How to Clean Your Washing Machine: Complete UK Guide (2026)

Quick Answer

Run a monthly empty hot cycle (60–90°C) with a dedicated washing machine cleaner, clean the rubber door seal with a damp cloth, empty the pump filter every three months, and wipe out the detergent drawer weekly. In hard water areas, add a descaler every second cycle. Leave the door ajar between washes to prevent mildew.

Further reading: Which? — how to clean a smelly washing machine · Which? — washing machine temperature guide

Quick Answer: How to Clean a Washing Machine

Run an empty hot wash (60-90°C) with a dedicated washing machine cleaner placed directly in the drum — not the drawer. For most UK households, do this once a month. If you have pets or live in a hard water area, do it every two to three weeks.

Why Your Washing Machine Needs Cleaning

Washing machines are designed to clean clothes, but they accumulate residue internally over time. Detergent film, fabric softener, body oils, pet hair, and mineral deposits build up inside the drum, rubber seal, filter, and drain system. The result is reduced cleaning performance, musty-smelling clothes, and eventually costly repairs.

Research from Wfk — Institute for Applied Research (Germany) found that washing machine drums can harbour significant bacterial populations, including faecal bacteria, particularly in machines used regularly at low temperatures. Regular cleaning disrupts this buildup before it becomes a hygiene issue.

How Often Should You Clean Your Washing Machine?

• Standard households: Once a month
• Pet owners: Every two to three weeks
• Hard water areas (London, South East, East Anglia): Every two to three weeks
• Low-temperature washing only: Every two weeks — bacteria survive cold cycles
• High-use households (5+ washes per week): Every two weeks

What You Need

• A dedicated washing machine cleaner (tablet or liquid)
• A damp cloth for the door seal
• A bowl or tray for the filter step

You do not need bleach, vinegar, or baking soda. These DIY methods have limited effectiveness against limescale and can degrade rubber seals over time.

Step-by-Step: How to Clean Your Washing Machine

Step 1: Clean the Door Seal

Pull back the rubber gasket around the door and inspect inside the folds. Wipe away lint, hair, and visible grime with a damp cloth. This area traps moisture and residue and is one of the most common sources of musty smells. Dry thoroughly after wiping.

Step 2: Check and Clean the Filter

Most front-loading machines have a small access panel at the bottom front. Place a tray underneath, slowly unscrew the cap, and clear out any trapped debris. Rinse the filter under running water before reinstalling. Clean the filter every two to three months.

Step 3: Clean the Detergent Drawer

Remove the drawer if possible and rinse under warm water. Detergent residue and mould build up quickly in unused compartments. Dry before replacing.

Step 4: Add Your Cleaner to the Drum

Place your washing machine cleaner directly in the empty drum — not in the detergent drawer. The drum is where residue, bacteria and odour concentrate. Products placed in the drawer may not reach the internal drum fully during the cycle.

Step 5: Run a Hot Cycle

Select the hottest available cycle — ideally 60°C to 90°C, or your machine's dedicated drum clean setting. Heat activates the cleaning ingredients and allows them to break down residue throughout the drum, drum seals, and drain paths. Do not add any laundry.

Step 6: Wipe Down After the Cycle

Once the cycle is complete, wipe the door seal and drum interior with a dry cloth. Leave the door slightly open to allow moisture to evaporate.

Do You Need a Drum Clean Setting?

Most modern washing machines include a dedicated drum clean or self-clean programme. These cycles run hotter and longer than a standard 90°C wash, reaching up to 95°C in some models. Using this setting monthly provides the most thorough clean. If your machine does not have this feature, a standard hot wash achieves a similar result.

Hard Water and Washing Machines

If you live in a hard water area — which includes most of London, the South East, East Anglia, and the East Midlands — limescale buildup is an additional concern. Calcium and magnesium minerals deposit on internal surfaces with every wash, reducing heating efficiency and creating surfaces where bacteria cling.

