How to clean a washing machine (front load and top load)
Short answer
Once a month, run the machine empty on its hottest cycle or its Tub Clean / Drum Clean program with a washing machine cleaner, or with 2 cups of white vinegar or 2 tablespoons of citric acid for hard water. Then wipe the rubber door seal, wash the detergent drawer, and clean the pump filter. Leave the door open after each wash so it dries.
Check these first
Run a hot empty cycle
Use Tub Clean (LG), Eco Drum Clean (Samsung) or the hottest cotton program. Add a washing machine cleaner, or white vinegar or citric acid. Don't mix vinegar with bleach.
Wipe the door seal (front load)
Pull back the rubber gasket and wipe out the hair, coins and black mould with warm soapy water. This is where most of the smell comes from.
Wash the detergent drawer
Pull it out, rinse off the built-up powder and softener, and wipe the slot it sits in.
Clean the pump filter
Behind the small flap at the bottom front. Put a tray and towel down, open it slowly, empty it and screw it back firmly.
Top load: soak, then spin
Fill the tub with the hottest water, add vinegar or a cleaner, let it soak for an hour, then run a full cycle. Wipe under the lid and around the agitator.
Call a technician if
- It still smells after a cleaning cycle
- Water stays in the drum or drains slowly
- You see black flakes on clothes after every wash
- It shows an error code after cleaning
Call for washing machine repair in Kathmandu
981-383-6219- Open 7 days, Saturday included, 9 AM – 6 PM
- Talk to us in Nepali or English
Why it matters in Kathmandu
Kathmandu's water is hard and often carries sediment, so limescale builds up on the heater and drum and the inlet mesh clogs. A monthly descaling cycle keeps the heater working and stops the slow fill and drain errors many machines show after a few years.
Leaving the door and detergent drawer open after washing lets the inside dry, which stops the musty smell and black mould on the door seal.
Questions
How often should I clean my washing machine?
Run a cleaning cycle once a month, wipe the door seal every week or two, and clean the pump filter every three months.
Can I use vinegar to clean a washing machine?
Yes, now and then. Use about 2 cups in an empty hot cycle. Don't use it every wash, and never mix it with bleach.
Why does my washing machine smell bad?
Usually from mould in the door seal, old detergent in the drawer, or dirty water sitting in the pump filter. Cleaning all three and leaving the door open fixes most smells.