How To Clean A Washing Machine: A Step-By-Step Guide

Your washing machine handles muddy school clothes, damp towels, pet bedding, forgotten tissues, and more loads of dirty laundry than anyone wants to count. It is essential for making us feel clean and fresh, but how often should the machine itself be cleaned? And how does one clean it effectively?

Cleaning a washing machine properly means tackling the detergent drawer, rubber seal, filter, drum, door, and exterior. Regular wiping, plus a deeper clean every one to three months, can help prevent residue, stale smells, and drainage problems. You can find the basics in the FabFinds cleaning products collection, but you won’t need an entire afternoon.

Why does your washing machine need cleaning?

Detergent, fabric conditioner, fluff, hair, and dirt all pass through the machine. Small amounts can stay behind, especially in the drawer, seal, and filter, where trapped water may cause stale smells.

Cooler and shorter washes are useful for everyday laundry, but they can make regular machine maintenance more important. Homes with pets may also notice hair collecting around the drum and filter more quickly. If hair, dirt, limescale, and bad odours are building up together, Vamoosh Washing Machine Cleaner 175g is designed to target all four inside the appliance. You’ll still need to remove anything physically trapped in the seal or filter by hand.

Cleaning also gives you a chance to spot a damaged seal, blocked filter, or drainage issue early.

How often should you clean a washing machine?

There’s no perfect schedule for every household. Your machine’s manual should always come first, especially if it has a drum-clean reminder or a specific maintenance programme.

For most busy homes, this is a sensible starting point:

• Wipe the door, glass, and rubber seal every week or two.

• Clean the detergent drawer when residue appears.

• Run a deeper maintenance clean every one to three months.

• Check the filter as often as the manufacturer recommends.

• Clean sooner if the machine smells stale or drains slowly.

Your cleaner has its own instructions too. Fabulosa Washing Machine Cleaner Unicorn Dust 250ml provides two uses per bottle, so check the label for the correct amount and cycle rather than guessing.

What do you need for cleaning your washing machine?

Gather a clean cloth, an old towel, a shallow tray, a soft brush if allowed, protective gloves, and a compatible cleaner.

The Microfibre Cleaning Cloths Pink 4 Pack contains four 50 x 30cm cloths, so you can keep one just for the washing machine.

Empty the drum before starting. Switch the appliance off before cleaning accessible parts, and follow the manual’s safety instructions before opening the filter.

Step 1: Clean the detergent drawer

The detergent drawer can look fine from the front while hiding sticky detergent or fabric conditioner at the back.

If it’s removable, release it as shown in the manual. Don’t force it, as catches vary. Rinse it with warm water, then use a cloth or soft brush around the corners, compartments, and openings.

Wipe inside the housing without pouring or spraying water into the machine, then dry the drawer. If residue returns quickly, check the dosing instructions on your laundry products.

Step 2: Clean the washing machine seal

Cleaning the washing machine seal is particularly important on a front-loading model. Gently pull back each fold and look all the way around. You may find fluff, hair, tissues, coins, or small items that have escaped from pockets.

Remove the debris, then wipe the rubber with a damp cloth. Elbow Grease Rubber Gloves Assorted Sizes are cotton-lined with a non-slip finish, handy for dealing with damp rubber and old debris.

Dry the folds when you’ve finished. If the seal is split, loose, or visibly damaged, don’t attack it with a stronger product. Check the manufacturer’s advice, as it may need repairing or replacing.

Step 3: Clean the washing machine filter

The filter catches fluff, hair, coins, and other small objects. A blockage can leave water in the drum, slow drainage, or trigger an error code.

Put an old towel and shallow tray below the filter panel. Some machines have an emergency drain hose, while others need the filter loosened gradually to collect the water in stages.

Once it’s safe to remove, clear away the debris, rinse the filter in warm water, and wipe around its housing. Refit it securely to avoid leaks during the next wash. If it won’t turn, stop and check the manual rather than forcing it.

