How To Clean a Maytag Washer

You have to give your Maytag washer a regular clean. This helps prevent bacteria from building up in your appliance, which over time can start to smell bad and result in your clothes coming out after a wash cycle still dirty.

Bacteria build-up in the washer is a result of water and detergent particles turning into mold. Thankfully, removing bacteria is easy to do and doesn’t require much effort—especially if you regularly clean your washer.

In this article, we go through our six-step cleaning guide. At the end of the process, you’ll have a sparkling clean washer. Once we’ve taken you through the cleaning process, we let you know some simple tips to keep your washing machine clean.

This guide covers all major Maytag models, including:

592-49045

592-49075

592-49082

592-49087

WF203ANSXAX

WF206ANSXAA

WF206ANSXAC

WF206BNWXAC

WF210ANWXAA

WF218ANBXAA

WF218ANWXAA

WF219ANBXAA

WF219ANWXAA

WF220ANWXAA

WF328AAGXAA

WF328AARXAA

WF328AAWXAA

WF330ANWXAA

WF340ANGXAC

WF340ANRXAC

WF350ANWXAA

Clean your Maytag washer in 6 steps

Step 1 – Put on safety equipment

Start by putting on a pair of plastic protective gloves and a face mask. This will stop you from breathing in any chemicals or touching mold and grime that might contain dangerous bacteria.

Step 2 – Make your cleaning solution

The next step is to create a cleaning solution. If you don’t have the time, you can use a commercial bleach-based cleaner. But we find using a homemade cleaning solution works best.

• If you want to use a natural solution you can mix two cups of warm water with ½ cup of white vinegar and ¼ cup of lemon juice. Place the solution in a spray bottle.
• To make a bleach-based cleaning solution mix two cups of warm water with ½ cup of bleach (hydrogen peroxide), and ¼ cup of lemon juice. Place the solution in a clean spray bottle.

Step 3 – Clean the door gasket

If you have a Maytag front-load washer, the next step is to give the door gasket/seal a thorough clean. It’s important to clean the door gasket regularly because it’s a magnet for grime, which can turn into bacteria. When this happens it starts to smell and can result in your laundry coming out dirty. To clean the door gasket, spray the gasket with your cleaning solution and then wipe it with a damp cloth. If you find it difficult to get inside the gasket with a cloth you can use a small brush. Make sure you also clean the area around the door hinges too.

Step 4 – Clean the exterior of the washing machine

Once the door gasket is clean, shut the door. You can then spray and wipe all of the exterior surfaces with your cleaning solution. Make sure you pull your washer out from the wall so you can clean the back panel too. It’s also a good idea while cleaning your appliance to clean underneath it—just be careful when pulling the machine out as you don’t want to break any hoses.

Step 5 – Run a clean cycle

Now that the door gasket and exterior panels are clean, the next step is to put your Maytag washer onto a clean cycle. If you don’t have a dedicated clean cycle, you can simply run your washer on a heavy-duty cycle with the water temperature set to hot. Before running the cycle, fill the detergent drawer with the cleaning solution and pour the rest into the drum.

Step 6 – Let your washer dry

Once the cycle finishes, open the washer door and dry the drum and gasket with a clean cloth. You can then leave the door open for a couple of hours to let your appliance dry completely.

Tips to keep your Maytag washer clean

Between cleanings, you can take some steps to keep your washing machine from accumulating too much residue and bacteria. Below we discuss six of the best.

1) Wipe your washer out after each use

The number one tip is to wipe your washer out after each use. Although this can be annoying and time-consuming, it prevents your appliance from developing bacteria as you’ll be removing the moisture that the bacteria need.

2) Leave the door open

It’s a good idea to keep your Maytag washer door open when you’re not using it. This lets it air dry, which prevents mold and grime from forming in the drum. Over time, the mold and grime turns into harmful bacteria.  

3) Clean the gasket

The door gasket (on a front load washer) is a magnet for mold due to the moisture that gets into it. Make sure you clean (and dry) the door gasket at least once a week. All it takes is a dry cloth and a few seconds.

4) Take your wet laundry out of your washer

Sometimes people put on a load of washing and then forget to take it out for an hour or so. When you do this, you’re letting the moisture from your wet clothes turn into mold. To stop this from happening, always take your wet laundry out of the washer as soon as the cycle ends. If you’re going to be out while your machine is running, plan to be home before it finishes.

5) Use powder detergents

Powder detergents help keep your washing machine clean and can stop mold and grime from developing in your washer drum because powder detergents are less likely to leave behind debris. Powder detergents are also easier to measure out correctly. If you’re currently using liquid detergents, switch to power detergents or pods.

6) Use the wash cycle regularly

If you follow the tips above, you won’t need to give your washing machine a deep clean very often. On top of following the tips outlined above, it’s a good idea to run your washing machine through a wash cycle once a month. This ensures your washing machine stays free from dirt and grime and your laundry comes out clean every time you do a load.