How to Clean Your Washing Machine — and Your Dryer Too

If your towels smell musty or your clothes come out covered in lint, the machines are the problem — not the detergent. Washing machines and dryers both collect grime you never see, and a clean machine cleans your clothes better. Here is the routine our cleaners use in Toronto homes.

What you'll need

• White vinegar and baking soda
• A spray bottle, microfibre cloths and an old toothbrush
• Dish soap and a vacuum with a hose attachment

Washing machine: the drum and rubber seal

Front-load washers hide mould and detergent buildup in the rubber gasket around the door. Pull the seal back gently and wipe inside the folds with a cloth dipped in warm, soapy water. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in your spray bottle, spray the seal, scrub any dark spots with the toothbrush, then wipe dry. Leaving the door slightly open after every wash keeps the seal dry and stops mould from coming back.

Washing machine: the detergent drawer

Pull the drawer completely out (most release with a small press on the softener section). Soak it in hot, soapy water, scrub the residue out with the toothbrush, and wipe the cavity behind it before sliding it back. A clogged drawer is what leaves blue streaks on clean laundry.

Washing machine: the cleaning cycle

Sprinkle half a cup of baking soda straight into the drum, pour two cups of white vinegar into the detergent drawer, and run the hottest, longest cycle your machine offers — many have a dedicated cleaning cycle. Wipe the drum dry when it finishes. Do this once a month and the musty smell disappears.

Dryer: the lint screen

Remove the lint screen and peel the lint off by hand, then rinse it under hot water with a drop of dish soap every few weeks. Fabric softener leaves an invisible film you can test by pouring water on the screen — if the water pools instead of draining through, airflow is blocked and the dryer runs longer than it should.

Dryer: the vent hose

Pull the dryer away from the wall, loosen the clamp on the back, and vacuum inside the hose and the wall opening with the hose attachment. Push lint you cannot reach through from the outside vent with a straightened coat hanger, then reconnect everything. A clogged vent is the leading cause of dryer fires, so this one is not optional — check it every few months.

Dryer: the drum and exterior

Wipe the inside of the drum with a damp cloth and a drop of dish soap to remove any dye or fabric-softener residue, then dry it with a clean cloth. Finish with the outside: wipe the top and around the controls where dust and lint collect.

Our tip

Leave the washer door open between loads and clean both machines the same day each month — pair it with something easy to remember, like the first Saturday of the month. And if the laundry room is the one chore you never get to, our cleaners can take it off your list.