How to Clean and Deodorize a Whirlpool Washer

Download Article

Make your dishwasher and laundry machine smell clean and fresh

Co-authored by Bruna Coutinho and Eric McClure

Last Updated: July 1, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Cleaning the Drum
|
• Deep Cleaning the Machine
|
• Dish Soap
|
• Baking Soda
|
• Expert Interview
|
• Expert Q&A

|Show more |Show less

Cleaning a Whirlpool machine is easy, especially since they’re very up-front about the cleaning process. Use an Affresh cleaning tablet or chlorine bleach to clean the drum periodically. When necessary, clean the dispensers, agitator, and door seal with warm water or disinfectant wipes. Remember to avoid abrasive or caustic cleaners—even if the machine is especially dirty.

Things You Should Know

• Run an empty wash cycle with an Affresh cleaning tablet or chlorine bleach to clean the drum.
• Deep clean your machine by washing out the dispenser, scrubbing the agitator, and wiping down the door seal.
• You can use baking soda or white vinegar to deodorize your machine, but avoid using dish soap.

Steps

Get Product Support Solve Any Problem

Hi there! Do you have a question about how to use or repair your home appliance? I’ve read the manuals so you don’t have to. Select your product, brand, and model, then ask away!

Select Product Dishwasher Dryer Garage Door Opener Ice Maker Refrigerator Thermostat Washing Machine Other *

Select Brand AEG Amana Beko Blanco Blomberg Bosch Bush Crosley Electra Electrolux GE Haier Hisense Hotpoint IFB Indesit John Lewis Kenmore LG Logik Maytag Miele Samsung Sharp Siemens Speed Queen Whirlpool Zanussi Other *

Select Model (optional) I don't know 4KWTW5600JW 4KWTW5600JW1 4KWTW5700JW 4KWTW5700JW1 4KWTW5800JW 4KWTW5800JW1 4KWTW5900JW 4KWTW5900JW1 652D 7MWET3300EQ0 7MWGT3300EQ0 7MWGT4027HW 8578179 AWE 9730 AWG 5061:M6 LSQ9030PQ0 LTE5243DQ6 LTE5243DT6 LTE6234DQ4 LTE6234DQ5 LTE6234DT4 LTE6234DT5 LTG5243DQ6 LTG5243DT6 MHW5630HC0 MHW5630HC1 MHW5630HC2 MHW5630HW1 MHW6630HC1 MHW6630HC2 MHW6630HC3 MHW6630HW1 MHW6630HW2 MHW8630HC1 MHW8630HC2 MHW8630HW1 MHW8630HW2 MHW8630HW3 NFW5800HW0 W10158200B W10235936A W10280544F W10343071C W10441073B W10441074B - SP W10607424B W10607427C W10656457B W10656464C W10656465C – SP W10656476B - SP W10783951A W10891955A W11035364A W11037201A W11042232A W11355369A WET3300XQ0 WET3300XQ1 WET3300XQ2 WET4024EW WFW5605MW WFW560CHW WFW5620HW1 WFW5620HW2 WFW5620HW3 WFW6605MC WFW6620HC1 WFW6620HW1 WFW70HEBW WFW72HEDW WFW7590FW0 WFW75HEFW0 WFW8620HC WFW8620HC2 WFW8620HC3 WFW8620HW3 WFW862CHC WFW862CHC3 WFW9050XW00 WFW9200SQ WFW92HEFBD0 WFW92HEFC0 WFW92HEFU0 WFW92HEFW0 WFW9620HBK WGT3300XQ0 WGT3300XQ1 WGT3300XQ2 WGT3300XQ3 WTW2000HW WTW4655JW0 WTW4700YQ0 WTW4750YQ0 WTW4750YQ1 WTW4800BQ0 WTW4800XQ0 WTW4800XQ1 WTW4800XQ2 WTW4800XQ4 WTW4815EW WTW4820XQ0 WTW4855HW0 WTW4855HW1 WTW4910XQ0 WTW4910XQ1 WTW4910XQ3 WTW4930XW0 WTW4930XW1 WTW4930XW3 WTW4955HW0 WTW4955HW1 WTW5000DW1 WTW5000DW3 WTW500CMW WTW5010LW WTW5015LW WTW5057LW WTW5100HC WTW5105HW WTW6120HW WTW6150PW WTW6157PW WTW7000DW0 WTW7000DW1 WTW7000DW2 WTW7000DW3 WTW7000DW4 WTW7040DW1 WTW7120HC WTW7300DC0 WTW7300DW0 WTW7300DW1 WTW7300DW2 WTW7500GC0 WTW7500GC2 WTW7500GC3 WTW7500GW0 WTW7500GW2 WTW7500GW3 WTW8000BW0 WTW8000DW2 WTW8040DW1 WTW8040DW2 WTW8040DW3 WTW8040DW4 WTW8127LC WTW8500DC0 WTW8500DC1 WTW8500DC2 WTW8500DR0 WTW8500DR1 WTW8500DW0 WTW8500DW1 WTW8500DW2 WTW8540BW WTW8700EC0 WhiteMagic Royale 6.5 YWET3300XQ1 YWET3300XQ2 Other

Ask

Section 1 of 4:

Cleaning the Drum

Download Article

1. 1
   Recommended: Affresh washing machine cleaner tablets Whirlpool explicitly recommends using Affresh cleaning tablets to clean their machines. Just put one tablet in the machine’s empty drum and run a “clean washer” cycle.

