How often should you clean a washing machine? Front-loaders, top-loaders and musty smells

How often: once a month

Clean the washer about once a month, and right away if it smells musty. The major manufacturers agree closely:

Manufacturer	Tub-clean recommendation
LG	A monthly tub clean, with the dispenser, filters and gasket done at the same time
Samsung	Self Clean once a month; the reminder light comes on after 20 washes (top-load) or 40 washes (front-load)
Whirlpool	At least once a month or every 30 wash cycles, whichever comes first

If you rarely do laundry, monthly is still the target — Samsung specifically says households that don’t do many washes should still run Self Clean at least once a month. If you do several loads a day, the wash-count reminders will come around sooner than the calendar.

Front-loaders vs. top-loaders

Both need the tub-clean cycle. What differs is where grime collects:

	Top-loader	Front-loader
Tub clean	Monthly tub-clean cycle with cleaner, per the manual	Monthly tub-clean or Self Clean cycle
Trouble spots	Lint filter (on many models), detergent dispenser	Door gasket, detergent drawer, drain pump filter
Between loads	Leave the lid open	Leave the door and detergent drawer open

Front-loaders need the most hands-on care:

• Door gasket. LG says to check the groove at the bottom of the seal (around the six o’clock position) for trapped objects, wipe the gasket and clean under its lip.
• Drain pump filter. Samsung recommends cleaning it at least monthly or about every 40 washes, whichever is more frequent; LG says a clean filter helps keep the unit from leaking. Turn off and unplug the washer first, drain the water, then twist the filter out and rinse it with warm water and a soft brush.
• Detergent drawer. Samsung suggests wiping it dry after every wash session and deep cleaning it at least monthly. LG notes that debris in the dispenser can make it overfill and leak.

On a top-loader, empty the lint filter if your model has one, and keep the dispenser clean. On either type, loads heavy with pet hair — towels after a dog bath, washable pet beds — are a good moment for a quick filter check.

What to clean it with

Start with your manual. LG recommends a washing machine tub cleaner, used as the package directs, and gives instructions for diluted bleach or vinegar on the door gasket — but never both together. Samsung says its Self Clean cycle doesn’t require bleach, though it recommends bleach if there’s already a mold smell.

A few rules hold across brands:

• Run it empty. Take all laundry out of the drum before the cleaning cycle (LG).
• Don’t mix chlorine bleach with vinegar (LG).
• Use the amount on the label, and never undiluted bleach on the gasket; LG warns straight bleach can make the seal deteriorate.
• Air it out afterward. Leave the door and dispenser open so the inside dries (LG, Samsung).

Fixing a musty smell

If your washer already smells, clean it more than once. LG’s advice is to run the tub clean once a week for three weeks in a row, and to request service if the smell persists.

Then prevent it from coming back. Whirlpool’s recommendations:

• Use HE detergent and never more than the recommended amount.
• Use warm or hot settings some of the time, not cold washes exclusively.
• Unload the washer as soon as the cycle finishes.
• Leave the lid or door open between uses.

Common mistakes

• Closing the door right after a load, sealing moisture inside.
• Leaving wet laundry in the drum for hours or overnight.
• Overdosing detergent or fabric softener. The extra stays behind as residue, which is what Whirlpool links to odor.
• Running the cleaning cycle but skipping the gasket and filter on a front-loader.
• Mixing bleach with vinegar.
• Putting clothes in during the tub clean.

How to remember

A once-a-month job is the easiest kind to forget, and the machine’s reminder only appears after a certain number of washes — dismiss it and it won’t ask again for a while. Track “clean the washer” as a monthly item in a list everyone who does laundry can see, and note anything extra you did — the gasket, the filter, the drawer — so the next person knows what’s already covered.

If freshly washed towels or sheets come out smelling musty, it’s often a sign the washer needs cleaning; see how often to wash your sheets for that side of the routine. The fridge runs on a similar monthly schedule, so you can do both the same weekend (see how often to clean your fridge).