How to Clean a Washing Machine: What Whirlpool, LG, Samsung and GE Manuals Actually Say

Wiping the rubber door gasket of a front-load washer with a microfiber cloth
AI-generated image: wiping the door gasket of a front-load washer.
THE SHORT ANSWER

Run your washer’s own cleaning cycle on an empty drum about once a month, then leave the door open to dry. That is the one habit Whirlpool, LG, Samsung and GE all agree on.

  • ✓The schedule is really about every 30 to 40 washes, so busy homes may need it more often.
  • ✓What goes in the drum differs by brand, and even by model. Check yours before adding bleach.
  • ✓If it already smells, the cycle alone is not enough: the gasket, drain filter and drawer need cleaning too.

How this guide was made: I read the cleaning sections of Whirlpool, LG, Samsung and GE support pages and owner’s manuals and compared them line by line. I have not tested these cycles myself. Where brands, or even models of the same brand, disagree, I say so. Last checked: November 2026.

ORIGINAL FINDINGS
What we found in the fine print

Things we noticed only by putting the official documents side by side. Each one links to its source below.

1
Samsung contradicts itself on bleach. One Self Clean+ manual says add no detergent or bleach; another says add liquid chlorine bleach to the MAX line if residue is present.
2
Top-loaders get the earlier reminder. Samsung flags a clean after 20 washes on its top-load models, but only after 40 on its front-loaders. Top-load owners should not assume they can wait longer.
3
More bleach can hurt. A Whirlpool manual warns that more than 2/3 cup of bleach damages that washer over time, while other models in the same brand call for 1 cup.
4
No manufacturer we read recommends vinegar. It is everywhere in online guides, but none of the four brands’ pages and manuals we checked name it as their cleaner.
5
A “quick” clean can take four hours. Samsung says Self Clean runs up to four hours on front-loaders, so start it when you will not need the machine.

01Your brand in 10 seconds

In short: same monthly habit, different cycle names and cleaners.

Whirlpool
Cycle
Clean Washer (with affresh)
How often
Monthly or every 30 washes, whichever comes first
Add
One affresh tablet in the drum, or liquid chlorine bleach in the bleach slot
Watch out: one manual says more than 2/3 cup of bleach will damage that washer over time.
LG
Cycle
Tub Clean
How often
Every 30 washes, or when the screen shows “tcL”
Add
A washer tub cleaner; LG recommends an oxygen bleach type
Watch out: if it already smells, LG says run Tub Clean weekly for three weeks.
Samsung
Cycle
Self Clean, Self Clean+ or Pure Cycle
How often
Monthly; reminder after 40 washes (front-load) or 20 (top-load)
Add
Depends on the model; some manuals say add nothing
Watch out: two Samsung manuals give opposite advice on bleach. Yours decides.
GE
Cycle
Basket Clean
How often
At least once a month
Add
Liquid bleach or a washer cleaner, 1/2 to 1 cup by model
Watch out: the drum may smell of bleach afterward, so GE suggests a light-colored load next.

02The monthly clean, step by step

In short: empty drum, the right cleaner, the full cycle, then air.

1
Empty the drum
Nothing inside. Samsung warns that laundry left in during the cleaning cycle may be damaged.
2
Add only what your manual names
Put it where the manual says. Whirlpool’s affresh tablet goes in the drum, not the detergent dispenser. No detergent in any of these cycles.
3
Start the cleaning cycle and let it finish
Samsung says it takes about an hour on top-loaders and up to four hours on front-loaders. GE says to rerun a complete cycle if one gets interrupted.
4
Do your brand’s finishing step
Some Whirlpool models call for a Rinse & Spin afterward. GE suggests running a light-colored load next.
5
Leave the door and drawer open
LG and Samsung both list this as an every-wash habit, not just a cleaning-day one. It is the simplest way to keep smells from coming back.

03If it already smells

In short: the cycle cleans the drum, but the smell often lives somewhere else.

Opening the drain pump filter of a front-load washer over a tray and towel
AI-generated image: a front-load drain filter, with a tray and towel to catch water.
Where to lookWhat the brands say
Door gasket (front-load)Samsung: wipe the door and gasket weekly. LG includes gaskets in its monthly checklist.
Drain pump filter (front-load)Samsung: clean it at least monthly, or about every 40 washes. LG and GE cover it in their care sections.
Detergent drawerSamsung: wipe it after washes and deep clean it monthly. LG includes it in the monthly routine.
Smell that will not leaveLG: run Tub Clean once a week for three weeks in a row, then contact support if it persists.
Before you open the drain filterWater comes out. Put a towel and a shallow pan underneath, and follow your manual for the small drain hose if your model has one.

04Where the manuals disagree

In short: when sources conflict, your own model’s manual wins.

  1. Bleach or nothing at all. One Samsung Self Clean+ manual says not to add detergent or bleach, because chemical residue lowers cleaning performance. Another Samsung manual says to add liquid chlorine bleach up to the MAX line if residue is present.
  2. How much bleach. Whirlpool manuals range from 2/3 cup to 1 cup by model, and one warns that more than 2/3 cup damages that washer over time. GE gives 1/2 cup on one model and 1 cup on others.
  3. Vinegar. Plenty of online guides recommend it, and some repair sites do too. None of the four manufacturers’ pages and manuals I read name vinegar as their recommended cleaner.
Never mix bleach and vinegarDo not use them in the same cycle or one right after the other. Chlorine bleach plus an acid can release toxic chlorine gas. Pick one cleaner per cycle.

05Quick questions

How often should I clean my washing machine?
About once a month. Whirlpool says monthly or every 30 washes, whichever comes first; LG reminds you every 30 washes; Samsung front-loaders every 40.
Can I use vinegar instead of bleach?
None of the four brands’ materials I read recommend it. If you choose to, never combine it with bleach.
Why does my washer still smell after a cleaning cycle?
The cycle does not reach everything. Clean the door gasket, drain pump filter and detergent drawer, and leave the door open between washes. LG suggests three weekly cleaning cycles for a stubborn smell.
Do top-load washers need cleaning too?
Yes. Samsung’s top-loaders remind you after 20 washes, sooner than its front-loaders, and GE’s top-load manuals call for a monthly Basket Clean.

06Renting? Read this

In short: routine cleaning is usually yours; repairs usually are not.

If the washer came with your apartment, keep up the monthly cycle, but report leaks, a drain filter that will not open, or a smell that survives repeated cleaning, and do it in writing. For move-out questions, see our guide to what to fix before you move out.

SAVE THIS: THE ONE-MINUTE VERSION
  • Monthly (or every 30–40 washes): run the cleaning cycle on an empty drum.
  • Add only the cleaner your manual names. Never bleach plus vinegar.
  • Weekly: wipe the door gasket. Monthly: drawer and drain filter.
  • After every wash: leave the door and drawer open.
  • Smell won’t quit: three weekly cycles, then call support or your landlord.

What I did not test: I have not run these cycles or compared cleaners; this guide reports what the manufacturers say. If your manual says something different, follow it, and if you found something that worked, tell me through the About & Contact page.

Sources

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