Good Morning My Clean Freak Fam! 

Today is the day we talk about cleaning your Washing Machine!

Now I can already hear some of you thinking, “Do I really have to clean my washing machine? Isn’t that literally what it does all day?”  It feels like it should be self-cleaning, right? Soap, water, spinning… But here’s the reality… your washer is constantly dealing with dirt, body oils, detergent residue, and bacteria. And instead of all that magically disappearing, a lot of it sticks around. It builds up in the drum, hides in the gasket, and settles into places you don’t see. So no, it’s not cleaning itself… It's slowly collecting leftovers from everything you wash.

Your washer gets dirty, funky, and downright questionable if you ignore it. And when that happens, all it’s doing is spreading that grime right back onto your “clean” clothes. Yeah… we’re not letting that happen.

I’ve got good news Clean Freak Fam! This is one of the easiest deep cleans you can do that makes a massive difference. We’re talking fresher clothes, better smells, and a machine that actually does its job the way it’s supposed to. So grab your microfiber towels… because we’re about to bring your washing machine back to life. 🧤

 Let’s Go! 👇

Start with an empty machine, no rogue socks hiding in there. Then run a clean cycle using one of two options: two cups of white vinegar poured into the detergent tray (fill the bleach and softener compartments too), or a washing machine cleaning tablet. You can grab a full year's supply of tablets on Amazon for just a few bucks.

Set your machine to the normal cycle, hot water, and heavy/large load. You want the drum completely full of hot water so it can flush out all the easy grime, soap residue, and buildup hiding inside. This first pass handles the surface-level stuff, but stick with me, because the real magic happens next.

🧠 Pro Tip: Always run the clean cycle before you start scrubbing by hand. It loosens up debris so your detail work takes half the time. Work smarter, not harder.

This is where front-load washers get nasty. That big rubber seal around the door? It's a mold and mildew magnet. Pull it back and you'll probably find buildup you didn't know existed.

Grab a microfiber towel, a toothbrush, and mix up my DIY Cleaner:

Spray the entire gasket down, pull back the folds, and scrub with the toothbrush. Get into every nook and cranny, there are more of them than you think. Wipe, rinse, and repeat until the seal looks and smells fresh. Depending on how long it's been, this part might take a little patience. Worth it.

🧠 Pro Tip: For dark stains that won't budge with vinegar, try a mold and mildew stain remover gel. Apply it, let it sit for 3–5 hours, then rinse and wipe. A second application may be needed for stubborn spots.

Most people don't even know this exists. On the bottom front of your front-load washer, there's a small trap door. Open it up and you'll find a small drain hose and a twist-out filter. Lay down a few towels and grab a shallow dish, when you pull that drain plug, water (and sometimes some surprises) will come out.

Twist the filter counterclockwise to remove it. You might find coins, hair ties, lint clumps; All the stuff that's been clogging your machine. Rinse the filter under running water, spray it down with the DIY vinegar mix, and scrub it clean with a toothbrush. Before you put it back, make sure the drain plug is firmly seated so nothing leaks.

🧠 Pro Tip: Clean this filter once a month. A clogged filter can cause drainage issues, funky smells, and even error codes on your machine. Five minutes of prevention saves a service call.

Pull out the entire detergent drawer. Most units have a small release tab you press down to slide it out. Take it apart completely. You'll probably find soap sludge, mildew, and residue in spots you've never seen before.

Rinse everything under warm water first, then spray it all down with the vinegar-Dawn mix. Scrub every piece with a brush or Scrub Daddy. Don't forget the chute inside the machine where the tray sits; Spray it, scrub it with your toothbrush, and wipe it clean before you slide the tray back in.

Cleaning your washer is great. Keeping it clean is better. Here are three habits that prevent mold, mildew, and buildup from coming back:

🧠 Pro Tip: Set a recurring monthly reminder on your phone for "Washer Clean Day." Consistency is the real secret to a machine that never smells.

That's it, my Clean Freak Fam! Your washing machine is washed and ready to clean! You now know how to take a front-load washing machine from funky to factory-fresh. It's one of those jobs that feels like a lot until you actually do it, and then you wonder why you waited so long. Your clothes will smell better and your machine will run better!💪

💫Clean Freak of June:

Spencer shared how Brandon’s tips helped him finally tackle one of the most intimidating cleaning jobs in his home:

“I couldn’t believe how dirty my dishwasher actually was once I started cleaning it. It felt like such a daunting task at first, but Brandon’s tips made it so much easier to tackle. Now it looks amazing, and I still can’t get over how fresh and clean it smells every time I open it!”

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Thanks so much for joining us at Clean Freak Weekly!

Brandon