How To Clean Washer Rubber Gasket

Week after week, you throw a load of laundry into the washer to clean your clothes, but what about the machine itself? Even though machines such as a dishwasher and washing machine fill with soapy water regularly, they do not necessarily clean themselves. Discover how to clean a front load washer gasket in a few easy steps.

The inside of a washing machine is dark and damp – the perfect breeding ground for mildew and black mold growth, especially around the gasket. While it seems as if this appliance is self-cleaning, that is far from the truth.

Neglecting to clean your front load washer regularly to keep the tub, door, detergent dispenser, and rubber gasket free of gunk and mold causes problems with the machine over time.

Minerals, soap residue, and chemicals build up in the tub and door seal, and bacteria clog the inner mechanisms and drain pump. This neglect leads to an ineffective front or top loader machine and makes the laundry room smelly.

How to Clean a Front Load Washer Gasket titleimg1 — (evgenyjs1/123rf.com)

Cleaning and Maintaining a Front Loading Washer Gasket
- Ways to Clean a Washing Machine Gasket with Bleach
- Rubber Gasket Cleaning with Baking Soda and White Vinegar
- How to Clean a Front Load Washer Gasket with Hydrogen Peroxide
- Cleaning the Front Loading Washing Machine Gasket with an Acidic Cleaner
- How to Keep Your Washing Machine Gasket Clean

Cleaning and Maintaining a Front Loading Washer Gasket

There are many popular brands of high efficiency washers, from Maytag and Samsung to Whirlpool, and all types require regular cleaning for optimal performance.

We'll show you how to clean a front load washer gasket using a few different cleaning methods and the best practices to maintain your high efficiency front loader to keep it running for years.

Ways to Clean a Washing Machine Gasket with Bleach

Bleach is a strong disinfectant that kills mold, mildew, and bacteria and is one of the quickest ways to clean a washing machine gasket. Remember to open a window and turn on a fan while using bleach for front loading washing machine cleaning.

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Bleach Gasket Cleaner

1 gallon of warm water
1 cup of chlorine bleach
Bucket
Rubber gloves
Sponge
Towel

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Fill a bucket with the water and bleach and agitate the solution to mix. Dunk a sponge into the bleach cleaner and wring excess liquid back into the bucket.

While wearing rubber gloves, use your hands to gently pull the rubber gasket away from the door frame and clean the crevice around the entire area.

Dip and wring the sponge again and wipe down the outer edges of the rubber surface. Rinse the sponge under cold water, wipe the inside and outside of the gasket to remove all bleach residue, and dry the surface area with a clean towel.

Rubber Gasket Cleaning with Baking Soda and White Vinegar

If you prefer to clean the natural way, consider using white vinegar and baking soda. The two ingredients act together to remove mold and grime and are a great natural alternative for rubber gasket cleaning.

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Baking Soda and Vinegar Gasket Cleaner

Baking soda
White vinegar
Spray bottle
Sponge
Toothbrush
Warm water
Towels

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Pull back the rubber gasket of the washer to reveal the crevice underneath and sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into the crease. Fill a bottle sprayer with white vinegar and spray the liquid directly on the baking soda.

Use a sponge or toothbrush to wipe away grime and front load washer mold from the rubber seal inside and outside. Get a clean towel wet with water and wipe all residue from the gasket before drying the area with a clean cloth.

How to Clean a Front Load Washer Gasket with Hydrogen Peroxide

The combination of hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice creates an effective solution for cleaning the rubber seal on washing machine while inhibiting mold growth.

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Hydrogen Peroxide Gasket Cleaner

2 cups of warm water
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup lemon juice
Spray bottle
Sponge
Towel

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Combine hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, and water in a bottle sprayer and shake well to mix. Spray the rubber seal around the door frame, front and back, with the cleaning liquid, and use a sponge to wipe away dirt.

Rinse the sponge under cold water and use it to wipe away leftover residue. Dry the gasket with clean towels before closing the door.

Cleaning the Front Loading Washing Machine Gasket with an Acidic Cleaner

This DIY HE washing machine cleaner is an excellent option if you do not have any hydrogen peroxide. The acidity of the lemon and vinegar work together to dissolve grime and prevent mold.

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Acidic Gasket Cleaner

2 cups hot water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice
Spray bottle
Rags
Towel

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Pour water into a bottle and add lemon juice and vinegar. Shake the container well to mix and spray the cleaner on all areas of the rubber gasket.

Use a rag to clean the seal around the inside and outside, making sure to clean along the crevice. Rinse the towel with fresh water and wipe the cleaner off the rubber material before drying it with a towel.

The citrus in this recipe is ideal for getting mildew smell out of your washer while cleaning it at the same time.

How to Keep Your Washing Machine Gasket Clean

Cleaning the rubber seal on your HE washer with a DIY all purpose cleaner is the first step in removing a build up of dirt and mold. The next step is to maintain your washing machine to keep it clean and running smoothly.

Front Washer Maintenance

HE washers use less water during the cleaning cycle and rinse cycle, so less detergent is required. Avoid using more soap in the detergent drawer than recommended.

Add vinegar to your laundry or fabric softener dispenser during the final rinse to keep the washer smelling fresh. Use a towel to clean the gasket after each laundry load by pulling the seal back and wiping the crevice dry.

Use the self-cleaning feature on your washing machine once a month to kill bacteria and stop mildew-growth. If your machine does not have this cleaning option, run a hot water cycle with one cup of bleach and no clothing to kill germs.

Check the gasket weekly for trapped lint, coins, bobby pins, and other materials. Always remove clothing immediately at the end of the wash cycle to prevent a build up of mildew and mold.

If you do not have children or pets in the home, leave the washer door open between loads to avoid trapping moisture in the gasket.

It's essential to clean the washer door, rubber seal, fabric softener and laundry detergent dispenser, and the tub using the right type of washing machine cleaner.

Routine cleaning prevents a mold problem from occurring in your front load washing machine and keeps your laundry room smelling fresh.

Learn how to clean a high efficiency front loading washing machine gasket to keep it running properly. Clean the front loader seal and dispenser regularly with white vinegar, baking soda, and hot water. #washer #gasket #cleaning #washingmachine — (evgenyjs1/elenavolf/123rf.com)

Understanding how to clean a front load washer gasket is key to keeping your washing machine running its best, so why not share our rubber gasket cleaning solutions with your family on Pinterest and Facebook?