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Feb 09 2012

{CLEANING TIP} Cleaning front loader washing machine

Category: Cleaning • Laundry

I don’t have a front loader washing machine, however so many readers are asking how to clean it and in particular how to remove the mould.  Front loaders are well-known for the build up of mould around the seal, a musty smell could be your first indication that this is occurring and is in need of a clean.  It’s very important to clean away the mould as it can get on your clothes during the washing cycle and become very harmful to your health.  Please check your manual for instructions for your particular machine, otherwise, here are my tips:

Steps to clean your front loader washing machine

  1. While empty, pour 1-2 cups bleach (depending on washer size) into the front loader, run on the hottest cycle
  2. Using a spray bottle mix 1 part bleach to 4 parts water
  3. Once cycle has finished, put on your gloves and have an old toothbrush handy.  Spray really well around the seal area.  For stubborn mould let sit for a few minutes before proceeding to next step
  4. Using the toothbrush, get the bristles into areas that are hard to reach to loosen the mould.
  5. Using a rag or paper towel remove all mould particles  
  6. Wipe area clean using a cloth and warm water  

Maintenance:  

  • Once a month run an empty cycle on hot with a cup of vinegar to prevent the mould from reappearing
  • Keep the door open slightly after removing your wet items to allow the moisture to evaporate
  • Seals exposed to constant moisture are more likely to have mould buildup, as a result do not leave wet items in your washer overnight
  • If the problem keeps recurring, consider changing your detergent

Tips:

  • We had a terrible time with our washing machine staying damp until I came up with a simple solution to stop the pets and breeze closing the door. You know those finger-saver things they sell for internal doors, to stop toddlers slamming their fingers in them? I put one of those on the washing machine door near the hinge to make sure the washing machine door doesn’t get closed accidentally. Easy! – Thankyou Callatya for sharing this great tip in our comments below.
  • apparently doing a hot wash with nothing in is the best way to prevent mould, plus wiping the seals with some diluted clove oil, and leaving the door open. Using bleach is not recommended by washing machine manufacturers (and it only colours the mould, not kills it) – Thankyou to Pen for sharing this great tip in our comments below.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=817510101 Deanne Buck on Facebook

    Do you still sell Tupperware brushes

  • http://www.callatya.com/ Callatya

    We had a terrible time with our washing machine staying damp until I came up with a simple solution to stop the pets and breeze closing the door. You know those finger-saver things they sell for internal doors, to stop toddlers slamming their fingers in them? I put one of those on the washing machine door near the hinge to make sure the washing machine door doesn’t get closed accidentally. Easy!

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      That is such a great idea, very clever!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000976623691 Lisa Lawson on Facebook

    i didnt know u could do that i was thinking would have to replace the rubber seal it was going to cost heaps

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=750934903 Fiona Copley on Facebook

    I use white vinegar every wash as my fabric softener. Works a treat and helps to keep the machine clean.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=711510902 Kathy Danga on Facebook

    I love my front loader. It’s a 2yr old LG & has a “clean” cycle. However, after cleaning the dog’s blankets (about every 3wks) I put in a cup of vinegar and run the “medical” cycle. Always leave the open when you’ve finished a was too – helps it to dry out which deters the mould.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=752966627 Ana De Amaral on Facebook

    do you just put in a glass/cup of vinegar and run the cycle?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1483411867 Jodie Gilmore on Facebook

    I have had my front loader for 9 years now. I use vinegar as fabric softener, doesn’t make the clothes smell, and wash my towels on a hotter cycle. This with keeping the door open between washes and I have not had any mould

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=679482494 Brooke Robins on Facebook

    I NEVER close the door when not in use. You can dry the seal with a towel after use. My new one has 3 little holes that helps drain the water so I don’t need to dry the seal on this one. :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002618456395 Amber Marie on Facebook

    I’m another one that leaves the door open whilst not in use. Vinegar is a great fabric softner & also helps keep whites bright… And you can also make your own vinegar – leave 1 litre of vinegar in a 2 litre bottle, fill up with rainwater, put lid back on & leave it for a couple of weeks….

