A washing machine washes your clothes but rarely washes itself. Detergent residue, damp and trapped water breed mould and that tell-tale musty smell. A quick monthly clean sorts it.
The monthly reset
- Run an empty hot cycle (90°C or the “clean drum” setting) with a cup of white vinegar or a machine-cleaner tablet.
- Pull out the detergent drawer and scrub it in warm soapy water — it's usually full of slime.
- Wipe the rubber door seal, pulling back the folds where black mould hides.
- Clean the filter at the bottom front (have a towel ready — water comes out).
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Stop it coming back
Leave the door and drawer open between washes so the drum dries out. Mould needs damp — take that away and it can't grow.