Maintenance procedure · Written to ASD-STE100 Issue 9 · Formatted to ANSI Z535

Washing Machine Tub-Clean Cycle

Front-load and top-load washing machines with a self-clean, tub-clean or basket-clean cycle — how to run it and what the manufacturers say about bleach, tablets and vinegar
ApplicabilityWashing machines with a self-clean, tub-clean, basket-clean or similarly named maintenance cycle, front-load or top-load
Task time1 hr 36 min to 4 hr 10 min editorial estimate, not a measurement
PersonnelOne
Revisionv1 · 2026-08-04
BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before you begin. This procedure is general reference information, not professional advice. Equipment varies by manufacturer, model, and year. Always follow the documentation supplied with your equipment — where it differs from this page, follow the manufacturer. Verify that you have the tools, the working conditions, and the ability to do this task safely. If anything is unclear, if the equipment is damaged, or if the task exceeds your experience, stop and use a qualified professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for the outcome. This site accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or injury arising from the use of this information.

Specifications marked unverified could not be traced to a manufacturer source. Do not rely on them — obtain the value from your equipment documentation.

Summary

Most washing machines built in the last several years have a second cycle, separate from a normal wash, whose only job is to clean the machine itself. Whirlpool and Maytag call it the Clean Washer cycle. GE calls it Basket Clean or Self Clean. LG calls it Tub Clean or Tub Sterilization. Samsung calls it Self Clean, Self Clean+ or Pure Cycle. Whatever the name, it runs a longer, hotter wash with an empty drum to strip out the detergent film, lint and mold that a normal load never touches.

This page cannot tell you which additive to put in, because the manufacturers do not agree. Whirlpool and GE offer chlorine bleach as one option; LG warns that a chlorine-based cleaner can discolor or corrode parts inside some machines and recommends an oxygen-based one instead; Samsung says most cycles need no additive at all. What this page does give you is the one rule that holds across every brand: never put two cleaning products in the same cycle, and always check the documentation for your own model before you add anything.

Necessary equipment

ItemNote
Rubber glovesThe CDC tells you to wear gloves when you use bleach.
Eye protectionA splash of bleach can injure your eye.
Measuring cup optionalMeasure the bleach or cleaner your documentation names.
The additive your documentation names materialRead the documentation for your model. The manufacturers do not agree.

Prepare the washer

Estimated under a minute

NOTEBefore you choose an additive, read the documentation for your model.
Tub-clean cycle interval
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR MODEL FOR THE INTERVAL

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

  1. Remove all the clothes from the washer basket.
    <1m
  2. Find the name of the maintenance cycle on the control panel.
    • Whirlpool and Maytag name it the Clean Washer cycle.
    • GE names it Basket Clean or Self Clean.
    • LG names it Tub Clean or Tub Sterilization.
    • Samsung names it Self Clean, Self Clean+ or Pure Cycle.
    <1m

Add the additive for your model

Estimated 3 min to 7 min

NOTEThe additive that this cycle needs depends on the manufacturer.
Tub-clean cycle additive — chemical compatibility
Unverified — do not rely on this value
USE ONE ADDITIVE ONLY. CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR MODEL BEFORE YOU ADD BLEACH OR A CLEANER TO THE CYCLE

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

Four tier-1 sources give different answers about which additive belongs in this cycle, and two of them are opposed on chlorine bleach. Whirlpool (whirlpool-washer-removing-odors-interior, accessed 2026-08-04) gives two separate procedures for the same cycle: one affresh® tablet in the washer basket, or 'Add 1 cup (236 mL) of liquid chlorine bleach to the compartment,' and each procedure says 'Do not add any detergent or other chemicals to the washer when following this procedure.' GE Appliances (ge-topload-washer-basketclean, accessed 2026-08-04) says to 'pour 1 cup or 250 ml of liquid bleach, vinegar or a washing machine cleaner into the basket' for its Basket Clean cycle, naming three interchangeable options. LG (lg-washer-frontload-tub-clean, accessed 2026-08-04) says the opposite about chlorine: 'Avoid using chlorine-based or acidic washing machine cleaners, as they may cause discoloration or corrosion inside the machine,' and tells the reader to use an oxygen-based cleaner instead. Samsung (samsung-washer-self-clean-cycle, accessed 2026-08-04) says 'You don't need to add cleaner when running Self Clean,' and recommends bleach only when a mold smell is already present. This page does not average these, does not rank them and does not choose between them. Use the additive that the documentation for your model names, and never add a second product to the same cycle.
  1. Read the documentation for your model to find the correct additive.
    • The four manufacturers on this page do not agree.
    • The specifications on this page name the disagreement in full.
    2m
WARNING

USE ONE ADDITIVE ONLY.
DO NOT MIX BLEACH WITH A DIFFERENT CLEANER. The CDC says never to combine bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.

