For most households, cleaning your washing machine about once a month is plenty. If you use it lightly, every 2–3 months is usually fine. If you wash daily, use cold washes a lot, or notice smells or residue, monthly is a sensible rhythm.
That’s it. You don’t need to clean it weekly, you don’t need five specialist products, and you’re not failing at adulting if you’ve never done it before.
Below is the realistic version of what actually matters — without scare tactics or overcomplication.
Why People Think This Is a Big Deal
If you’ve looked this up before, you’ve probably seen advice that makes it sound urgent or even gross if you don’t clean your machine constantly.
A few reasons this idea sticks:
- Appliance marketing pushes “washer cleaners” as a regular necessity
- Social media cleaning content makes monthly deep cleans feel like the bare minimum
- Old habits from top-loaders and hot washes don’t always match modern machines
- Smells get blamed on laziness rather than normal buildup
The reality is simpler: modern washing machines are efficient, enclosed, and designed to handle normal use. They do need cleaning sometimes — just not as often as the internet suggests.
What Actually Builds Up Inside a Washing Machine
Most washing machine issues come from slow buildup, not sudden filth.
The main culprits are:
- Detergent residue (especially if you use more than recommended)
- Fabric softener coating the drum and pipes
Do you really need fabric softener? - Cold washes that don’t dissolve oils fully
- Moisture trapped in seals, drawers, and hoses
This buildup can lead to musty smells, dull laundry, or visible grime around the door seal — but it takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t mean your clothes are “dirty” or unsafe.
How Often You Actually Need to Clean It
Here’s a realistic guide most people can follow without stress:
For the average household
- Once a month is more than enough
- Run a hot empty cycle with a cleaner, vinegar, or baking soda (one method, not all)
For lighter use
- Every 2–3 months is fine
- If your laundry smells clean and the machine looks okay, you’re doing enough
For heavier use
Monthly cleaning makes sense if you:
- Wash daily or multiple loads a day
- Have young kids, cloth nappies, or gym-heavy laundry
- Use a lot of cold or eco cycles
- Regularly use fabric softener or scent boosters
Do you need scent boosters in laundry?
This isn’t about rules — it’s about preventing buildup before it becomes annoying.
When Cleaning Your Washing Machine Is Genuinely Worth Doing
There are times when it’s a good idea to clean it sooner, regardless of schedule.
Clean your machine if you notice:
- A musty or sour smell, especially after washing
- Grey or slimy residue around the door seal
- Clothes that smell “off” even after washing
- Detergent drawer buildup you can see and feel
These are signals, not failures. They just mean the machine needs a reset.
What Matters More Than Cleaning Frequency
This is the part most advice skips.
You can clean your machine monthly and still have issues if everyday habits are working against you.
1. Using the right amount of detergent
More detergent does not mean cleaner clothes. It often means more residue.
If your laundry feels stiff, smells dull, or your machine gets slimy fast, this is usually why.
What happens if you use too much detergent?
2. Letting the machine dry out
After washing:
- Leave the door slightly open
- Pull out the detergent drawer a little
This alone prevents a lot of smell and mold issues.
3. Running the occasional hot wash
Even if you prefer cold washes (which are fine), running a hot load now and then helps clear oils and residue.
Towels or bedding are perfect for this.
How often should you wash towels?
How often should you wash your bedding?
4. Being selective with add-ons
Fabric softener, scent boosters, and antibacterial sprays all leave residue over time.
You don’t need to ban them — just don’t assume they’re harmless or essential.
Do you really need antibacterial spray for clothes?
How to Clean Your Washing Machine (Without Overdoing It)
You don’t need a complicated routine.
Once a month (or when needed):
- Run an empty hot cycle
- Use one of the following:
- A commercial washing machine cleaner
- White vinegar
- Baking soda (not combined with vinegar in the same cycle)
- Wipe:
- Door seal
- Detergent drawer
- Visible edges
That’s enough. No scrubbing the drum with a toothbrush. No dismantling parts.
A Note on “Never Cleaning It”
If you’re reading this and thinking, I’ve literally never cleaned my washing machine, that’s more common than you think.
If:
- Your clothes smell fine
- The machine doesn’t smell
- There’s no visible buildup
You’re not behind. Just run a hot empty cycle sometime soon and move on.
The Low Down
So, how often should you clean your washing machine?
About once a month for most people. Less if you use it lightly. More if there are smells or heavy use.
It doesn’t need to be perfect, frequent, or product-heavy. A washing machine is a tool, not a moral test. If your laundry is coming out clean and your machine doesn’t smell, you’re doing this well enough.
And “well enough” really is enough here.
