A washing machine needs its own cleaning about once a month: an empty hot cycle with a cleaning agent, then a wipe of the gasket, drawer and filter. Skip it for a few months and you get the smell everyone recognizes, a grey film in the detergent drawer and, on front-loaders, black mould in the rubber door seal. Here is the method our team uses, and a schedule that fits how most Montreal households actually do laundry. We were featured in Redfin’s guide on this topic; this is the fuller version.
Why washing machines get dirty
Detergent residue, fabric softener and body oils build up in the drum, the drawer and the drain filter. Cold-water cycles (the default for most people now) never get hot enough to dissolve any of it. Add a closed door between loads and you have a warm, damp box that grows mould. Front-loaders are worse because water sits in the folds of the door gasket.
What you need
White vinegar or a washing machine cleaner tablet, baking soda, an old toothbrush, two microfiber cloths, a shallow tray or towel for the filter. Hot water. That’s it.
The 30-minute method
- Run an empty hot cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar (or one cleaner tablet, following the box). Use the longest, hottest cycle your machine has. Skip the detergent.
- While it runs, pull out the detergent drawer. Most drawers release with a tab at the back. Soak it in hot water, scrub the softener compartment with the toothbrush, and wipe the cavity it sits in; that’s where the pink and black slime hides.
- Wipe the door gasket (front-loaders). Pull the rubber seal back and wipe the fold with a cloth and vinegar. If you find black spots, let a vinegar-soaked cloth sit on them for 15 minutes, then scrub.
- Clean the drain filter. On front-loaders it’s behind a small panel at the bottom front. Put a towel down, unscrew slowly, let the water drain, and remove the lint, coins and hair ties. Rinse the filter and screw it back in.
- Run a second short hot cycle with half a cup of baking soda to rinse the vinegar and neutralize what’s left.
- Wipe the drum, the door and the outside, then leave the door and the drawer open to dry.
Top-loaders: same idea, minus the gasket. Pour the vinegar into the drum, run the hot cycle, and pause it once the drum is full so the vinegar can soak for an hour before it finishes.
How often to do it
| Household | Frequency |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 people, mostly cold washes | Every 2 months |
| Family, daily loads | Monthly |
| Front-loader in a closed laundry closet | Monthly, plus wipe the gasket weekly |
| After a musty smell appears | Now, then monthly |
Between cleanings: leave the door ajar after every load, use less detergent than the cap suggests (most people use double what’s needed), and run one hot cycle a month even if your laundry is all cold.
When the smell won’t leave
If two cleanings in a row don’t fix it, the mould is probably inside the gasket fold or the drum’s outer tub, where cloths can’t reach. That’s when to book it as an add-on: our teams clean the inside of the washer and dryer as an extra on any deep cleaning or move-in/out cleaning, priced per machine. See our appliance cleaning page for what’s included.
FAQ
Can I use bleach instead of vinegar?
Yes, half a cup in an empty hot cycle, but never in the same cycle as vinegar. Vinegar is gentler on rubber seals, which is why we default to it.
Do washing machine cleaner tablets work?
Yes, and they’re convenient. They don’t replace wiping the gasket and cleaning the filter, which is where most of the smell lives.
Why does my front-loader smell worse than my old top-loader?
Less water per cycle, a door that seals tight, and a gasket that traps water. Leaving the door open between loads solves most of it.
How do I clean the dryer too?
Empty the lint trap every load, vacuum the trap housing monthly, and have the vent hose cleared once a year. A clogged dryer vent is a fire risk, not just a performance issue.