NOTICE

READ THE DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR MODEL BEFORE YOU ADD BLEACH TO THE CYCLE.
LG says that a chlorine-based cleaner can cause discoloration or corrosion inside some machines. Whirlpool and GE allow chlorine bleach in the same cycle.

NOTICE

DO NOT USE MORE THAN THE AMOUNT YOUR DOCUMENTATION GIVES.
LG says that too much foam from a cleaner can cause a leak from the washer.

  1. Select the additive that your documentation names.
    • Whirlpool and Maytag give one affresh tablet in the basket.
    • Whirlpool and Maytag also give 1 cup (236 mL) of liquid chlorine bleach.
    • GE gives 1 cup (250 mL) of liquid bleach, vinegar or a washer cleaner.
    • LG recommends an oxygen-based cleaner, not a chlorine-based one.
    • Samsung needs no additive, unless a mold smell is already there.
    <1m
WARNING

WEAR RUBBER GLOVES AND EYE PROTECTION BEFORE YOU HANDLE BLEACH.
Bleach on your skin or in your eyes can injure you.

NOTICE

DO NOT USE THICKENED, EASY-POUR OR NO-SPLASH BLEACH IN THIS CYCLE.
Whirlpool warns that this kind of bleach can add extra suds to the washer.

  1. Put the additive in the place that your documentation names.
    • Whirlpool and Maytag put the tablet in the basket, and the bleach in the bleach compartment.
    • GE pours the additive directly into the basket.
    • Do not put a cleaner tablet in the detergent dispenser.
    1m
  2. Close the washer door or lid.
    <1m

Run the cycle

Estimated 1 hr 30 min to 4 hr

NOTEDo not open the door once the cycle starts.
  1. Select the maintenance cycle on the control panel.
    <1m
WARNING

DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR OR STOP THE CYCLE ONCE IT STARTS.
Hot water and the additive stay in the washer during the cycle. An open door can burn your skin with hot liquid.

WARNING

DO NOT FORCE THE DOOR IF THE CYCLE STOPS EARLY.
The washer keeps the door locked until the water drains. A forced door can burn your skin with hot water.

  1. Start the cycle.
    <1m
  2. Let the cycle run until it ends.
    • GE gives about 90 minutes for the Self Clean cycle on some models.
    • Samsung gives about 1 hour on a top-load washer.
    • Samsung gives about 4 hours on a front-load washer.
    1h 30m
  3. If the cycle stops before the end, run the complete cycle again.
    • GE says an interrupted cycle must run again before you use the washer. Whirlpool says to run a rinse and spin cycle to remove the cleaner.
    <1m

After the cycle

Estimated 1 min

  1. Unload the washer as soon as the cycle ends.
    <1m
  2. Open the door and the dispenser drawer after the cycle.
    • This lets the inside of the washer dry.
    • Leave the door open until your next wash.
    <1m
  3. If your documentation names a rinse cycle, run it now.
    • Whirlpool names a Rinse and Spin cycle after the Clean Washer cycle.
    • GE recommends a Rinse and Spin cycle after a cycle that uses bleach.
    <1m
  4. Record the date.
    <1m

Terminology

This page uses one term for each item and holds it throughout, as ASD-STE100 requires. Equipment sellers and other guides use the names below for the same parts.

tub-clean cycle
Also called: tub clean cycle, clean washer cycle, self clean cycle, self clean+, basket clean, tub sterilization, tub clean, washer cleaning cycle, affresh cycle, washing machine self clean
washing machine cleaner tablet
Also called: affresh tablet, affresh tablet washing machine, washer cleaner tablet, tub cleaner tablet, washing machine tablet, affresh
washing machine
Also called: washer, clothes washer, laundry machine, front loader, top loader, front-load washer, top-load washer
oxygen bleach
Also called: colour-safe bleach, color safe bleach, non-chlorine bleach, percarbonate, oxi cleaner, oxygen-based cleaner

When to use a professional

Stop if the washer does not drain at the end of the cycle. This procedure does not clear a blocked pump or hose. Call an appliance technician.

Stop if the door stays locked for more than a few minutes after the cycle ends. A locked door after the cycle can mean an electrical or mechanical fault. This procedure does not repair it. Call an appliance technician.

Stop if the smell or the residue stays after repeated tub-clean cycles. This procedure does not clean the door seal or the drain filter. Read those procedures next, or call an appliance technician.

Common questions

Why does my washing machine smell even though I clean it?

