How to Clean Inside a Washing Machine

Washing MachineModerate⏱ 45 minutes - 2 hours

Инструкция на английском (оригинал iFixit). Непонятные термины — в разделе «Основы → Словарь».

Mold, soap scum, and stale odors in a washing machine usually come from buildup hiding on the inside surfaces and in the drain path. This guide shows a cheap DIY cleaning method using citric acid and oxygenated bleach (oxygen bleach) to break down grime and help remove moldy smells. Regular use can keep the washer fresh and reduce the need for hands-on scrubbing.

🧰 Tools

Safety Glasses
Wash Bomb Washing Machine Cleaning Solution
Nitrile Gloves
Scrub Brush

ШагиSteps

Prepare safely

Unplug the washing machine before cleaning.
Don’t bypass the lid switch, door lock, or any other safety interlock while the washer is running.
Put on nitrile gloves and safety glasses, and avoid breathing powder dust.
Make sure the drum is empty, with no clothes or detergent.
Don’t mix this method with chlorine bleach or other cleaners.

Measure the DIY cleaning agents

Measure about one cup of citric acid for a heavy-duty clean on a dirty or smelly washer.
Measure about one quarter cup of oxygenated bleach powder for a heavy-duty clean.
Use about one half cup of citric acid if you clean the washer often and only need maintenance cleaning.
Use about one tablespoon of oxygenated bleach powder for maintenance cleaning.
Consider using up to two cups of citric acid if the washer has never been cleaned and has heavy buildup.

Run a hot cleaning cycle

Pour the measured citric acid into the empty wash tub.
Pour the measured oxygenated bleach into the empty wash tub.
Run a normal wash cycle or a washer-cleaning cycle with hot water and no laundry.
Let the washer agitate so the mixture can circulate and start breaking down soap scum and moldy residue.

Maximize contact time to fight odors

Use the longest wash cycle you can so the solution has more time to work.
Pause the cycle and let the solution soak if the washer allows it.
Short cycles don’t leave the mixture in the washer long enough to eat buildup as effectively.

Soak problem areas the waterline misses

Check for grime at the extreme bottom or at areas that don’t get washed by normal water levels.
Add citric acid, fill the washer only slightly with water, and let it soak to loosen bottom debris.
Run a wash cycle after soaking to flush the loosened buildup out of the tub.

Scrub stubborn mold and soap scum by hand

Use a scrub brush to break loose any remaining grime that didn’t wash away.
Use a condenser brush to reach and scrub tight spaces between the inner and outer tub if you can access them safely.
Remove loosened debris by hand so it doesn’t settle back into the washer.

Clean the drain path to reduce drain odors

Measure about one third cup of citric acid and about one half teaspoon of oxygenated bleach powder.
Put the mixture into the empty drum, and run a hot rinse-and-drain cycle to flush the solution through the drain system.
Use this when the washer drains slowly or when odors seem strongest near the drain.

Dry out the washer and maintain it

Wipe the inside surfaces you can reach, especially under the top rim or around the door opening.
Leave the lid or door open to help the washer dry out and reduce mold regrowth.
Repeat maintenance cleaning with one half cup to one cup of citric acid every two weeks to once a month.
Run a larger dose if the washer has years of buildup or if the first cleaning doesn’t fully remove odors.

If odors or visible buildup persist, repeat the deep-clean dose, extend the soak time, and scrub the remaining residue you can safely reach before running another hot cycle. Once the washer is clean, keep the lid or door open between loads and repeat maintenance cleaning regularly to slow new buildup. Repair didn't go as planned? Ask our Answers community for help.

«How to Clean Inside a Washing Machine» — автор Ben Schlichter, iFixit, лицензия CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Показано без изменений. Открыть оригинал и комментарии →