How to Clean a Whirlpool Washing Machine

It may sound like a contradiction, but washing machines also need to be washed and cleaned sometimes. If you are noticing stale, musty smells coming from your washer or mold in the washer, cleaning your Whirlpool washer should resolve the issue.

When you think about it, there is a lot of dirt, grease, and other debris, plus washing detergent that leaves residue behind, going through your washer every week. While it may not bother you at first, over time, the debris builds up, and aside from the mold and funky smells, it can also cause blockages and damage to the washer.

Whirlpool recommends cleaning the washer with Affresh washer cleaner tablets once a month. Some other manufacturers recommend cleaning the washer bi-weekly.

Whether you want to use a specially formulated washer cleaner, like Affresh, or white vinegar, baking soda, or bleach, we have got you covered. Read on to learn how to clean your Whirlpool washer.

This guide applies to most Whirlpool washers, including the following models:

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Washer cleaner, bleach, baking soda, or vinegar?

Store-bought washer cleaner, like the Whirlpool recommended Affresh, is specially formulated to clean dirt, grime, grease, lint, soap scum, fabric softener residue, water minerals, and bad odors. While bleach, baking soda, and distilled white vinegar are also effective in cleaning the washer, they won’t be as effective as a store-bought, specially formulated washer cleaner.

If you choose not to use a pre-made washer cleaner, running a cycle with vinegar and then one with bleach is the best alternative method to clean the washer. However, baking soda and vinegar or just bleach or vinegar can also be used.

White vinegar has a high concentration of acetic acid, which makes it an inexpensive but effective cleaning agent to kill germs and remove residue and odors. However, vinegar will not kill all germs, like bleach will. Bleach is the best product to kill germs and bacteria, but it may not remove all residues. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and good for breaking down stuck-on debris like detergent residue or mold.

Never mix vinegar and bleach together, as it can produce potentially lethal chlorine gas. Combining bleach with any other cleaning agent should also be avoided.

Will white vinegar damage the washer?

If you look around the internet at the various instructions for cleaning a washer, you will find some blog posts declaring white vinegar should never be used to clean your washer. The problem with vinegar is that it can melt rubber hoses and damage other rubber components – if used too frequently and in large amounts.

Therefore, as long as you only use white vinegar to clean the washer a few times per year, your washer should be fine. You might want to consider the condition or how old your washer is, as worn parts will be more likely to be affected by the vinegar. If “should be fine” does not inspire confidence, there are plenty of other products to choose from.

What needs to be cleaned?

Choosing the right cleaning product to add to the washer is not enough to clean the washer. Parts of the washer will require some elbow grease to get the best results.

First, if you have a front-load washer, the door gasket needs to be wiped with a damp cloth or cleaning wipe, as this is the part of the washer that is most likely to develop mold and mildew. Some white vinegar can be used to clean off stubborn stains or mold.

Next, whether you have a top-load or front-load washer, the lid or door needs to be cleaned. A damp cloth, or a cleaning wipe, can again be used to clean the area. Some white vinegar can also be used if necessary.

The detergent dispenser should also be cleaned with soap and water. It is not recommended to clean it with any stronger chemicals or detergents.

Lastly, to finish the job, give the outside of the washer a clean. Only mild soaps or cleaners should be used to clean the outside of the washer.

Lint filters (if your washer has one) should also be removed (if possible) and cleaned with warm soapy water and a soft brush.

How to clean with pre-made washer cleaner

As mentioned above, pre-made washer cleaners are formulated especially for cleaning washers, removing residues and odors without damaging the washer. While Whirlpool recommends Affresh, other brands like Tide or OxiClean can also be used.

1. Clean the gasket, door, lid, outside, lint filters, and detergent dispenser.
2. Empty the washer.
3. Add the washer cleaner to the washer (see the cleaner’s instructions for the correct quantity).
4. Close the washer and run a cleaning cycle (if your washer has the feature) or a normal cycle with the maximum temperature.
5. Run a quick rinse and spin cycle to clear away any residue left in the washer (if required). The residue could also be wiped up with a damp cloth or cleaning wipe.

How to clean with distilled white vinegar and then bleach

1. Clean the gasket, door, lid, outside, lint filters, and detergent dispenser.
2. Empty the washer.
3. Add 2 cups of white vinegar.
4. Run a long, hot cycle.
5. Add 2 cups of bleach and run another cycle.
6. If necessary, run a quick rinse and spin cycle to remove bleach residue. The residue could also be wiped up with a cloth or cleaning wipe.

How to clean with vinegar and baking soda (top-loader)

1. Clean the gasket, door, lid, outside, lint filters, and detergent dispenser.
2. Empty the washer.
3. Run a long, hot cycle.
4. As the washer is filling up with water, add 2-3 cups of white vinegar.
5. Allow the washer to agitate for a minute, then pause the washer.
6. Leave the vinegar to soak for 1 minute.
7. Add ½ a cup of baking soda.
8. Allow the washer to agitate again for 1 minute.
9. Pause the washer and leave it to soak for 30 minutes to an hour.
10. Unpause the washer and allow it to finish the cycle.

How to clean with vinegar and baking soda (front-loader)

1. Clean the gasket, door, lid, outside, lint filters, and detergent dispenser.
2. Empty the washer.
3. Add 2 cups of white vinegar.
4. Run a long, hot cycle.
5. Add half a cup of baking soda and run another cycle.
6. Run a short rinse and spin cycle to clear any residue (if necessary). The residue could also be wiped up with a cloth or cleaning wipe.

How to clean with bleach or vinegar

1. Clean the gasket, door, lid, outside, lint filters, and detergent dispenser.
2. Empty the washer.
3. Add two cups of bleach or white vinegar (do not mix these together).
4. Run a long, hot cycle.
5. Run a short rinse and spin cycle to clear any residue (if necessary). The residue could also be wiped up with a cloth or cleaning wipe.

If you have followed these instructions, you should now have a clean Whirlpool washer.