A normal wash cycle only cleans your clothes, not the machine itself. Detergent film, fabric softener residue and lint build up behind the drum and in the door area over time, and that is what causes the smell. Every major washer brand has a separate cycle built to strip this residue out with hotter water and a stronger clean. GE, LG, Samsung and Whirlpool all recommend running it about once a month. Skipping it for months is the most common reason a washer starts to smell again after a hot wash.

What is the tub clean cycle on a washing machine?

It is a maintenance cycle, separate from a normal wash, that cleans the inside of the machine instead of your clothes. It runs empty, with hotter water and a longer time, and it is usually paired with bleach, a cleaning tablet or a washing machine cleaner. The name changes by brand: Whirlpool and Maytag call it Clean Washer, GE calls it Basket Clean or Self Clean, LG calls it Tub Clean or Tub Sterilization, and Samsung calls it Self Clean, Self Clean+ or Pure Cycle. Check your control panel or your owner's manual for the exact name on your model.

Can I use bleach in the tub clean cycle?

It depends on your machine, and the four major brands do not agree. Whirlpool and GE both publish a bleach procedure for this cycle, using about one cup of liquid chlorine bleach. LG recommends against a chlorine-based cleaner for its Tub Clean cycle, warning that it can discolor or corrode parts inside some machines, and suggests an oxygen-based cleaner instead. Samsung says most cycles do not need any additive at all. Look up your own model before you reach for the bottle, and never add bleach and another cleaner to the same cycle.

Can I use an affresh tablet instead of bleach?

Yes, on a Whirlpool, Maytag or similar machine, an affresh-brand tablet is offered as an alternative to bleach for the same cycle, not something you add alongside it. Place one tablet in the empty drum, never in the detergent dispenser, and start the cycle. Other brands sell their own washing machine cleaner tablets that work the same way. Read the packaging and your washer's documentation, since dosage and placement vary by product.

How often should I run the tub clean cycle?

Every brand on this page recommends about once a month as a baseline. Several also give a cycle-count alternative: LG suggests every 30 uses on some front-load models, and GE and Samsung both mention roughly every 40 wash cycles on certain models. If your washer has a clean-cycle indicator light, treat it as the more accurate reminder for your specific machine. Run it sooner if you notice an odor or visible residue, whatever the calendar says.

Is it normal to see suds or hear a noise during the cycle?

Some suds left in the drum afterward is common, especially if you use more detergent than needed in normal loads, and GE recommends simply running the cycle again if this happens. It is also normal to hear the pump engage briefly near the start of some Self Clean cycles as part of a door-lock safety check. What is not normal is the door refusing to unlock a long time after the cycle finishes, or the machine failing to drain at all. Treat either of those as a fault, not a feature of the cycle.

Sources

Every specification on this page is traced to one of these sources. Tier 1 is a manufacturer document, a published standard, or a government safety authority. See Standards for the full tiering rule.

  1. Tier 1Removing Odors from the Interior of a WasherWhirlpool Corporation · accessed 2026-08-04 · re-verification due 2027-01-31
  2. Tier 1[LG Front Loader] How to Clean the TubLG Electronics U.S.A. · accessed 2026-08-04 · re-verification due 2027-01-31
  3. Tier 1[LG Top Load Washing Machine] How to Clean the TubLG Electronics U.S.A. · accessed 2026-08-04 · re-verification due 2027-01-31
  4. Tier 1Front Load Washer - Odor in TubGE Appliances · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  5. Tier 1Top Load Washer - Cleaning the TubGE Appliances · accessed 2026-08-04 · re-verification due 2027-01-31
  6. Tier 1UltraFresh Front-Load Washer - Self-Clean CycleGE Appliances · accessed 2026-08-04 · re-verification due 2027-01-31
  7. Tier 1How to clean your Samsung washerSamsung Electronics America · accessed 2026-08-04 · re-verification due 2027-01-31
  8. Tier 1How to Safely Clean and Sanitize with BleachCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25

Revision history

Current version 1 · updated 2026-08-04 · next review due 2027-08-04

  1. v1 · 2026-08-04First draft. Sourced to Whirlpool, GE, LG and Samsung tub-clean-cycle documentation, plus CDC guidance on mixing bleach with other cleaners. The additive publishes as consult-the-manufacturer with a conflict note: Whirlpool and GE offer chlorine bleach for the cycle, LG warns against a chlorine-based cleaner for the same cycle and recommends an oxygen-based one instead.

Corrections to this page are listed in the public corrections log. Reports that are credible and not yet verified are listed in the public errata register, and an open one renders above the step it concerns.

Comments and corrections

Found an error? A correction with a manufacturer source is applied and logged publicly. You can also write to corrections@fixchecklist.com.

Every step above carries its own report control, which tags the report with that step so a correction reaches the right place. For anything about the procedure as a whole — the order of the sections, a step that is missing, something that did not match your equipment — use this: report something about this whole procedure.

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