Regular cleaning prevents the buildup of odors, soil, and detergent residue that can affect both performance and freshness. For optimal care, run a cleaning cycle with a washing machine cleaner tablet ...

Quick question: Is your washing machine starting to smell worse than the sweaty leggings you throw in there? If the answer is yes, it's high time to add cleaning it to your "new year, new you" ...

Pour vinegar in, run a hot cycle, then sprinkle baking soda and run another—say goodbye to funky smells and gunky residue. Give the drum baffles and rubber seals some love with a toothbrush and soapy ...

Even if you have your laundry routine down to a science, you might not even know that your washing machine has a lint trap—much less that it requires regular cleaning. But, much like your dryer’s lint ...

Dr. Elizabeth Yuko is a bioethicist and adjunct professor of ethics at Fordham University. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, CNN & Playboy.

Yes, you do need to clean your washing machine — and these potent tablets make all the difference.

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› By Andrea Barnes Andrea Barnes is a writer covering large cleaning appliances.

When was the last time you cleaned your washing machine filter? Rest assured that you're not alone if your answer is somewhere between "never" and "Does my washer even have a filter?" While you may ...