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1528336790 Michelle Leach on Facebook

    yep i agree i was told never close the door when not in use but the vinegar trick i will use! thanks for the tip girls..

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=629668437 Gail Taylor on Facebook

    I use vinegar instead of fabric softer and cleans the machine ( I never have all that gunk in the filter)
    I use it in the dishwasher every now again too, just pour some on the bottom

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=205866602787901 Sew, cook, laugh & live on Facebook

    I use vinegar for my front loader all the time! Works a treat!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1295220744 Tammy Donohue on Facebook

    Thanks for this… It’s something I need to do with both washing machines..

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=274500929228087 My Encore Store (the designer recycle store) on Facebook

    excellent – I’m going to do this now!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=803617718 Hayley Guy on Facebook

    Mine is sooo overdue thanks xx

  • Eilen Seah-Wong

    this is very helpful indeed :)

    what i often do, as a maintenance, is to use a dry cloth to wipe away accumulated bits of water at the bottom of the seal after every wash and keep the door open for a day or so. this will help to slow down the amount of mould at the seal.

    • http://www.facebook.com/ktlenon Katie Lenon

      I just did a vinegar wash and washed the seal with bleach. It was black and full of gunk and mould! Horrible. I noticed that there was about a half an inch of water in there after the wash. I wonder if this is normal? I think I’ll be manually drying the seal out after each wash from now on. And never

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000472790723 Natalie Dunstan on Facebook

    A washing machine guy told me never to use fabric softener damages machine and also to clean run a cup of Epsom salts through

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=611586884 Hayley King on Facebook

    Always use the vinegar!!! but not sure about the bleach as I have always been told that bleach doesn’t actually kill the mould spores, it just hides them. Instead I mix 1tsp of oil of cloves to 1 litre of water and put in spray bottle. The oil of cloves kills the spores and also aids as a preventative. I use it everywhere just to prevent mould and kills it if it ever comes.

  • http://shambolichome.wordpress.com/ Harriet Archer

    Curious. I have had a front loader for about eight years and I’ve never noticed mould anywhere! I’m not the most observant soul in the universe, so I went and had a jolly good look with a torch and everything. No mould to be seen. My laundry is poorly lit and incredibly badly ventilated, so you would think it would be a mould factory for sure – so I was a bit surprised to discover we had none. Rust, yes – but mould, no!

    So I had a bit of a think about it – and came up with a couple of reasons why we don’t seem to have the mould situation…

    1. I use a low sudsing, eco-friendly washing powder, and only use a rounded dessert spoon full of powder rather than the 2 1/2 tablespoons recommended. I have clean clothes that don’t smell, so that is enough soap. (Washing machine repair man told my mum to under rather than over soap… there’s not as much water in there to get all the soap out) Because it’s not highly soapy, there’s not as much soap residue hanging around.

    2. I only wash once a week – the first load goes in Friday night, and the last load overnight on Saturday night (on a good week that is, lol). The machine is therefore empty the rest of the time, and has the door open, so it gets a good amount of time to dry out completely.

    3. Every 3-4 months, I run it through on 95C with nothing in it.

    (Oh, and if you want to get the turps smell out of your front loader… I definitely recommend a super hot wash with a capfull of eucalyptus oil! Worked a treat after the bloke had an oops with some oil paint.)

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      Wow Harriet you definitely are one of the lucky ones, thankyou so much for sharing your tips. Regularly washing with nothing in it will be a great help.

  • Pen

    apparently doing a hot wash with nothing in is the best way to prevent mould, plus wiping the seals with some diluted clove oil, and leaving the door open. Using bleach is not recommended by washing machine manufacturers (and it only colours the mould, not kills it)

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      Yes clove oil would be perfect to use!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=572456698 Gil Watling on Facebook

    The only mould I have found on my front loader is from the tray. Sure I can pull that out to clean it but the part where it leads the powder to the bowl is another story!

  • Tonyandvic

    Does the type of detergent used make a difference to mould buildup?

