Both front-loading and top-loading machines need a thorough cleaning every month—we'll tell you exactly how to get the job done.
Caylin is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Non-Vented Spike
It might seem counterintuitive to regularly clean an appliance you use to clean other items, but it's still important to do—especially when it comes to your washing machine. Over time, this appliance can gather a buildup of debris, resulting in everything from odors to mold. Thankfully, cleaning your washing machine is simple and can be done with both store-bought products and DIY formulas. We spoke with experts to learn the best ways to clean both top-load and front-load washing machines.
There are two types of top-loading washing machines: traditional and high-efficiency models, says Jessica Petrino, an appliance expert and editorial director at AJ Madison. Traditional models have an agitator in the center, and high-efficiency, hybrid top loaders have a flat disc-shaped impeller at the bottom.
Follow Petrino's steps to clean both types of top-loading washing machines:
As a natural option in place of washing machine cleaner tabs, pour 2 cups of vinegar into your detergent dispenser and run your washer on the hot cycle. When it's done, add a half-cup of baking soda to the drum and run another hot cycle.
If you are using a non-HE machine, double the amount of vinegar—these machines use more water per wash. Always reference the brand's recommendations before going the DIY route.
Contaminants such as waste from previous washes, as well as from food, residual detergent, dirt, and tap water can accumulate in washing machines, including your front-loading one. The most obvious culprit for smells coming from your front loader is likely the rubber seal around the door—water and debris tend to collect here and can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Using chlorine bleach to clean your front-loading washing machine will help to prevent mold and mildew.
Always use caution when cleaning with vinegar and bleach. On their own, bleach and vinegar are effective household cleaning supplies, but they should never be used together. In this method, be sure that all traces of vinegar are wiped away before starting with the bleach.
Follow these expert-approved steps to clean a front-loading washing machine:
In an ideal world, you should be cleaning your washing machine about once a month, says Courtenay Hartford, the author of The Cleaning Ninja. "Cleaning your washer should be viewed as more of a preventative measure than as something that you do to fix a problem once it arises," she says. "If you start to notice that clothes come out not smelling as clean as they should, it's time to clean your machine. You might also notice a buildup of various types of debris (pet fur, leaves, etc.) around the seals—that's a visual cue that you might have forgotten to run a good cleaning cycle for the last few months."
Beyond debris, soap residue from your detergent and bath products, as well as minerals from your water, can build up and create an environment for bacteria to grow over time. Not only can this residue eventually clog up the inner workings of your machine, but it can also impact how the machine functions; this might mean unpredictable water temperature or transferred odors between clothes.
Rubber Washer Hoses Going forward, try to keep the door open about an inch between laundry cycles to allow for more airflow; letting the inside of the machine dry out will slow down bacteria growth. Wipe your machine's seals a little more often and clear the filters and drain around the seal, as well, so less of that debris gets swept down into the main drain filter inside your machine. "It's worth noting that a machine that's used regularly—every day or every other day—doesn't give bacteria a chance to grow and create unpleasant odors," says Hartford. "You'll probably find that your problems with smelly laundry will decrease greatly." Now there's one silver lining to doing load after load of laundry.