Cleaning a washing machine: drum, seals and drawer

Despite its cleaning role, a washing machine ends up getting dirty: detergent residue, limescale, lint and stagnant moisture encourage mould, bad odours and laundry that comes out grey or irritating. Simple maintenance, every one to three months, is enough to keep a healthy drum, watertight seals and impeccable washing results. Here is how to clean each part of your appliance.

Cleaning the rubber seal

The door seal (the door bellows) holds water and lint at every cycle. Regularly run a cloth soaked in white vinegar or hot soapy water through the folds of the rubber, pulling gently on the edge to reach all the pleats. If black mould spots appear, rub with an old toothbrush dipped in vinegar, then rinse. This two-minute action avoids 90% of machine odours.

Cleaning the drum

1. Empty the machine completely and check that the drum contains no forgotten item
2. Pour two glasses of white vinegar directly into the drum (or into the detergent drawer)
3. Run a long empty cycle at 60°C minimum, ideally 90°C for a deep descale
4. If the limescale is significant, replace the vinegar with a specific washing machine descaler
5. After the cycle, leave the door ajar so the drum dries completely

Cleaning the detergent drawer

The drawer accumulates powder detergent, fabric softener and mould. Remove it (pull it towards you then lift the locking notch), immerse it in a basin of hot water with a glass of white vinegar and leave it to soak for an hour. Scrub the compartments with a brush, rinse and dry before putting it back. Take the opportunity to scrub the drawer housing in the machine with a sponge.

Preventing odours every day

• Leave the door and drawer ajar after each wash to air them
• Do not exceed the recommended detergent and fabric softener doses (the excess accumulates)
• Do at least one wash a month at 60°C or more to avoid limescale
• Remove the laundry as soon as the programme ends, do not let it wait in the machine
• Use the right detergent (liquid, powder or capsules) for your machine

Deodorising the drum in depth

If the odour persists despite regular cleaning, run an empty cycle with a glass of baking soda in the drum, followed by a second cycle with two glasses of white vinegar. The baking soda neutralises odours while the vinegar descales and disinfects. Avoid mixing the two in the same cycle: their effervescent reaction produces foam that can overflow from the machine.

Depending on the machine type: front-loading or top-loading

Front-loading machines require particular attention to the door seal, a real nest for mould, and to the detergent drawer. Top-loading machines, loaded from the top, often have an internal filter and plastic baskets: remove the baskets if possible to clean the bottom of the tub. In both cases, a monthly maintenance cycle at 60°C minimum and a door (or lid) left open after use remain the most effective actions.

The detergents and products to favour

Favour well-dosed detergents, powder for hot washes (they clean the limescale better) or liquid for low temperatures. Avoid excess fabric softener, which leaves a greasy film in the drum, and prefer white vinegar as a natural softener: it softens the laundry and cleans the machine at the same time, without leaving any odour once the cycle is finished.

Finally, do not forget the detergent drawer and the drain pump in your routine: a clean drawer and a purged filter avoid nasty surprises and error codes in the middle of laundry week. Also get into the habit of checking the pockets of your clothes before each wash to protect the pump.

The mistakes to avoid

• Cleaning the machine with bleach at every cycle: it attacks the seal and degrades the rubber
• Scrubbing the porthole with abrasive products or scouring sponges
• Forgetting to purge the filter: it is the main cause of drain breakdowns
• Closing the door hermetically after washing: the trapped moisture encourages mould

With a wiped seal, a monthly maintenance cycle with vinegar and a clean drawer, your washing machine keeps perfect hygiene, smells good and makes your laundry last. This simple maintenance also reduces the risks of breakdowns and error codes, and extends the lifespan of the appliance by several years.