent drawer should be removed (if your model allows it) and cleaned regularly to prevent residue buildup.
• The drum benefits from a monthly cleaning cycle, using either a dedicated cycle if your machine has one or a commercial washing machine cleaner as directed.
• The drain filter, found on many front-load models, should be checked periodically according to your manual, since it can trap lint, coins, and small debris over time.

After each wash, leaving the door slightly open, when safe and practical for your household, allows the interior to air out and dry rather than staying sealed in a damp environment. This is a widely recommended practice among washing machine manufacturers to help prevent musty odors, though it's worth considering your household's safety needs, such as keeping the door closed around small children or pets, when deciding how to apply it.

How to Clean a Top-Load Washing Machine

Top-load washers vary more in design than front-load machines, particularly between agitator-style and impeller-style models, so it's worth checking your specific owner's manual for guidance. In general, though, a few areas benefit from regular attention:

• The drum, which can be cleaned using a dedicated tub-clean cycle if your machine has one
• The agitator or impeller area, where residue and small debris can sometimes collect around the base
• The detergent and fabric softener dispensers, which should be wiped down or removed for cleaning periodically
• The lid, particularly the underside, where moisture and residue can accumulate
• The filter, if your specific model includes a user-accessible one

Because top-load washing machine designs vary significantly between manufacturers and models, checking your owner's manual before cleaning is the most reliable way to know exactly what your machine has and how to access it safely.

How to Clean the Washing Machine Rubber Seal

The rubber door gasket on front-load machines deserves its own focused attention, since it's one of the most common sources of trapped moisture and odor:

1. Gently pull back the gasket to expose the folds underneath, where debris commonly hides.
2. Remove any visible debris, such as lint, hair, or small items that may have slipped between the folds.
3. Wipe the area with a cloth and an appropriate cleaner, following your machine's manual for any product recommendations or restrictions.
4. Dry the gasket thoroughly with a clean cloth once you've finished wiping it down.
5. Check the hidden folds specifically, not just the outer visible surface, since this is where moisture and buildup most often accumulate unnoticed.

Important safety note: never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or other household cleaning chemicals. Combining chlorine bleach with these substances can produce dangerous fumes. If you use a bleach-based cleaner on any part of your washing machine, use it on its own, exactly as directed on the product label, not layered with other cleaning products.

How to Clean a Washing Machine Without Damaging It

A few precautions help protect your machine while you clean it:

• Check your manufacturer's instructions first, since not every cleaning method or product is appropriate for every machine.
• Use the correct amount of cleaning product, whether that's a commercial washer cleaner or a manufacturer-approved alternative; more isn't necessarily more effective.
• Avoid overloading the machine during regular use, since consistent overloading can contribute to residue buildup and additional strain on the machine over time.
• Don't use excessive amounts of any single cleaning chemical, and never combine multiple cleaning products in the same cycle.
• Use the cycle your manufacturer recommends for cleaning, rather than assuming any hot-water cycle will work identically.
• Don't remove components you're unsure about, such as filters or drum parts, unless your owner's manual specifically confirms it's meant to be user-accessible.

Can You Clean a Washing Machine With Vinegar and Baking Soda?

This is one of the most commonly repeated laundry hacks, but it deserves a more careful answer than a simple yes.

Manufacturer guidance should always come first. Some manufacturers specifically caution against using vinegar in certain machines, since its acidity can potentially affect certain rubber or metal components over repeated use, depending on the machine's design. If your manual doesn't address this directly, it's worth checking with the manufacturer before making vinegar a regular part of your routine.

It's also worth understanding the chemistry here: vinegar and baking soda are commonly used together in viral cleaning videos, but they largely neutralize each other when combined, since vinegar is acidic and baking soda is a base. Using them in the same step doesn't necessarily provide the combined cleaning benefit that's often implied.

And to repeat an important safety point: never combine vinegar, or any acid-based cleaner, with chlorine bleach, since this combination can release hazardous fumes.

