How to Sanitize and Disinfect a Washer and Dryer

Routine upkeep of these appliances is critical

person loading a washer

The Spruce / Michele Lee

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 15 - 30 mins
  • Total Time: 1 - 2 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $20

Knowing how to sanitize a washing machine and dryer after certain events, such as a flood or an illness in the family, is necessary to keep your household safe. Sanitizing a washing machine and dryer can also be part of your deep cleaning routine.

Read on to learn how to sanitize these appliances, especially after your clothes have come in contact with a bacterial or viral illness, poison ivy, or pesticides.

Warning

If a washer or dryer has been through a flood or fire, have a technician check the electronics of the appliance before cleaning or using it.

How Often Should You Sanitize Your Washer and Dryer?

It is recommended that your washer and dryer should be cleaned, which includes sanitizing, once every one to three months. However, you can sanitize your washer and dryer more than that if your household has experienced an illness, for example.

It's also a good time to sanitize your washer and dryer if you begin to smell a foul odor from the appliances or on your laundry after it's washed and dried.

Why Cleaning Your Washer and Dryer Is Important

It's important to clean your washer because it is dark, damp, and warm—all the right conditions that attract and trap soil, bacteria, mold, and detergent residue. The build-up of these residues can clog the inner workings of your appliance and also cause odors that can linger on your clothing.

Cleaning your dryer is vital because it's a safety issue. The failure to clean lint and dust clogs from clothes dryer vents is the top cause of home fire damage each year.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Rubber gloves
  • Scrub brush
  • Cleaning cloths

Materials

  • Chlorine bleach
  • Water

Instructions

materials for disinfecting a washer and dryer

The Spruce / Michele Lee

How to Sanitize a Washer With Chlorine Bleach

The buildup of contaminants, residual detergent, and fabric softener can trap bacteria and other debris in a washing machine. This can transfer back to your clothes, causing odor and potentially spreading disease. But you can get rid of it with a special cleaning using chlorine bleach.

  1. Set the Washer Water Temperature

    Set the water temperature for the washer to the hottest setting. Be sure the washer is empty.

    setting the water temperature

    The Spruce / Michele Lee

  2. Add Chlorine Bleach

    Add 1 cup of chlorine bleach to the empty washer drum (both front-load and top-load models). Do not add any clothes.

    adding bleach to the washer

    The Spruce / Michele Lee

  3. Set the Washer Cycle

    Set the washer to a full cycle with hot water rinse if available. Allow it to run through the entire cycle.

    setting the washer cycle

    The Spruce / Michele Lee

  4. Scrub the Interior Components

    When the cycle is complete, inspect the interior of the washer. Carefully check the rubber seals and gaskets and the inside of the appliance door or lid for signs of residue buildup or mold. Also, check any detergent or fabric softener dispensers. Mix a solution of 1/4 cup chlorine bleach and 1 quart of water. Dip a cloth or soft-bristled brush in the solution, and scrub these areas to remove any buildup.

    disinfecting the interior components

    The Spruce / Michele Lee

  5. Do a Final Rinse

    Set the washer to the rinse/spin cycle, and allow it to run to ensure all of the bleach is removed before doing a load of laundry.

    setting the rinse cycle

    The Spruce / Michele Lee

  6. Clean the Exterior of the Washer

    Finally, clean the exterior of the washer—top, front, and sides—by wiping it down with a solution of a mild cleanser and hot water. Rinse with clean water, and dry with a soft cloth.

    cleaning the exterior of the washer

    The Spruce / Michele Lee

How to Sanitize a Washer Without Chlorine Bleach

If you don't want to use chlorine bleach, you can use pine oil, phenolic disinfectants, or quaternary disinfectants to clean your washer. Pay attention to the usage directions on product labels, and follow the same steps for cleaning with chlorine bleach as listed above.

Warning

Choose one method of cleaning and disinfecting a washer and dryer. Never mix cleaning chemicals.

How to Sanitize a Dryer

If contaminated laundry has been placed in a clothes dryer on the low heat or air-only cycle, there is the possibility of cross-contamination with the next load of laundry. Plus, if certain chemicals or petroleum products were involved, there is even the possibility of fire. The dryer should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Here's how.

  • Wearing gloves, remove and dispose of lint from the lint screen. The lint can be contaminated and cause skin irritation, among other issues.
  • Mix a solution of 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach and 1 quart of water. Use pine oil, phenolic disinfectant, or quaternary disinfectant if you do not want to use bleach, and follow the product's label instructions.
  • Dip a cloth or soft-bristled scrub brush into the cleaning solution and wipe the dryer drum, rubber seals, gaskets, and the interior of the dryer door.
  • Rinse all surfaces with a clean cloth dipped in plain water.
  • Toss a few old towels or rags in the dryer, set the dryer to high, and allow it to run for 10 minutes to remove any residual cleaning solution.
  • Wipe down the outside of the dryer with the cleaning solution, and rinse well with a cloth dipped in clean water.

Tips for Maintaining a Clean Washer and Dryer

  • Empty the washer of wet laundry as soon as possible to prevent mold, mildew, and odors from forming.
  • Wipe dry the gaskets of your washer after every use to stop mold and mildew.
  • Before putting clothes in the washing machine and dryer, check pockets for items that will cause stains when melted, such as pens, lipsticks, gum, and crayons.
  • Avoid putting clothing exposed to oils or gasoline in your washing machine or dryer.
  • Only put clean clothes and towels in the dryer; do not load a dryer with damp, dirty clothing.
  • Clean out the lint trap after every dryer load.
  • Clean the lint trap in your washer's central agitator if you have an older top-load model. High-efficiency washing machines do not have lint traps.
FAQ
  • What does the sanitize cycle on a washing machine do?

    The sanitize cycle on a washing machine will use extra hot water to eliminate common household bacteria from your laundry. Not every load of laundry needs this cycle but it is beneficial, for example, if someone in your home has been sick and you are washing their bedding and clothing.

  • Is it better to use bleach or vinegar to clean the inside of a washing machine?

    You can use bleach or vinegar (never both at once because it causes toxic gases) to clean the inside of your washer. If you have a mold issue, chlorine bleach may be better.

  • How should I eliminate bacteria in my washing machine?

    Eliminate bacteria in your washing machine by running an empty cycle with hot water and 1 cup of chlorine bleach. Add the bleach directly to the drum or to the water in a top-load washer and the dispensers of a front-load machine.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Appliance and Electrical Fire Safety. U.S. Fire Administration.

  2. Bockmühl, Dirk P., et al. Laundry and Textile Hygiene in Healthcare and BeyondMicrobial Cell, vol. 6, no. 7, July 2019, pp. 299–306. doi:10.15698/mic2019.07.682

  3. Selection and Use of Home Cleaning Products. New Mexico State University.

  4. Comparing Different Disinfectants. Stanford University Environmental Health & Safety.

  5. Clothes Dryer Safety. Iowa State University Extension. 

  6. House Dust and Laundry Lint – Tiny Terrors of Environmental Health: What Do They Contain and What You Can Do. Duke University.