Cleaning your washing machine

We recommend that you clean your washing machine once a month. Regularly cleaning your washing machine prevents a buildup of…

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We recommend that you clean your washing machine once a month. Regularly cleaning your washing machine prevents a buildup of scrud and keeps the machine smelling clean and fresh. Regular warm/ hot washing (which we recommend as part of our washing guidelines) helps reduce many issues.

Table of contents

Monthly maintenance clean

Routine maintenance we suggest you do each month:

  • Wipe down the rims and seals.
    • If you have a top loader with a removable agitator, take it out to clean.
  • Remove and clean the detergent dispenser.
  • Open and clean the filter.
    • Empty the drain hose.
  • Clean the drum.

Read your machine manual or search YouTube for videos on how to clean your specific model.

Cleaning the drum

Use chlorine bleach/heat to clean the drum thoroughly.

  • Run an empty drum clean/ sanitise cycle without detergent (chlorine bleach is optional).
    • These are usually set to 90/95ºC.
    • Use approximately 1/2 cup of 4.2% bleach or 2 cups of 1% bleach.
  • Or, run an empty cycle (any temperature) with chlorine bleach.
  • Or, run a 90/95°C Cotton cycle with detergent and load with towels/ tea towels/ nappy inserts.
  • Add a commercial descaler if you live in a hard water area.

Do not use vinegar. The acidity can break down the rubber components inside the washing machine. Commercial descaling products have a lower pH than vinegar and are safe to use.

Chlorine bleach is effective while the water is heating. Even in hot water, the degradation speed is not significant enough to render it immediately ineffective. 

Deep cleaning a top loader washing machine

Top loaders have shorter, cooler cycles than front loaders. This combination can cause a buildup of crud underneath the wash plate of the inner tub. This crud will not be removed by washing alone.

If your nappies and clothes have specks of brown gunk on them after washing, it is time to deep clean your machine.

Unplug the machine and remove the wash plate. Check your machine manual or YouTube for the best way to do this.

Member supplied images of crud buildup in their high-efficiency top loader.

Wipe everything with a clean, damp cloth to remove the crud.

Deep cleaning a front loader washing machine

Group members occasionally encounter mouldy washing machines when staying at holiday homes or Airbnbs. With our help, you can clean the machine with minimal effort and cost.

This machine was coated in mould and pink sludge. This buildup occurred after washing in cold water and using large amounts of fabric softener. 

To deep clean a machine, use a combination of chlorine bleach, elbow grease, and the machine’s 90/95ºC sanitise cycle.

Example deep cleaning process

  • remove physical buildup (either by scraping or wiping). 
  • soak cleaning cloths in Domestos (thick chlorine bleach)
  • pack cloths tightly around the gasket 
  • leave them for 30-60 minutes then add to drum 
  • use a clean, damp cloth to wipe down the gasket
  • clean out the filter
  • add remaining cloths to the drum and run a long 90/95°C wash. 

I now had a spotless, clean machine to wash my nappies and clothes in 😊 and all it cost was the price of a bottle of thick bleach, approximately $4! 

~Eloise, Clean Cloth Nappies admin

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Do I need to run a drum clean cycle if I regularly wash towels at 90/95°C?

No need to run an additional drum clean cycle. Remember to wipe down the rims and seal as well as checking your filter.

Why are there sometimes bubbles during a drum clean cycle if no detergent is used?

This is completely typical of a drum clean. Some of that is agitation bubbles, some of it will be detergent that’s been stuck somewhere and is being cleaned out by the cleaning cycle. It’s not something you need to be concerned about.

Need help with your cloth nappy wash routine?

Join the Clean Cloth Nappies Facebook group, tell us about the issue, and one of our dedicated volunteers will try to help you find the solution.

Information to include with your post
  • The issue you are having
  • How often you run your first wash
  • How often you run your main wash
  • What detergent you use
  • How much detergent you use for each wash