According to the Consumer Council for Water, around 60% of UK homes are in hard or very hard water areas. In these regions, monthly cleaning is the minimum — not the maximum.

A washing machine cleaner formulated with citric acid or descaling agents helps dissolve limescale from heating elements and internal surfaces that a standard cleaner misses.

Pet Owners: Why Standard Cleaning Is Not Enough

Pet hair, dander, and oils are chemically different from standard household residue. Pet hair proteins bind to drum surfaces and seals. Pet oils coat internal components. Standard machine cleaners are not formulated with the enzyme concentrations needed to break down these specific compounds.

For pet-owning households, a cleaner containing protease (breaks down proteins), lipase (dissolves oils), and amylase (clears detergent residue) is significantly more effective than a generic alternative.

Common Washing Machine Cleaning Mistakes

• Using vinegar regularly: Acetic acid can degrade rubber seals over time. Effective for light odours, not for limescale or deep cleaning.
• Putting cleaner in the drawer: The product dilutes before reaching the drum and may not penetrate internal components effectively.
• Skipping the filter: A clogged filter causes drainage problems and contributes to odours.
• Cleaning infrequently: Monthly cleaning prevents buildup. Waiting until there is an odour means the problem is already significant.
• Only cleaning at low temperatures: Hot cycles are needed to activate cleaning agents and kill bacteria. Run one 60°C+ cycle per month even if you normally wash cold.

Signs Your Washing Machine Needs Cleaning Now

• Musty smell when you open the door or from freshly washed clothes
• Visible residue or black spots on the rubber door seal
• Clothes coming out with a film or residue on them
• Pet hair transferring between loads
• Clothes not smelling fresh after a standard wash cycle
• White or chalky marks on dark clothing (hard water limescale)

What Washing Machine Cleaners Actually Work?

Washing machine cleaners fall into a few categories:

• Enzyme-based tablets: Target specific types of buildup — proteins (pet hair), fats (oils), and starches (detergent residue). Most effective for complete cleaning.
• Oxygen bleach formulas: Disinfect and remove staining but less effective against limescale.
• Citric acid formulas: Excellent for descaling in hard water areas.
• Combined enzyme and descaling: The most complete solution for most UK households.

Related Reading

• Cleaning in Hard Water Areas

FAQs

Can I use dishwasher tablets to clean my washing machine?

Some people use dishwasher tablets as a DIY cleaning method. They contain surfactants and some descaling agents, but are not formulated for washing machine residue, particularly pet hair proteins and fabric-specific buildup. A dedicated washing machine cleaner is more effective.

How do I clean a top-loading washing machine?

The method is the same: place the cleaner directly in the drum and run a hot cycle. For top loaders, the hot wash or self-clean setting achieves the same result as on a front loader.

Is it safe to run cleaning cycles on a new machine?

Yes. Many machine manufacturers recommend running a cleaning cycle before first use and monthly afterwards to maintain the warranty and performance. Refer to your manual for the recommended programme.

What is the difference between a drum clean setting and a standard hot wash?

A drum clean setting typically runs longer and hotter than a standard 90°C wash, and may use a higher water fill level to ensure full drum contact. If your machine has this setting, use it. If not, a standard hot wash with a cleaner achieves a similar result.

How often should I clean the washing machine filter?

Every two to three months in most households, or monthly if you wash pet bedding, muddy workwear, or lots of towels. Unscrew the filter at the bottom-front of the machine, clear out trapped fibres, coins, and hair, rinse it under the tap, and refit. A clogged filter is one of the most common causes of poor drainage and lingering smells.

Do I need different cleaning routines for front and top loaders?

Yes. Front loaders trap moisture in the rubber door seal and need that wiped weekly; top loaders don't have a seal but do collect residue under the agitator and inside the lid rim. Both benefit from a monthly empty hot cycle with a washing machine cleaner. Top loaders without a heater can't do a true 90°C cycle — use the hottest available setting.