How To Clean a Maytag Washer

Washing machines are one of the most used appliances that people have in their houses. But they also happen to be one of the least cleaned appliances, as most people assume that they don’t need to be cleaned. Washing machines are a breeding ground for bacteria, which turns into mold over time if the bacteria aren’t removed by cleaning your washer. This can cause your clothes to come out of the wash dirty and/or smell bad.

To stop this from happening, it’s a good idea to give your washing machine a regular clean. The frequency depends on how often you use it, but roughly every 3 months is a good time frame to aim for.

Thankfully, cleaning your Maytag washing machine is very simple to do and doesn’t take a lot of time or require any special products or tools. In this article, we will lay out our simple six-step cleaning method. All you have to do is follow our step-by-step instructions and your Maytag washer will be looking sparkling clean in no time.

Let’s get started.

Clean your Maytag washer in 6 steps.

Step 1 – Start by putting on a pair of protective gloves and a face mask, if you have one, to protect yourself from touching or breathing in any dangerous chemicals or mold that is in your washing machine.

Step 2 – Make up a cleaning solution in a container of either 2 cups of hot water and ½ a cup of bleach, or for a natural alternative, mix 2 cups of hot water with ½ a cup of white vinegar and ¼ cup of lemon juice. Once you’ve mixed your preferred cleaning solution, pour it into a spray bottle.

Step 3 – Start by cleaning the washing machine door. If you have a front loader Maytag washer, you can spray cleaning solution into the door gasket/seal and give it a thorough clean using a damp cloth and, if required, a brush. If you have a top-loading washer you can give the door a good clean with your spray and a damp cloth.

Step 4 – Clean the rest of the exterior of your washing machine using your cleaning solution and a damp cloth. If required, pull your washing machine out from the wall and clean the floor underneath it too.

Step 5 – Once the exterior is clean, you can clean the inside by running it through a wash cycle without any laundry in it. If you’re using a bleach-based solution, fill up the dedicated bleach compartment with your cleaning solution. If you’re using a natural cleaning solution, fill the detergent compartment. Regardless of which solution you are using, pour the remaining solution into the washer drum. You can now turn it onto a dedicated wash cycle or, if your Maytag washer doesn’t have one, simply turn it onto the hottest heavy-duty wash cycle.

Step 6 – Once the wash cycle has ended, open your washer door and wipe the door gaskets and the inside dry with a clean cloth. Once dried out, leave your washing machine door open to let it naturally dry out for a few hours before using it again. 

Tips to keep your Maytag washer clean

Hopefully, by following the six steps above, you managed to successfully clean your Maytag washer and it now smells clean and fresh. To help you keep your washing machine clean, follow these simple tips.

• Give your washing machine a quick wipe after every use. After every wash cycle, it’s a good idea to give your washer a quick wipe-down to stop moisture from building up inside it. Pay special attention to the door gasket/seal if you have a front loader washer.
• Leave the washing machine door open. After every wash cycle, leave the washer door open so it can naturally dry out. This will also stop moisture from building up in your Maytag washer, which can turn into mold.
• Don’t leave laundry sitting in your washing machine. Make sure you don’t leave wet laundry sitting in the washing machine for too long after the wash cycle ends, as this can cause moisture to develop. If you’re putting your washing machine on when you leave the house, use the timer so the cycle ends close to when you’re going to be home again.
• Clean the gasket/seal. If you have a front loader washing machine, the door gasket/seal is one of the most likely places that mold will develop. To stop this from happening, give the gasket/seal a regular clean and you probably won’t have to clean the inside of the washing machine as often.

Use powder detergents. Liquid detergents are far more likely to cause grime to develop in your washing machine than powder detergent. If possible, switch to using powder detergents when washing your laundry.