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      Yes it does, if your mould continues you should try a different detergent.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1363849770 Lisa Orford on Facebook

    Rule 1 I never close the door if not in use 2 take out the powder dispenser and wash it weekly this helps with clumps of powder and refreshes unwanted smells 3 I never use fabric softner it causes so much damage for ur machine and ur health :-)

  • Tammy

    OMG! I just tried this and the machine overflowed and there was bubbles everywhere taking a loooong time to clean up with many rinse/drain cycles on the machine to empty the bubbles inside… crazy! I might stick to using vinegar next time, lol.

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      Yes, you won’t have bubbles with vinegar!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1722212130 Veronica White on Facebook

    Hmm. mys sister is on front loader no 2 in about 5 years..she is single and soon to be a mum is änal about drying the machine and leaves the door open and still has mould..but will pass on the tips..

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=784104847 Tammy Maskrey on Facebook

    Ha ha just tried this tip and it made my machine overflow with bubbles everywhere!!! Big messy job to clean up. Then used 1c of vinegar through hot cycle to clean it up and remove any bleach residue. Not doing bleach clean again! Would love to know how to keep mould out of top powder drawer, at the end of the drawer inside the tray compartment, such a pain to clean all the time!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=733996814 Annemarie Biffin on Facebook

    A dumb question probably but do I put the vinegar in with clothes or in the compartment where I put washing powder much thanks I sooooo love this site x

  • http://www.lohtown.blogspot.com/ Erin @ Lohtown Life

    Tree tree oil is a natural anti-fungal. I wonder if wiping it around the seal would help as a preventative? I suspect what others have said about keeping the door open to dry out the machine would make a big difference too. Love your idea of the doorstop, Callatya!

  • Vanessa

    Leaving the door open (it does not have to be wide open) between loads prevents mould forming. I use Purex complete Crystals Softener, which is a fabric softener you put in the actual machine (front or top loader) to stop your fabric softener dispenser clogging up.

  • Ljiljana Vidovic

    Exit mould does the job, no need for toothbrush and elbow grease, just persistence until all mould disappears, then as per Venessa”s comment, leave the door slightly open when not in use and you are a winner.

  • http://www.lifeisdi-licious.com/ Di-licious

    I always leave the door ajar on my machine (but hubby always insists on closing it!) The ‘finger-saver’ door stop idea is fantastic – thank you.
    With our former machine we had a lot of problems with mould and when the seal was replaced it got worse. I was constantly wiping it out but hesitant to use bleach in case it caused deterioration to the rubber seal.
    But with the new machine we’ve had no mould at all. I’ll definitely do the hot water cycle to keep it that way!

  • http://www.innovativedrycleaning.com/ dry cleaning Monroe County

    These are indeed great cleaning tips for front loader washing machines. These techniques will ensure that all the nasty odors are removed. This will also help in maintaining the machine’s efficiency. Thanks for sharing.

  • Cakebaker

    I have a front loader but loads from the top…I know that sounds strange but that’s how it is. There is no agitator in the machine. Fortunately I have a reminder built into the machine program which tells me when it needs to be cleaned…..after each wash I turn the washing machine taps off, release any small amount of water left in the outlet and then dry out the barrel of the machine…no mould build up when the machine is dried.

  • reviewing-mum

    I’ve never had a mould problem, but I was told by a washing machine repair man to throw in a dishwashing tablet into the drum and run the hottest cycle (95′C in my case) for most effective cleaning. When I read the bleach idea I cringed with the thought of how much it would bubble up! Plus I HATE the smell of bleach… :/ The dishwashing tablet worked great for me, though as I mentioned – I’ve never had actual mould problems :)

  • Guest

    yay a day off………. i did my linen cupboard the weekend before your place the challange invite my washing machine had a hot wash after hubby’s work clothes(thanks miss 4 i left the machine on and was mowing and came back to 25 mins to go and hubby thought i had a load on so i just left it) did under the laundry sink saturday after i knocked over the dry dog food so i can do my floors and the my everyday little bits and i am done :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/lindsey.riley.nz Lindsey Riley

    My washing machine desperately needs a clean! Does it really need to be the hottest wash cycle used? I can do a 95C wash but it takes about 2hrs and I am reluctant to use that much power? Would a 40C wash do the same job or do I need to just put up with the power costs this one time? Also would the bleach be ok to use just the once? I have some in cupboard but would have to go out to get clove oil? Thanks!!