In many cases, a commercial washing machine cleaner designed specifically for your machine type, used according to the manufacturer's instructions, or your machine's built-in cleaning cycle, is a more reliably effective option than an improvised household combination.

How to Get Rid of a Smelly Washing Machine

Washing machine odor usually comes down to a combination of a few common causes:

• Trapped moisture, especially in the rubber gasket of front-load machines
• Detergent buildup that hasn't fully rinsed away over repeated cycles
• Fabric softener residue, which can leave a film that traps odor over time
• A dirty gasket, dispenser, or filter that hasn't been cleaned recently
• Leaving wet laundry inside the machine for extended periods after a cycle ends
• Poor ventilation in the laundry space itself

To help prevent odor from developing in the first place: remove laundry promptly after each cycle, leave the door or lid open between uses when practical, wipe down and dry the gasket regularly, and stick to a consistent monthly cleaning routine for the drum and dispenser.

How to Keep Your Washing Machine Fresh Between Cleanings

A few simple habits go a long way toward keeping your machine fresh in between deeper cleaning sessions:

• ✓ Remove wet laundry promptly after each cycle
• ✓ Leave the door or lid open when it's safe and practical for your household
• ✓ Dry the gasket after wiping it down
• ✓ Avoid using more detergent than necessary
• ✓ Clean the detergent dispenser regularly
• ✓ Run your machine's recommended maintenance or cleaning cycle
• ✓ Clean the filter according to your owner's manual
• ✓ Avoid consistently overloading the machine
• ✓ Keep your laundry area reasonably ventilated

How Often Should You Wash Your Bedding?

A clean washing machine matters most when you consider everything that actually goes into it, especially bedding, which spends hours in direct contact with your skin every night. Sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, blankets, comforters, and mattress protectors all benefit from a regular washing routine, though the ideal frequency depends on personal factors: how much you sweat at night, whether pets share your bed, any allergies or skin sensitivities, your climate, and whether an item sits directly against your skin or serves more as an outer layer.

There's no single universal schedule that applies to every household. Items that touch your skin directly, like sheets and pillowcases, generally benefit from more frequent washing than outer layers like duvet covers or comforters, which are washed less often but still need attention periodically. If you rotate between multiple sheet sets, such as pairing a set of washed organic cotton bed sheets with a backup set, it's easier to stick to a consistent washing schedule without ever being caught without clean bedding on hand.

How to Wash Bed Sheets Properly

A good washing routine for bed sheets comes down to a few consistent habits:

• Read the care label before choosing a water temperature or cycle, since fabric type affects what's safe.
• Separate colors, especially white or light-colored bedding, to avoid dye transfer from darker items.
• Avoid overloading the machine, which prevents water and detergent from properly circulating through the fabric.
• Use an appropriate amount of detergent, since more isn't necessarily better and excess detergent can leave residue behind.
• Match the water temperature to your fabric's care instructions, rather than defaulting to one setting for everything.
• Dry sheets thoroughly according to their care label before folding or making the bed.
• Store bedding only once it's completely dry, to avoid musty odors developing in storage.

If you're working with high-quality natural fiber bedding, such as organic cotton bed sheets, following the specific care instructions on the product page helps preserve both the softness and the finish of the fabric over time, rather than relying on generic laundry habits alone. For a deeper dive into getting sheets dry efficiently without damaging the fibers, our guide on how to dry bed sheets fast covers practical techniques worth pairing with a clean washing machine.

Common Washing Machine Cleaning Mistakes

A few habits tend to cause most washing machine odor and performance issues:

1. Never cleaning the machine at all, assuming it cleans itself by default
2. Using more detergent than necessary, which leaves residue behind
3. Overloading the washer regularly, which reduces cleaning effectiveness
4. Leaving wet laundry sitting inside the machine after a cycle ends
5. Ignoring the rubber gasket, particularly the hidden folds
6. Ignoring the detergent drawer, letting residue build up over time
7. Forgetting the filter entirely, especially on machines with a user-accessible one
8. Mixing cleaning chemicals, which can be genuinely hazardous
9. Ignoring the owner's manual in favor of generic online advice
10. Running cleaning cycles incorrectly, such as adding detergent when a cycle calls for none

