How do you clean a washing machine properly?

Signs your washing machine needs cleaning

A washing machine smell is usually the first warning: a musty odour from the drum, door seal or drawer that lingers even after a wash. Watch for these signs as well:

• Black specks on clothes. Flakes of mould or residue come loose from the seal or drum and land on fabric.
• Slow draining. Water sits in the drum after a cycle, often because the filter is partly blocked.
• Residue in the drawer. Sticky detergent, softener build-up or black spots collect in the dispenser.

In a humid climate, damp spots stay damp for longer, so clean on a regular schedule rather than wait for the smell.

How to clean washing machine parts: front-load steps

When you clean front load washing machine seals and filters, work from the outside in and finish with the hot cycle, so it rinses away anything you loosen.

1. Switch off and unplug. Turn the machine off at the wall and pull out the plug before you start.
2. Clean the door seal folds. Pull back the rubber gasket and wipe inside every fold with a damp cloth and a little mild detergent. Remove hair, coins and lint.
3. Wash the detergent drawer. Pull the drawer out, soak it in warm soapy water and scrub the corners with an old toothbrush.
4. Clean the drain pump filter. Lay a towel down and put a shallow tray under the filter cover. Unscrew the filter slowly, let the small amount of water drain, then rinse off lint and screw it back firmly.
5. Run an empty hot drum-clean cycle. Use the drum-clean programme or the hottest cycle your manual allows, with a machine cleaner only if the manual says it is suitable.
6. Wipe and leave the door open. Wipe the drum, seal and glass dry, then leave the door and drawer open until everything has dried.

Washing machine filter cleaning is the step people skip most, yet a blocked filter often causes slow draining and smells. Check your manual for the filter's exact position on your model.

How to clean a top-load machine

The routine is similar, with a few differences:

• Lint filter. Many top-load machines have a lint filter inside the tub. Lift it out, empty it and rinse it every few washes.
• Agitator. If your machine has a central agitator, wipe around its base and under any removable cap, where lint and residue gather.
• Tub clean cycle. Run the tub-clean programme, or an empty hot cycle, with a cleaner your manual allows.

Hoses and the water inlet

Every few months, pull the machine out a little and look at the inlet and drain hoses for bulges, cracks, kinks and leaks. Replace a bulging hose rather than wait for it to burst.

If the machine fills slowly, turn off the tap that feeds it and check the inlet connection for grit; your manual will say whether there is a screen to clean. If other taps in the flat are weak too, the cause may be your supply rather than the machine, so read our guide to low water pressure at home.

Replacing a hose is simple work. Under PUB's rules on plumbing works, regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works must be done by a PUB Licensed Plumber, but replacing the connecting hose to a washing machine is listed as simple work a handyman may do. So is clearing a blockage in a floor trap. Engaging a plumber who is not PUB-licensed for regulated works has been an offence since 2018. PUB advises asking for itemised quotes and getting at least three. You can compare handyman services to see what each company publishes.

Keeping it fresh

Most smells come back because moisture stays in the machine between washes. A few habits help:

• Leave the door and detergent drawer slightly open after each wash.
• Take wet clothes out promptly.
• Use the amount of detergent your manual suggests. Too much leaves residue that mould feeds on.
• Run an empty drum-clean or tub-clean cycle once a month.

Add that monthly cycle to your home cleaning checklist so it does not slip.

When to call a technician

Call a technician if you see any of these:

• Not draining. Water stays in the drum after you have cleared the filter and checked the drain hose and floor trap.
• Leaking from underneath. Water pools under the machine, not from the door or a hose you can see. Turn off the tap and stop using the machine.
• Error codes. The code returns after you have cleaned the filter and restarted the machine.
• Burning smell. Switch off at the wall, unplug the machine and do not use it until it has been checked.

EMA's electrical safety advice says all homes must have a residual current circuit breaker (RCCB). Treat it as a safety backstop, not a reason to keep using a faulty appliance.

Cost depends on the job, so ask for an itemised quote first. If you would rather hand the wider cleaning to someone else, you can compare home cleaning companies and see their published prices.

Questions