Step 4: Run a washing machine cleaning cycle

Now you can tackle the drum and the internal areas you can’t reach by hand. Choose the drum-clean or maintenance programme if your machine has one. Otherwise, use the cycle and temperature recommended in its manual.

Add a dedicated cleaner to an empty machine, following its directions. Fabulosa Washing Machine Cleaner Unicorn Dust 250ml removes limescale and leaves a powdery Parma violet scent with notes of rose, lily, woods, and musk.

Don’t add normal laundry detergent unless the instructions say to, and never assume that more cleaner will work better. Too much may simply leave more residue behind.

Step 5: Wipe the door and exterior

While the cycle runs, wipe the control panel, handle, door, and exterior. Apply any suitable product to the cloth rather than spraying buttons, gaps, or electrical areas.

The glass door tends to collect fingerprints, water spots, and detergent marks. The reusable Addis Microfibre Cloths Window & Glass Kit 2 Pack can be used wet or dry, with or without cleaning chemicals, for a streak-free finish.

When the cycle ends, wipe away any water around the glass and seal. Leave the door and drawer slightly open to dry when it’s safe around children and pets.

How do you keep a washing machine cleaner for longer?

The easiest washing machine cleaning tips are small habits that stop residue building up so quickly.

Measure detergent according to the label, load size, water hardness, and soiling. Remove wet laundry promptly, check pockets, and use a washing bag for small items.

Shake pet bedding outside before washing, and don’t pack the drum too tightly. Clothes need enough room to move and rinse properly. After the final load, leave the door and drawer ajar if it’s safe, allowing trapped moisture to escape.

Keep one suitable cleaner ready rather than waiting for a smell. The FabFinds cleaning products collection includes washing machine cleaners alongside reusable cloths, gloves, and other useful supplies.

Common washing machine cleaning mistakes

Running an empty cycle and ignoring the drawer, filter, and seal is the biggest mistake. A maintenance wash can work on internal build-up, but it can’t remove a coin, hair clip, or wad of wet tissue.

Never mix washing machine cleaner with bleach, vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, or another cleaner unless the manual and product label confirm it’s safe. Mixing products can create dangerous fumes or cause damage.

Using too much product can cause problems too. Whether you choose Vamoosh Washing Machine Cleaner 175g or another compatible option, use the stated dose and repeat only if the directions allow it.

Cleaning can’t fix every fault. Persistent leaks, unusual noises, slow drainage, damaged rubber, and recurring error codes need proper investigation.

Can you clean a washing machine on a budget?

Yes. You need one cleaner suited to the problem, a reusable cloth, and a consistent routine. There’s no benefit in opening several similar products at once.

Choose based on what your machine needs, such as limescale removal, help with embedded pet hair, or a fragrance you enjoy. Compare options in the FabFinds cleaning products collection when your cleaner runs out.

The habits that make the biggest difference cost nothing. Measure detergent properly, wipe the seal, empty pockets, remove laundry promptly, and let the machine dry after use.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use vinegar for cleaning a washing machine?

Advice varies between manufacturers, and acidic products may not suit every seal, hose, or internal part. Follow your manual and use a compatible cleaner. Never combine vinegar with bleach or another cleaning product.

Why does my washing machine still smell after cleaning?

The smell may come from the drawer, seal, filter, drainage hose, or standing water. Check each area before repeating the drum cycle. If it returns alongside another fault, seek professional advice.

Should the drum be empty during a maintenance wash?

Washing machine cleaners and drum-clean programmes are generally intended for an empty machine, but check both sets of instructions. The directions on Fabulosa Washing Machine Cleaner Unicorn Dust 250ml, for example, should be followed alongside the guidance for your particular appliance.

What quick habit makes the next clean easier?

After the final load of the week, remove the laundry, check the seal, wipe away any water, and leave the door and drawer open to dry safely. Add the deeper job to your cleaning schedule every couple of months, then adjust the timing to suit your machine and household.