   • If your model doesn’t have a “clean washer” cycle, run a normal cycle.
   • After the cycle is over, leave the door open for an hour or so to let the machine air out.
   • Whirlpool recommends doing this once every 30 loads or so. A lot of consumers just do this whenever they notice there’s a funky odor in their drum, though.
2. 2
   Alternative: Chlorine bleach If you don’t have Affresh tablets or prefer household cleaners, Whirlpool recommends chlorine bleach. With an empty machine, open the lid and add 1 cup (236 mL) of liquid chlorine bleach to the drum. Select the “clean washer” cycle and run it.

   • If you don’t have a “clean washer” cycle, just run a normal wash cycle.
   • Let the drum air dry for an hour or so after the cycle is done.
Advertisement

Section 2 of 4:

Deep Cleaning the Machine

Download Article

1. 1
   Clean the washing machine dispensers. If your machine has a dispenser drawer, clean it periodically to get rid of any soap scum and buildup. Pull the drawer out (unless you sense resistance, in which case leave the drawer where it is). Soak a clean cloth in warm water and wipe the dispenser down. If it’s still dirty, use a disinfectant cleaning wipe to scrub the dispenser clean. Towel dry the dispenser when you’re done.

   • If you can remove the dispenser drawer and you don’t feel like scrubbing, just soak the dispenser in hot water and mild soap.
2. 2
   Remove the agitator if you can to clean it separately. If you have a top-loading machine, look in the middle of the drum for a column. If you have one, this is the agitator. Try taking the cap off. If it does come off, clean the inside of the agitator with a cloth or long scrub brush and some warm water.

   • If the cap doesn’t come off easily because there’s resistance, don’t push it. Only some Whirlpool models have removable agitator caps.
3. 3
   Wipe down the rubber door seal by hand. Pop the door open on your washing machine and grab a disinfectant cleaning wipe or damp cloth. Gently wipe down the rubber seal running around the rim of the door.
4. 4
   Clean the outside of the washing machine. If the outside of your machine is dirty, grab a sponge or cloth and wipe away anything that seems dirty or dusty. You can dampen the sponge or cloth with a little warm water if the job calls for it.

   • You can use mild soap or disinfectant if you’d like, but don’t use any abrasive cleaners, bleach, or commercial cleaners.
5. 5
   Run an empty cycle with the opposite settings you normally use. Run an empty cycle once you’re done cleaning. If you normally use hot water to wash your clothes, use cold water to run an empty cycle. If you normally use cold water, use hot water. This will clean out any buildup in your washing machine’s water lines and ensure it continues to run efficiently.
Advertisement

Section 3 of 4:

Can you use dish soap to clean the machine?

Download Article

1. No, you cannot use dish soap in a Whirlpool washing machine. Dish soap creates suds. In fact, it creates a lot more suds than normal laundry detergent. If you use dish soap in the drum of the machine, you may end up overflowing the machine with soap suds.

   • Dish soap can also clog the drain lines and coat them in soap scum, which may prevent your machine from running efficiently in the future.

Section 4 of 4:

Can you use baking soda to clean the machine?

Download Article

1. Yes, it’s generally safe to pour some baking soda into the drum. Check your manual to be sure, but this is usually fine with Whirlpool models. If you want to deodorize your washing machine, feel free to sprinkle a spoonful or two of baking soda in the drum. Wait a little bit for the baking soda to absorb any odors, and then run an empty cycle to wash it out.

   • You can also use white vinegar in a Whirlpool machine. Just don’t use white vinegar and baking soda together—it’s too caustic for the machine.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

• Question

  How do I remove lint residue from my washer?

  

  Bruna Coutinho
  Cleaning Expert

  Bruna Coutinho is a Cleaning Expert and owner of Bruna’s Cleaning Services based in Wilmington, Delaware. With over 10 years of experience and over 200 recurring customers, Bruna's Cleaning Services provides a variety of cleaning solutions to the DE, NJ, and PA areas. While boasting eco-friendly cleaning practices, some of Bruna’s specialties include Deep Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Post Construction Cleaning, and Airbnb Cleaning. In 2023, Bruna's Cleaning Services was voted a Neighborhood Fave on Nextdoor.

  

  Bruna Coutinho

  Cleaning Expert

  Expert Answer

  Start by opening the lid or door of your washing machine, checking for visible lint on the drum and around the rubber door seal, and removing anything that you find by hand. Next, locate the lint trap, which is usually located along the drum's edge or below the door of your washing machine when you open it. You can then clean the lint trap under a running water and use a brush if necessary to dislodge some stubborn lint.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!