To deep clean a top-loading washing machine, start by removing and soaking any detachable dispensers in warm, soapy water. Next, manually scrub the drum's top edges and hidden crevices using a spray of 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water, and 1 tsp dish soap. Finally, run the machine on the hottest, longest cycle with a washer cleaner.
How to Clean a Top-Loading Washing Machine
Yes, you can absolutely use vinegar and baking soda to clean your washing machine. This safe, natural method breaks down detergent buildup, removes musty odors, and helps prevent mold.
To clean a top-loading washing machine, you need distilled white vinegar and baking soda, or commercial descaling tablets like Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner. Use these with a microfiber cloth, an old toothbrush, and dish soap to wipe away hidden grime and sanitize the drum.
For a homemade option, you can try cleaning your washing machine with vinegar. Just pour two cups of distilled vinegar into your detergent drawer. You can also use soda crystals (or baking soda) to clean your washing machine. Sprinkle half a cup into your drum and then let your washing machine run on a hot setting.
White vinegar is generally safe to use to clean a top load washer.
In most top-load washers, the filter is either located inside the center agitator, along the top rim of the wash tub, or some modern models do not have a user-serviceable filter at all. To clean it, simply pop off the filter cover, remove any trapped lint, and rinse it under warm water.
How to Tell When Washers Need Maintenance
To remove bad smells from a top-loading washing machine, run an empty, hot water cycle with 1 cup of liquid bleach, followed by a hot cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar. Scrub the agitator and detergent drawers, then leave the lid open between washes to prevent mold and mildew growth.
The best homemade washing machine cleaner is a two-step process using baking soda to scrub away residue and white vinegar to eliminate odor-causing bacteria and mold.
Use bleach, vinegar, or baking soda to safely remove mold buildup. Clean the dispensers and door regularly to stop residue and odor formation. Run a sanitize cycle monthly to disinfect the drum and kill hidden mold. Leave the washer door slightly open after each cycle to let it dry.
Yes, baking soda and vinegar are perfectly safe and non-toxic, but mixing them together ruins their cleaning power.
“For a deep clean, use a washing machine cleaner,” says Carly. “Many washing machine descalers come as sachets or tablets — simply pop one into the drum and run your machine on a hot cycle.” “White vinegar works wonders as a natural alternative. Add around two cups to the machine's drum and run a hot wash.”
Don't fret—how to clean the inside of your washing machine is way easier than you think: For a front-loading washer, pour two cups of white vinegar in the detergent dispenser. For a top-loading washer, pour four cups of white vinegar straight into the drum. The acid in vinegar helps cut through soap and other build-up.
Method 1: Long term lasting impacts
If you never clean your washing machine, detergent residue, fabric softener, body oils, and hard-water minerals build up over time. This creates a breeding ground for mold and bacteria, resulting in musty-smelling clothes, skin irritation, clogged filters, and costly mechanical breakdowns.
While laundry experts often debate the "ultimate" rule, the most agreed-upon golden rule of laundry is to never overload your washer or dryer. Cramming machines too full prevents clothes from properly agitating, cleaning, and drying, leaving them with leftover residue, lint, and excess wear.
Washing Machine Lifespan
The average life of a washing machine ranges from 10 to 13 years, although some brands can manufacture washing machines with an even longer lifespan than the average appliance.
Some top-load washers have a lint filter, while others rely on a self-cleaning pump system with no user-serviceable filter. If your machine has a filter, it is typically located inside the center agitator, under an agitator cap, or along the inside top rim of the wash tub.
LG top load washers do not have a traditional, user-serviceable lint or drain filter. Instead, they rely on self-cleaning drainage systems and the "Tub Clean" cycle to maintain performance.
This means that the water cannot be extracted out of your washing machine when draining and your filter will be full of water. This could cause a little or a lot of water to form around the machine itself and is the first telltale sign of a blocked filter.
Follow these steps to give your top-loader a deep clean: 1️⃣ Take out any cleaning liquids and clothing from the machine. 2️⃣ Select the longest and largest cycle settings. 3️⃣ When the drum begins to fill with water, add bleach before the cycle starts to agitate. 4️⃣ Let the machine finish the cycle.
The 20-minute rule in cleaning (often combined with the 10-minute break as the 20/10 Rule) is a productivity method where you set a timer and clean as quickly and intensely as possible for 20 minutes. When the timer goes off, you immediately stop cleaning and take a mandatory 10-minute break.
To clean a top-loading washing machine, you need distilled white vinegar and baking soda, or commercial descaling tablets like Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner. Use these with a microfiber cloth, an old toothbrush, and dish soap to wipe away hidden grime and sanitize the drum.