How to clean and disinfect your washing machine

A washing machine cleans your clothes, but it does not clean itself. Detergent residue, lint and moisture build up in the drum, door seal and detergent drawer. In Singapore’s humidity, that leads to mould, black spots on the rubber seal and a musty smell that transfers to your laundry.

Check your manual before you start. It tells you which cleaners the manufacturer allows, whether your machine has a drum-clean programme and where the filter is.

What you need

• Washing machine cleaner, or bleach if your manual allows it
• Mild dish soap and warm water
• Microfibre cloths and an old toothbrush
• Rubber gloves
• A shallow tray and old towels, for the filter

Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners, because it can release harmful gases. Some manufacturers also advise against vinegar in their machines, so check the manual before using it. See cleaning products you should never mix for the full list.

Cleaning a front-loader

1. Clean the door seal. Pull back the folds of the rubber gasket and wipe out hair, lint, coins and standing water. For black spots, use a washing machine cleaner or a bleach solution diluted as the label directs, applied with a cloth. Wipe with clean water afterwards.
2. Clean the detergent drawer. Most drawers lift out when you press a release tab. Soak the drawer in warm soapy water, scrub the compartments with a toothbrush and rinse. Before refitting it, wipe inside the drawer housing, where mould often grows unseen.
3. Run a cleaning cycle. With the drum empty, add washing machine cleaner as directed and run the drum-clean programme or the hottest cycle available. This reaches residue in parts you cannot get to by hand.
4. Wipe the drum. After the cycle, wipe the inside of the drum and the door glass with a damp cloth.
5. Rinse. If the cleaner’s instructions say so, or you can still smell it, run an empty rinse cycle.
6. Clean the filter. See the steps below.
7. Let it dry. Leave the door and detergent drawer open for a few hours.

Cleaning a top-loader

1. Fill the drum with hot water on the largest load setting.
2. Add washing machine cleaner as directed and let the machine agitate for a minute.
3. Pause the cycle and let it soak for the time on the product label.
4. Resume and finish the cycle, then run a rinse cycle.
5. Wipe under the rim of the drum, the lid and around the agitator, where scum collects.
6. Remove and rinse the lint filter, if your model has one.

Cleaning the drain filter

Most front-loaders have a small access panel at the bottom front of the machine. Clean the filter every few months, or as often as the manual suggests.

1. Switch off and unplug the machine.
2. Place towels and a shallow tray under the panel, because water will come out.
3. If there is a small drain hose, release it and empty it into the tray first.
4. Unscrew the filter slowly and remove lint, hair, coins and hairpins.
5. Rinse the filter, screw it back in firmly and close the panel.

A blocked filter can cause slow draining, smells and error codes, so it is worth doing regularly.

Cleaning the outside

Wipe the top, front and control panel with a cloth dampened in mild soapy water, then dry. Spray onto the cloth rather than onto the buttons.

Habits that keep it fresh

• Remove laundry promptly. Wet clothes left in the drum start to smell quickly in our climate.
• Use the right detergent, in the right amount. Use low-sudsing detergent made for front-loaders if that is your machine type, and do not overdose. Extra detergent leaves residue that mould feeds on.
• Leave the door and drawer open after each wash, as long as children and pets cannot reach the machine.
• Wipe the door seal dry after the last wash of the day.
• Ventilate the laundry area. Machines in enclosed service yards and kitchens dry slowly, so open a window or run a fan.
• Run a hot wash now and then. Frequent cold washes leave more residue behind.

How often to clean it

• Weekly: wipe the door seal and leave the machine open to dry.
• Monthly: run a cleaning cycle and wash the detergent drawer.
• Every few months: clean the drain filter.

If a smell persists after cleaning, the problem may be in the drain hose or pump, and it is time to call a technician.

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