How to Clean a Whirlpool Washing Machine

Whirlpool asks owners to run Clean Washer monthly, but the cycle alone rarely stops the musty smell. The FreshHold feature keeps clothes fresh even when the tub is growing mold, which hides the real problem, so the manual steps below matter as much as the cycle.

Tools and supplies#

• Supplies: microfiber cloths, an old toothbrush, Affresh cleaner tablets (W10501250), white vinegar, a spray bottle, a flashlight
• Time: 45 minutes hands-on, plus about a one-hour clean cycle
• Difficulty: Beginner
• Safety warning: Disconnect power before manually cleaning interior components. Leave the door open afterward to allow complete drying.

Step 1 — Run Clean Washer with Affresh#

Drop one Affresh tablet (Whirlpool W10501250) straight into the empty drum, not the dispenser, and start the Clean Washer cycle — a dedicated button on WFW front-loaders, or an option under Heavy Duty on WTW top-loaders. Its extra-hot water and long agitation break down tub and drain buildup. No tablets? Pour in 2 cups of white vinegar instead. Never mix bleach and vinegar in the same cycle — together they make toxic chlorine gas.

Step 2 — Clean the door bellow (front-load WFW)#

The rubber bellow is the number-one source of odor on WFW machines. After the cycle, peel back its folds and look for black mold, coins, hairpins, and lint. Wipe every surface with a 50/50 vinegar-water spray and a cloth, and for stubborn mold, smear on a baking-soda-and-water paste, wait 15 minutes, and scrub with the toothbrush. Clear the drain holes at the bottom of the bellow with a pipe cleaner — clogged, they become a mold nursery.

Step 3 — Clean the Load & Go dispenser#

The Load & Go bulk tank holds roughly 40 loads of detergent, and its valve and channels get gummy over time. Pull the tray fully out, press the release, and wash the removable parts under hot water, scrubbing the dispensing slot with a small bottle brush. On top-loaders without Load & Go, lift out the softener and bleach cups and soak them in hot soapy water for 15 minutes.

Step 4 — Clean the drain-pump filter (front-load)#

Open the little access door at the lower-left front, set a shallow pan beneath it, and turn the filter cap slowly counterclockwise to let water drain. Pull the filter and rinse it, clearing any coins or hair ties — left to pile up, that debris can wreck the drain pump (WPW10730972).

Step 5 — Wipe the drum and steam inlets#

With a flashlight, check the stainless drum for white mineral scale, especially around the steam-nozzle inlet holes on steam models, since hard-water scale leaves white marks on dark loads. Wipe the whole drum with a vinegar-dampened cloth, paying attention to the hidden top edge of the opening where soap collects.

Step 6 — Clear the steam nozzle (steam models)#

If your WFW has steam, find the small nozzle at the top of the door area. Wrap a vinegar-soaked cloth around it for 10 minutes to dissolve scale, then clear the opening with a wooden toothpick. Never poke it with metal, which damages the brass fitting.

Step 7 — Run a rinse to flush#

Run a Quick Rinse with no detergent and no laundry to flush the loosened residue and vinegar out of the pump, hoses, and passages.

Step 8 — Leave the door ajar#

Prop the door open at least 4 inches so air can dry the drum and bellow. FreshHold helps, but it is no substitute for open-air drying; on WTW top-loaders, leave the lid up until the drum is dry to the touch.

Keep it from coming back#

The top cause of washer odor is too much detergent. Whirlpool's Adaptive Wash meters water tightly, so excess soap never rinses away and builds a biofilm in the outer tub you cannot see — stick to about 2 tablespoons of HE detergent per normal load, and calibrate Load & Go to your specific detergent. Pull wet laundry promptly; FreshHold buys up to 12 hours of tumbling, not a free pass. Run Clean Washer every 30 days.

When to call a professional#

Bring in a technician if black mold sits behind the drum where you cannot reach (a failing spider arm or tub seal), if the smell is sewage-like rather than musty (a drain standpipe issue), if you see rusty water or flaking inside the drum (bearing-seal failure), or if the Clean Washer cycle itself keeps throwing an F5 E2 code, which is the door lock (W10838613), not cleanliness.

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