Washing Machine Cleaning Checklist

Weekly:

• Wipe the rubber gasket
• Clean visible detergent residue from the dispenser
• Remove wet laundry promptly after each cycle

Monthly:

• Run your machine's recommended washer-cleaning cycle
• Clean the drum
• Inspect the gasket for trapped debris or mold
• Clean the detergent dispenser thoroughly

Every 1–3 months:

• Check and clean the filter, if your model has a user-accessible one
• Inspect hoses and connections for wear or leaks

Always:

• Follow your specific manufacturer's instructions over generic advice

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should you clean your washing machine? Most manufacturers recommend cleaning the drum roughly once a month, or after about 30 wash cycles, though frequency can vary by machine type, usage, and water hardness. Always check your owner's manual for specific guidance.

What is the best way to clean a washing machine? Using your machine's dedicated cleaning cycle (often called "Tub Clean," "Drum Clean," or "Self Clean"), along with a manufacturer-approved cleaning tablet or commercial washer cleaner, is generally the most reliable approach, followed by manually wiping down the gasket and detergent drawer.

How do you clean a front-load washer? Focus on the rubber door gasket, detergent drawer, drum, and drain filter (if accessible), using your machine's cleaning cycle along with manual wiping for the gasket folds where moisture and debris tend to collect.

How do you clean a top-load washer? Clean the drum using a tub-clean cycle if available, wipe down the detergent and fabric softener dispensers, check the agitator or impeller area, and clean the filter if your specific model has one.

How do you clean a washing machine rubber seal? Gently pull back the gasket, remove visible debris, wipe with an appropriate cleaner, dry thoroughly, and check the hidden folds specifically, since that's where moisture and buildup most often collect unnoticed.

How do you get rid of a smelly washing machine? Address the common causes: trapped moisture in the gasket, detergent or fabric softener buildup, and wet laundry left sitting too long. Regular cleaning, prompt laundry removal, and leaving the door open between uses all help prevent odor.

Can you use vinegar to clean a washing machine? Some people use vinegar as part of a cleaning routine, but manufacturer guidance should come first, since not every machine is designed to handle regular vinegar use. Never combine vinegar with chlorine bleach.

Can you use baking soda to clean a washing machine? Baking soda is sometimes used as a mild cleaning aid, though it and vinegar largely neutralize each other when combined in the same step. A commercial washing machine cleaner or your machine's built-in cleaning cycle is often a more reliable choice.

How often should you wash bed sheets? This depends on personal factors like sweating, pets, and skin sensitivity, so there's no single universal schedule. Items that touch your skin directly generally benefit from more frequent washing than outer bedding layers.

Why do clean sheets sometimes smell after washing? This is often related to detergent or fabric softener residue left in the machine itself, rather than the sheets not being properly washed. A dirty gasket, dispenser, or an overloaded machine can all contribute to lingering odor even on a freshly completed cycle.

Final Thoughts

A clean washing machine is a genuinely important, if easy to overlook, part of a good laundry routine. Regular maintenance helps reduce odors, prevent residue buildup, support consistent washing performance, and keep your laundry, especially bedding that spends hours against your skin, coming out as fresh as it should. None of this requires elaborate effort: a monthly drum cleaning cycle, a weekly wipe of the gasket and dispenser, and a habit of removing laundry promptly go a long way.

Caring for the machine and caring for the bedding inside it really go hand in hand. Pairing a clean, well-maintained washing machine with quality natural fiber bedding and organic cotton bath towels, along with a gentle, consistent laundry routine, is one of the simplest ways to keep your whole household's linens genuinely fresh, not just visibly clean. If persistent detergent buildup or fading brightness is a specific concern for your white bedding, our guide on keeping white cotton sheets white covers additional tips worth pairing with a clean machine, and if sensitive skin is part of your household's laundry considerations, our guide to choosing sheets for eczema-prone skin covers fragrance-free detergent habits that apply just as well here.