Guide
How to Remove Mold from a Washing Machine
Remove and soak the detergent drawer in warm water and vinegar, clean the lower drain pump filter, and run an empty Tub Clean cycle with 1 cup of citric acid powder on the hottest water setting.
Context
Conditions that change the method
- Delicate surface — Never mix vinegar or citric acid with chlorine bleach in the same cycle; ensure the machine is thoroughly rinsed between treatments.
Prevent toxic gas release from chemical mixing
Never add vinegar or citric acid to a washing machine if there is residual chlorine bleach in the dispenser. If mold spores or cleaning vapors cause respiratory irritation, ventilate the laundry area and consult medical advice if symptoms persist.
What you need
- Food-grade citric acid powder (1 cup, breaks down mineral scale and mold biofilms)
- Distilled white vinegar
- Liquid dish soap
- Nylon bottle brush or old toothbrush
- Clean microfiber cloths
- Press the release tab inside the detergent dispenser drawer, slide the entire tray out, and inspect the dark underside for black mold growth.
- Soak the drawer in a sink filled with warm water, 1 cup of white vinegar, and a squirt of dish soap, then scrub all siphon caps and channels with an old toothbrush.
- Wipe the interior dispenser housing cavity inside the machine with a cloth soaked in vinegar water to clear mold clinging to the water injection jets.
- Open the access panel at the bottom front of the machine, unscrew the drain pump filter over a shallow tray, and rinse away trapped lint and slimy black biofilm.
- Pour 1 cup of citric acid powder directly into the empty stainless steel drum (or into the main wash compartment).
- Run the dedicated 'Tub Clean' cycle (or the hottest Heavy Duty wash cycle available), and leave the machine door and dispenser drawer cracked open afterward to air-dry completely.
What to avoid
- Never close the front-load washer door tight between laundry loads; trapped humidity creates prime breeding conditions for mold within 24 hours.
- Avoid excessive liquid fabric softeners, which coat the outer drum in an animal-fat based slime that feeds fungal growth.
- Do not use abrasive scouring powders in the plastic detergent drawer.
Products
What to use
- Citric acidAn odorless organic acid powder that dissolves hard water scale and rust stains without releasing harsh fumes.
- Distilled white vinegarA mild acid useful for mineral deposits and some soap films on glass and other acid-safe surfaces. Never mix it with bleach or ammonia. It is a method, not a disinfectant claim.
- Baking sodaA mild alkali that makes a paste for grout lines. It lifts film with light abrasion. Do not mix it with vinegar as a cleaning trick — the fizz is the two canceling each other out.
- Microfiber clothA reusable cloth that lifts film and leftover moisture without scratching glass. Use a clean face of the cloth as residue comes off.
Related
Related guides
FAQ
Questions people ask
- Is citric acid better than bleach for cleaning washing machine mold?
- Citric acid strips hard water mineral scale and soap scum buildup that harbor fungal colonies, while also killing mold. Bleach disinfects surfaces but does not dissolve limescale or detergent build-up where mold roots hide.
- How do I prevent black mold from growing in my washing machine again?
- Always leave the door and detergent drawer slightly open after every wash to allow moisture to evaporate, use the correct amount of HE detergent, and avoid liquid fabric softeners.
Sources
Sources
- Mold Cleanup in Your Home — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Cleaning Tips & Advice — American Cleaning Institute