How often should you clean your washer drum and door gasket?

These tasks are more about efficiency, longevity, and comfort. Not a huge deal if you miss one, but it pays off over time.

Staying on schedule matters beyond the repair bill: a consistent maintenance record is one of the factors in a home's Roots Home Health Score, and well-kept homes typically sell faster and closer to asking price.

How to do it

Front-loaders trap moisture in the rubber door gasket, where mildew and odor take hold. A hot clean cycle and a wiped-dry gasket keep it from turning musty.

1. Run a dedicated tub-clean cycle, or the hottest normal cycle, with a washer cleaner or two cups of white vinegar.
2. Peel back the door gasket and wipe the folds with a diluted bleach or vinegar solution, clearing hair, coins, and gunk.
3. Pull out the detergent drawer, rinse it, and clear its housing of slime.
4. Leave the door and drawer open between washes so the drum dries out.

Alternatives & optional extras

• Switch to less detergent; excess suds are the main food source for gasket mildew.
• Top-loaders rarely grow gasket mildew but still benefit from an occasional tub-clean cycle.

Time: ~1 hour · Typical cost: $5–$10 per cleaner, or pennies for vinegar

What you'll need

• Washing machine cleaner tablets

If you skip it

Mildew in a front-loader gasket is very hard to remove once established, and it leaves clean laundry smelling sour.

Other washing machine maintenance

• Inspect washer supply hoses — every 6 months
• Clean washer drain pump filter — every 6 months

Related systems to keep on schedule

• Refrigerator — start with: replace refrigerator water filter, every 6 months
• Dishwasher — start with: clean dishwasher filter, every 3 months
• Dryer — start with: clean dryer vent duct, every 6 months
• Range hood — start with: degrease range hood filter, every 3 months