Learn how often to clean a washer, how to run a monthly cleaning cycle on a front-load or top-load machine, how to clean the door gasket and dispenser, and what keeps musty odors from coming back.
By The Homefield Journal Editors Reviewed
GE Appliances recommends cleaning the washer tub once a month, for both front-load and top-load models, to keep the wash basket fresh and to help with mold and mildew odors. LG gives the same monthly interval for its tub clean cycle. On GE front-load washers with a Self Clean cycle, the company says to run it at least once a month or about every 40 wash cycles, so a household that does a lot of laundry may reach that count sooner than the calendar suggests.
The smaller parts of the machine need attention on their own schedule. GE says detergent and fabric softener residue should be removed from the dispenser drawer once or twice a month, and it asks front-load owners to check and clean the door gasket regularly. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension adds two items to its spring and fall home maintenance list: clean the washing machine water inlet filters and check the hoses, replacing any that leak. If you keep a seasonal routine, you can fold these tasks into the same home maintenance checklist you use for the rest of the house.
Gather soft cloths, a soft brush, rubber gloves, and the cleaning product your washer maker allows. GE tells owners to use 1 cup (250 ml) of liquid bleach or a commercially available product made for cleaning washers, and it lists vinegar as another option for its top-load Basket Clean cycle. LG recommends an oxygen-based bleach for its front-load gasket, so the right product depends on your model, and the care section of your owner's manual has the final word.
Keep two precautions in mind whatever method you choose. GE advises unplugging the washer before any maintenance or cleaning to reduce the risk of electric shock. The Washington State Department of Health warns that mixing chlorine bleach with an acid such as vinegar releases chlorine gas, which irritates the eyes, nose, and throat and can cause serious breathing problems, so choose one product per cleaning session and rinse between them if you ever switch.
Before you begin, also look at the control panel to see whether your washer lists a cleaning cycle, which GE calls BasketClean, Basket Clean, or Self Clean depending on the model. That tells you which set of steps below applies to your machine, and it saves you from guessing at water temperature or cycle length.
These steps follow GE Appliances' care instructions for front-load washers. Your model may name its cycle differently or ask for a different cleaner, so keep the manual close.
GE notes that suds left in the drum after a cleaning cycle can come from built-up detergent residue, and that repeating the cycle until no suds form clears it.
GE gives two routes for top-load washers, depending on whether the control panel lists a Basket Clean cycle.
GE notes that the interior of the washer may smell of bleach after a Basket Clean cycle. If a power outage interrupts the cycle, it resumes where it stopped once the power returns, and if you interrupt it yourself, GE asks you to run a complete Basket Clean cycle before washing clothes again.
Detergent and fabric softener can build up in the dispenser drawer, and GE recommends removing that residue once or twice a month. The way the drawer comes out varies by model, so follow the removal steps in your manual, then rinse away the residue from the drawer and the opening it slides into. LG also asks owners to clean the dispenser regularly to prevent residue from accumulating.
Front-load washers can let small items pass through to the drain pump, which GE says can slow draining and contribute to odors. Most GE front-load models have an accessible pump filter, and the owner's manual for your specific model explains how to reach and clean it. UGA Extension also suggests cleaning the water inlet filters and checking the fill hoses each spring and fall, and replacing any hose that leaks. GE's own support pages recommend checking the inlet hoses regularly as well.
GE says odors in a top-load washer usually come from leaving the lid closed when the machine is not in use, which keeps moisture in the tub with no air to dry it. In front-load machines, GE points to detergent: using too much creates excess suds, and the extra soap gets trapped in the outer tub, where it causes an odor over time. LG adds that detergent may not fully dissolve in cold water, which can leave buildup behind.
The drain hose is another possible source, and GE explains that a hose pushed too far down into the drain standpipe can siphon drained water back into the washer and create a musty smell, and it recommends clipping the hose to the side of the standpipe so it sits higher. If the smell continues after several cleaning cycles, LG says the washer needs professional service.
The habits you keep after each load decide how quickly residue and moisture build up again. GE recommends a liquid HE detergent for front-load washers, used at the dose the detergent maker gives for concentrated formulas, and it notes that an effective amount usually sits well under the Max line in the dispenser. Leave the lid of a top-load washer open when you are not using it, and leave the door of a front-load washer open after cleaning so the gasket and drum can dry, as LG advises.
Put a reminder for the monthly cleaning cycle on your calendar, along with the dispenser rinse, and check the gasket each time you pull out a load. For more routines that keep appliances and rooms in order, browse the cleaning and maintenance section, where the guide to fixing a running toilet covers another quick check you can add to the same day.
When to call a pro
Call an authorized service technician for your brand when a monthly cleaning does not resolve one of the problems below, and keep these precautions in mind while you work.
GE Appliances lists 1 cup of vinegar as an option for its top-load Basket Clean cycle and says diluted vinegar can be used to wipe a front-load gasket. Other makers recommend different products, so check your owner's manual first. Never add vinegar in the same session as chlorine bleach, because the Washington State Department of Health warns the mix releases chlorine gas.
GE Appliances says to run a large Heavy or Cotton wash cycle with nothing in the drum and 1 cup of bleach or a commercial washer cleaner, then repeat if needed. Before the cycle, press down the door gasket, remove anything trapped inside, and wipe it with mild detergent or a diluted cleaner, finishing with warm water.
GE Appliances links front-load odors to excess detergent, which leaves soap trapped in the outer tub, and to a drain hose pushed too far into the standpipe. Use HE detergent at the recommended dose, run the cleaning cycle monthly, clean the gasket and pump filter, and leave the door open after cleaning so the drum can dry, as LG advises.
For its cleaning cycles, GE Appliances calls for 1 cup (250 ml) of liquid bleach poured into the empty basket, both for top-load and front-load models. Some manufacturers, including LG for its front-load gasket, recommend an oxygen-based bleach instead, so confirm which cleaner your model allows in the care section of your owner's manual.
Sources checked on September 25, 2026.
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