Easy Ways to Clean a Top Loading Washing Machine

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Get rid of odors, gunk, and germs with these simple methods

Co-authored by Chris Willatt and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: August 31, 2024 Fact Checked

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Cleaning With Bleach

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With Vinegar and Baking Soda

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With Commercial Washer Cleaner

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How Often to Clean Your Washer

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Tips to Keep Your Top Loading Washer Clean Longer

If you’ve noticed that your top loading washing machine smells a little strange, or if it hasn’t been getting your clothes as clean as usual, it may be time to give it a thorough cleaning. Over time, bacteria from dirty clothes and residue from laundry detergent can build up in the machine, leaving odors and gunk behind. Luckily, you can clean your top loading washing machine in just a few simple steps, and we’ll tell you how. We’ve also included expert insights from house cleaning professionals, so keep reading!

Best Way to Clean a Top Loading Washing Machine

Choose the largest and longest cycle settings and hottest water temperature.
Let the washer fill with water, then add 4 cups (946 mL) of bleach to the drum.
Allow the washer to agitate for 1 minute to mix the bleach into the water.
Pause the cycle and let the water sit for about 1 hour.
Restart the washer and let it run through a complete cycle.
Run a second wash cycle with hot water and 4 cups (946 mL) of vinegar.
Wipe down the dispensers and exterior of the machine.

Section 1 of 5:

How to Clean a Top Loading Washer with Bleach

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Before you start cleaning your washer, make sure that there are no clothes in the drum and no leftover detergent or fabric softener in the dispensers.
If your washer has a “clean” or “maintenance” setting, you can simply select this cycle, explains house cleaning professional James Sears. It will automatically select the right load size and temperature for cleaning. If your washer doesn’t have a cleaning cycle, manually select the largest load setting, the hottest water temperature, and the longest cycle option, then press “start.”

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Allow the washer to fill with water, then add 4 cups (946 mL) of bleach. Once the washer has filled up with water, pour 4 cups (946 mL) of liquid chlorine bleach directly into the drum.^{[1]
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Research source} Bleach is a powerful cleaning agent that eliminates germs, mildew, and dirt, so it’s a great choice if you’re hoping to thoroughly disinfect your washer.^{[2]
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- If you prefer, you can use 4 cups (946 mL) of hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach.^{[3]
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Allow the wash cycle to agitate for about 1 minute, so that the bleach gets thoroughly mixed into the water. Next, pause the cycle and open the lid of the machine. Allow the bleach solution to sit for 1 hour, so that your machine gets fully cleaned and disinfected.^{[4]
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After an hour has passed, close the lid and resume the wash cycle. Let the washer run until the cycle is fully completed and the water has drained out.^{[5]
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Clean the detergent and fabric softener dispensers. This process will look a bit different depending on whether your dispensers are removable or not. Here’s how to clean each type:
- For removable dispensers: Fill your sink or a bucket with hot water, then pour in 1 cup (236 mL) of distilled white vinegar. Remove the dispensers from your washer and place them in the vinegar solution to soak for 15 minutes. Afterwards, remove the dispensers and use a toothbrush to scrub away any leftover gunk or residue. Put the dispensers back in their places in your washer.
- For fixed dispensers: Heat up 1 cup (236 mL) of white vinegar on the stove or in the microwave, then pour the hot vinegar into the dispensers. Allow it to soak for 15 minutes to remove residue. If any gunk remains afterward, use a toothbrush to scrub it off.^{[6]
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Clean the lint filter. Many top loading washing machines have lint filters just like dryers do, although some newer models may not. House cleaning professional Chris Willatt explains that this filter can easily become clogged with lint and old laundry detergent residue, so it’s important to clean it if your machine does have one. Here’s how:
- Start by removing the filter. It should either be located along the top rim of the tub or inside the center agitator. If you can’t find it in either of these places, check near the water pump or at the end of the drainage hose.^{[7]
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- Next, fill your sink or a bucket with hot water and 1 cup (236 mL) of vinegar.
- Submerge the filter in the vinegar and water solution and allow it to soak for 15 minutes.
- Scrub the filter with a toothbrush to remove any gunk or residue. If your filter was in the center agitator, dip the toothbrush in the water and vinegar solution and scrub the inside of the agitator as well.
- Replace the lint filter.
- Note: Some lint filters may not be removable. If yours isn’t, use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe away trapped dirt and lint, then scrub the mesh with a toothbrush dipped in heated white vinegar.^{[8]
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Start by letting the washer fill up with hot water, just like you did with the first bleach cycle. Next, pour 4 cups (946 mL) of white vinegar directly into the drum, and let the washer run through its complete cycle.^{[9]
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Wipe down surfaces with a microfiber cloth. Fill a spray bottle with warm water, then add in a few drops of dish soap to make a cleaning solution. You can also fill the spray bottle with equal parts warm water and vinegar instead, if you prefer. Spray your cleaning solution onto the exterior of the machine, the buttons and dials, and any rubber seals or gaskets that have a little gunk on them. Wipe all of these areas down with your microfiber cloth.^{[10]
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- The wash cycles should be enough to clean the blades of your agitator, but if there’s anything left over on them, you can wipe them down with your microfiber cloth, too.
- And that’s it! Your machine should now be fresh, clean, and ready for your next load of laundry.

