How To Clean Your Front Load Washer

The Rozy Home
by The Rozy Home
Question: How many of you have ever thought about cleaning our appliances? Admittedly, I never did - until I got a front load washer. After using it a few months, it began to smell. All those months of cleaning nasty workout clothes and food-covered kid's clothes was taking its toll. Luckily, with a bit of cleaning, I had it back in working order in no time.
How long does it take? Depending on how dirty your washer and dryer are, it can take several hours. The most basic clean-up requires a minimum of 1 hour.
How often should you clean your washer? Basic maintenance should be done every other month for optimal performance. More in-depth cleanings should be done every six months.
For basic cleaning, fill the bleach container in your detergent drawer and run the hottest cycle available. Many HE washers have a Clean Cycle. If so, use this cycle. I recommend doing this once a week/every other week depending on much you use your washer.
For those nasty, stinky washers, do the above. Once completed, mix 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup water together and pour into the detergent compartment in the detergent drawer. Next, add 2 cups of white distilled vinegar to the washer drum. Run the hottest cycle and allow the baking soda and vinegar to do it's magic.
Once finished, scrub the inside of the drum with a non-abrasive sponge (the blue ones) and clean the inside seal of the washer. The seal is where the majority of the nastiness from the front load washers come from.


Now that you've removed the gunk from your front load washer, it's time to keep it clean. This is the easy part. After each laundry batch, wipe the inside of the seal, removing any water or debris. Next, leave the door open for a few minutes to allow the washer to air out. Finally, clean around the detergent drawer to wipe up any spillage that may have occurred.
The Rozy Home
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 4 questions
  • Roseann conway Roseann conway on Sep 05, 2017

    How do you get rid of the mold and mildew?

  • Bobby Shirley Rathburn Bobby Shirley Rathburn on Jan 05, 2022

    How do you remove the filer at the bottom front to clean?

  • Kyle Kyle on Feb 11, 2022

    I have whirlpool front end washer and can get the detergent Door open Somehow it is Locked how do I get it unlock

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