How to clean a washing machine: drum, seal, drawer and pump filter

You can clean a washing machine in four steps: run an empty drum cleaning programme (or a 60 °C wash), wipe the rubber door seal, wash the detergent drawer and clean the pump filter. An unpleasant smell is usually caused by moisture and detergent residue, so after every wash leave the door and the drawer slightly open until the inside has dried.

The procedure differs in details between brands, for example in whether detergent is added to the cleaning programme. The manual for your model therefore always takes precedence over general advice.

What you will need

• a soft brush (an old toothbrush will do),
• a microfibre cloth and an absorbent towel,
• a shallow container or tray and a towel for under the pump filter,
• rubber gloves,
• the product that your washing machine's manual specifies for drum cleaning,
• the washing machine manual (the programme name and the filter location vary by model).

1. Drum cleaning programme

Many washing machines have their own drum cleaning programme. According to the manual for the Bosch WAV28GH0BY washing machine, you should run it when you often wash at 40 °C or lower, or when the machine has stood unused for a long time. An alternative is regular washing at a temperature of at least 60 °C. The programme is always run without laundry.

Beware of differences between manufacturers. For the drum cleaning programme, Bosch specifies universal washing powder, whereas Samsung for its Eco Drum Clean programmes expressly states that no detergent or other cleaning product should be added, because chemical residue may damage the drum or the laundry. Before you pour anything into the drum, check your model's manual.

Some washing machines remind you to clean them with a flashing indicator. For Samsung machines with the Eco Drum Clean+ programme, according to the same page, the reminder appears once every 40 washes.

2. Door seal

Water, fluff and small items from pockets collect in the folds of the rubber gasket, which is why a dark coating most often forms there. Samsung recommends pulling back the gasket, inspecting the areas beneath it as well and wiping them with a soft brush, a paper towel or a damp cloth.

1. Open the door and remove anything stuck in the gasket.
2. Pull back the edge of the gasket and work your way round the entire circumference, especially the lower part.
3. Wipe off deposits with a cloth soaked in lukewarm water with a little detergent, and use a brush in the folds.
4. Wipe the gasket dry with an absorbent towel.
5. On machines that have a drain hole in the lower part of the gasket, check that it is not blocked. The Bosch manual recommends checking and cleaning this hole regularly.

Black spots in the rubber are often mould. Samsung allows wiping with a solution of chlorine bleach in warm water, but at the same time warns that chlorine bleach may damage the seal. The Bosch manual lists corrosive and volatile products, including liquid bleach, among the products that do not belong in a washing machine. If you do reach for a chlorine product, do so only in accordance with your machine's manual, wearing gloves and with a window open. The CDC warns that bleach must never be mixed with ammonia or with any other cleaning product. Why this is dangerous is explained in the article on dangerous combinations of cleaning products.

3. Detergent drawer

Residue of gel and fabric softener collects in the drawer, and in the recess behind it there is often a dark coating, which is washed into the drum during washing.

1. Pull the drawer out as far as it will go.
2. Press the release lever or insert (on Bosch machines the insert is pressed down) and remove the drawer.
3. Take out the inserts and wash all the parts under running water with a brush.
4. Also clean the recess in which the drawer sits. This is where there are usually the most deposits, and without a torch you often cannot see them.
5. Dry the parts, fit the inserts so that they click into place and slide the drawer back in.

After cleaning the drawer, Samsung recommends running an empty rinse and spin programme to flush away loosened residue.

4. Pump filter

The filter catches coins, hairpins, buttons and fluff. The Bosch manual recommends cleaning it in the event of faults, for example when the pump becomes blocked or rattles, whereas Samsung states filter cleaning five to six times a year. Follow your own manual and check the filter whenever water remains in the drum after washing.

Safety: There is residual water in the filter, and after a high-temperature wash it may be hot. Let it cool down and bear in mind that more of it will run out than you expect.

1. Turn off the water supply, switch the machine off and pull the plug out of the socket. Disconnecting from the mains as the first step is also stated by Bosch support on cleaning the washing machine filter.
2. Open the service cover in the lower part of the front panel.
3. Place a shallow container under the opening and spread a towel around it.
4. If the machine has an emergency drain hose, take it out of its holder, pull out the plug and let the water run into the container. Put the plug back.
5. Unscrew the filter cap slowly, anticlockwise; there is usually still water inside.
6. Remove the dirt from the filter, from the thread of the cap and from the opening. Proceed carefully, as there may be shards or sharp clips in there.
7. Check that the pump impeller turns freely. If it does not turn, Bosch recommends contacting a service technician.
8. Screw the cap on as far as it will go, close the cover and, after switching on, check that nothing leaks around the filter.

Why the washing machine smells

In its troubleshooting section, the Bosch manual states that moisture and detergent residue can promote the growth of bacteria. As a solution, it recommends the drum cleaning programme and leaving the door and the drawer open when you are not using the machine.

In practice, a smell appears mainly where washing is done mostly at low temperatures, more gel or fabric softener is used than necessary, laundry stays in the drum for a long time after the programme ends, or the filter is blocked and water stands in the pump. If the smell does not disappear even after cleaning all four places, also check the drain hose and the siphon.

How to stop the washing machine from clogging up again

• After washing, leave the door and the drawer ajar until the inside has dried. Both Bosch and Samsung recommend this.
• Take wet laundry out immediately after the programme ends.
• Dose detergent according to the information on the packaging, the hardness of the water and how soiled the laundry is, not more "just to be safe".
• From time to time wash at a higher temperature or run the drum cleaning programme.
• Empty pockets before washing; this spares both the filter and the pump.
• Wipe the seal now and then during routine bathroom cleaning, before a coating settles in it.

Use a descaler only if the manual permits it. Bosch states that if you dose detergent correctly, you do not need to descale the washing machine, and that unsuitable descalers, such as products for coffee machines, may damage the appliance. How to safely remove limescale from other places in the home is described in the article Jak odstranit vodní kámen.

What to avoid when cleaning

• Steam and high-pressure cleaners, hoses and showers. The Bosch manual prohibits them because of the risk of electric shock.
• Products containing solvents. According to the same manual, toxic fumes may be produced.
• Wire scourers and coarse abrasive powders. It is enough to wipe the casing and the control panel with water and a damp cloth.
• Mixing products. Always use just one product, rinsing thoroughly between them.
• Force on the pump. If the impeller does not turn or the cap cannot be loosened, it is a job for a service technician.

A dishwasher is cleaned in a similar way: the filter, spray arms and seal. You will find the procedure in the article Jak vyčistit myčku. Wiping the washing machine seal and drawer can also be included in the brief for regular home cleaning.