Section 2 of 5:

How to Clean a Top Loading Washer with Vinegar and Baking Soda

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If your machine has a “clean” or “maintenance” option, choose this setting. If it doesn’t, manually select the longest and largest cycle settings, as well as the hottest water temperature. Press “start,” and let the washer fill up with water.^{[11]
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Once the machine is filled up with water, professional cleaner Ashley Matuska recommends pouring 4 cups (946 mL) of vinegar directly into the drum. Allow the cycle to run for about 1 minute, so that the agitator can mix the vinegar into the water thoroughly.
This gives the vinegar enough time to remove gunk, detergent residue, germs, and mildew.^{[12]
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The water and vinegar solution will drain out completely, and when the rinse cycle begins, the machine will start to fill up with clean water again.^{[13]
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As the rinse cycle starts, add in 1 cup (272 g) of baking soda. Allow the washer to finish the rest of its cycle completely.^{[14]
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Wash these components according to the instructions listed above. Once everything is thoroughly cleaned, leave the lid open to make sure the machine dries completely.^{[15]
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Section 3 of 5:

How to Clean a Top Loading Washer with Commercial Washer Cleaner

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Follow the instructions on the package of the washer cleaner. There are several commercial washing machine cleaners on the market that you can use instead of cleaning agents like bleach or vinegar. Some are in liquid form and others are tablets, and different products may require different cleaning processes, so be sure to follow the instructions listed on the product you’ve purchased.^{[16]
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- After cleaning the interior of your washer, clean the dispensers, gaskets, and exterior of the washer according to the instructions above.

Section 4 of 5:

How often should you clean a top loading washing machine?

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Clean your top loading washing machine twice per year. For most machines that see a regular amount of use, a thorough cleaning once every 6 months should be enough, says Matuska. She explains, however, that there are a few circumstances that would require more frequent cleanings. If you use your machine super often, live in a very humid area, or have hard water, you may want to wash your machine once every 3 months, instead.
- It’s important to deep clean your washing machine because mildew, laundry detergent residue, dirt, and germs can build up in your machine over time. When this happens, your machine may develop odors, and it won’t clean your clothes as well.
- Your machine’s lint filter can also get clogged if it isn’t cleaned regularly, which means dirt particles and lint may remain on your clothes after they’re washed.^{[17]
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- If your machine is super smelly, try a monthly cleaning with an Affresh tablet (in addition to your regular deep cleanings). They’re made of sodium carbonate (washing soda) and sodium percarbonate (oxygen bleach), and they can keep your machine smelling fresh.^{[18]
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- If you live in an area with hard water, follow up your deep cleanings with a wash cycle using vinegar and baking soda to remove mineral residue.

Section 5 of 5:

Tips to Keep Your Top Loading Washer Clean Longer

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“The best thing you can do is preventative maintenance,” explains Willatt. For example, “Always leave [the lid] a little bit cracked open, so that you don’t give the water time to sit in there and create mildew,” he says.
If you’re trying to get your clothes extra clean, you may be tempted to pour a little extra laundry detergent or fabric softener into your load. Unfortunately, this can lead to a buildup of gunk and residue in your machine, and it doesn’t actually make your clothes get any cleaner or softer. To keep your machine as fresh as possible between washes, be sure to use only the recommended amount of these products.^{[19]
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Even if your washer isn’t dirty enough to do a full deep-cleaning yet, it can be helpful to clean the detergent and fabric softener dispensers a bit more frequently. This prevents odors and buildup from forming between washes.^{[20]
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