How to Clean Inside a Washing Machine

Make sure the drum is empty, with no clothes or detergent.

Measure about one cup of citric acid for a heavy-duty clean on a dirty or smelly washer.

Measure about one quarter cup of oxygenated bleach powder for a heavy-duty clean.

Use about one half cup of citric acid if you clean the washer often and only need maintenance cleaning.

Use about one tablespoon of oxygenated bleach powder for maintenance cleaning.

Pour the measured citric acid into the empty wash tub.

Pour the measured oxygenated bleach into the empty wash tub.

Run a normal wash cycle or a washer-cleaning cycle with hot water and no laundry.

Let the washer agitate so the mixture can circulate and start breaking down soap scum and moldy residue.

Use the longest wash cycle you can so the solution has more time to work.

Pause the cycle and let the solution soak if the washer allows it.

Check for grime at the extreme bottom or at areas that don’t get washed by normal water levels.

Add citric acid, fill the washer only slightly with water, and let it soak to loosen bottom debris.

Run a wash cycle after soaking to flush the loosened buildup out of the tub.

Use a scrub brush to break loose any remaining grime that didn’t wash away.

Use a condenser brush to reach and scrub tight spaces between the inner and outer tub if you can access them safely.

Measure about one third cup of citric acid and about one half teaspoon of oxygenated bleach powder.

Put the mixture into the empty drum, and run a hot rinse-and-drain cycle to flush the solution through the drain system.

Wipe the inside surfaces you can reach, especially under the top rim or around the door opening.

Leave the lid or door open to help the washer dry out and reduce mold regrowth.

Repeat maintenance cleaning with one half cup to one cup of citric acid every two weeks to once a month.