    • Jasmine

      to save a bit of power put it on after 10pm when it changes to the off peak tariff, this is when i turn my dishwasher on at night too

    • EJ Butler

      Bleach wont kill mould

  • http://www.facebook.com/kerryandduncan Kerry Rebecca Hunt

    On my washer the soap drawer gets the most mould, the seal around the door doesn’t get any. But I do ensure I leave the door open after each wash.

  • Monique

    I use vinegar instead of softener ( greenie that I am) but wash only on 40 degree.
    Will that do or do I still need a hot rinse with the vinegar once a month?

  • greeniepants

    Most supermarket laundry products have what are called filler and extenders in them. These are things added to increase bulk without the expense of the active ingredient. In powders, manufacturers use things like crushed bone and crushed light globes. Yes, this is what you are washing your clothes in. Obviously, these things don’t dissolve so they get stuck in your clothes and your machine. They wreck your machine, wear at your clothes and cause irritation to sensitive skins. That’s before I get into all the other horrible hazardous chemicals that are in supermarket brands. And all of this goes down the drain and into the ocean, poor fish. I use an eco friendly brand of home care products that avoids all of the above issues and creates far less mould in the washing machine, dishwasher and bathroom. They also have a descaler which is awesome for the periodic cleaning of machines (washing and dishwashing) and cleans kettles as well. I have even used it to get rid of scaly build up in the loo without having to scrub and without having to use bleach. SInce the products are concentrates, they work out much cheaper than supermarket brands per use too. My favourite brand is available at http://www.nat.trinature.com but there are several eco responsible brands available. Investigate carefully as there are a few brands that are not as responsible as they preach.

    • rebekkap

      I don’t know where you got the idea that crushed up bones and light globes are used as filler – it’s not true. The filler used in washing powder is sodium sulfate. While there are good reasons to use an eco friendly washing powder, this isn’t one of them.

  • EJ Butler

    Hi, I have just discovered your blog and LOVE your pantry. I have just started selling Tupperware and really look forward to decking out my pantry and the rest of the kitchen.

    I live in Darwin and with the humidity mould is my biggest nightmare in particular in my shower in the grout. After research I have discovered Vinegar or water with a small amount of clove oil is best for mould. Bleach only makes it look like it isn’t there in other words bleach’s it. You need to kill the mould. Use vinegar for that.

    Back to the washing machines… Did you know that fabric softener is harmful to your clothes? it breaks down the fibers in the fabric making them deteriorate a lot faster. my alternative is to use vinegar instead. $2.19 for 2 a litre bottle. its far cheaper and just as good. This would also help with your mouldy washing machine.

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  • Steph

    Yes! Bleach is pretty unhealthy. Hydrogen peroxide is much better and bleach only whitens the mould and doesnt kill it. Clove Oil is awesome for killing mould also. Ive found these 2 links pretty helpful with using Hydrogen Peroxide instead of bleach. (I’m not associated with either of these pages – just thought I’d share) :)
    http://www.livinghiho.com/article/hydrogen-peroxide-vs-bleach
    http://lyle-lylesplace.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/clorox-bleach-versus-hydrogen-peroxide.html
    Love this blog!! Great work Katrina :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.bradburn1 Jennifer Bradburn

    I always use white vinegar as my fabric softener and after many years of owning a front loader I have never had any mould or damp smell – unfortunately I do several loads a day and I am sure my machine never gets the chance to air out or dry. I think vinegar must be the charm !

  • Mum23boys

    I’ve had a frontloader now for about 2yrs (and we got it second hand) and I’ve never had a problem with mould. I use vinegar as my rinse/fabric softner every cycle….. seems to do the trick! ;-) (And leaves the clothes fresh and soft of course!)