Short answer: Run Tub Clean on an empty drum once a month, or when tcL shows. On an LG front loader, use an oxygen-based tub cleaner.
LG says to skip chlorine-based or acidic cleaners on front loaders. On a top loader, use a cleaner made for tub cleaning, never straight bleach. Where your manual differs, it wins.
The blanket she dragged through the yard came out of your LG smelling clean. By lunch it smells like a damp basement. So do the muddy-walk towels and the crate pad with the pee spot.
Tub Clean is LG’s built-in cleaning cycle. It runs the empty drum with a cleaner to remove detergent build up and other residue. The right washing machine cleaner for LG washers depends on your machine type.
Leave that residue alone and it can keep building around the drum and door gasket, along with the odor. If the odor outlasts multiple tub cleans, LG says to request a repair.
We sell washer cleaner tablets and a printable puppy schedule kit. Only the kit is linked below, and the free tool costs nothing.
✓ Built on guidance from LG Electronics support, Parts Town, Mr. Appliance, the Washington State Department of Health and the ASPCA.
How do you run Tub Clean on an LG washer?
What you need
- A washer tub cleaner your LG manual allows (powder, liquid or tablet)
- A soft cloth, a soft-bristle brush and rubber gloves
- A shallow pan and old towels for the drain pump filter
- A baby gate or her crate, so she can’t wander in mid-clean
These steps come from LG’s US tub cleaning page.
- Empty the drum. Pull out every sock, chew toy and any other visible object.
- Add the cleaner the way its package says. Powder goes in the main wash compartment, with the liquid cup removed. Liquid goes in the cup insert. A tablet goes straight into the drum.
- Close the drawer and door, then pick Tub Clean. Press Start/Pause. On LED-type WashTower models, you touch and hold Tub Clean for 3 seconds first.
- Open up when it ends. Leave the door and the dispenser open so the inside can dry.
Cycle temperature, timing and button sequence vary by model. Follow the manual for the washer in front of you.
What cleaner does LG recommend for Tub Clean?
For any LG, the main tub page recommends a washing machine tub cleaner, used per its package.
| Machine | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Front loader | LG’s front-loader guidance specifies an oxygen-based cleaner and warns against acidic or chlorine-based cleaners. |
| Top loader | Follow its manual’s cleaner, dose and Tub Clean instructions. Do not copy a front-loader recipe. |
| No Tub Clean setting | Find the model manual or ask LG for its approved procedure. |
On a front loader, keep chlorine bleach and acidic cleaners out of Tub Clean. They may cause discoloration or corrosion inside the machine, LG warns.
Never mix cleaners. Bleach can react dangerously with acids or ammonia. Do not combine it with enzyme cleaners or other laundry treatments. Follow the washer manual and product labels.
Can you use LG washing machine cleaner tablets?
LG allows them, with one placement rule: “Place the tub cleaning tablet directly into the drum.”
Check what the tablet is made of first. The tablets we sell contain baking soda and citric acid. LG asks front loader owners to avoid acidic cleaners, so read your manual before any tablet goes in.
- Empty the drum.
- Drop one tablet straight into the drum, not the drawer.
- Close the drawer and door, pick Tub Clean and press Start/Pause.
- Leave the door and dispenser open to dry when it ends.
Pet bedding can leave lint and hair in the gasket. Remove loose debris before starting the approved cleaning cycle.
How often should you clean an LG washer?
Run Tub Clean once a month to prevent odor and buildup, LG advises. On front loaders, LG also gives every 30 uses. A towel-heavy puppy house can hit 30 loads before the month is out.
Persistent odor needs troubleshooting beyond repeated cleaning. Do not delay a service call for leaks, drainage failure or other faults.
What does tcL mean on an LG washer?
tcL is LG’s tub clean reminder. On a top loader, it blinks in the time display at power on. That blink means it’s time to clean the tub. Front loader displays show it too. Empty the drum and run Tub Clean.
How do you clean an LG front load washer?
Mr. Appliance calls front loads more prone to mold than top-load machines. LG pairs a monthly Tub Clean with cleaning the gasket, the dispenser, the drain pump filter and the inlet filters.
The door gasket. Remove visible lint and debris, then follow your model’s gasket-cleaning instructions. Dry the folds afterward.
Tub-cleaner instructions and gasket-cleaner instructions are not interchangeable. Do not combine bleach and vinegar or copy a regional recipe blindly.
The detergent dispenser. Pull the drawer out until it stops. Press the tab between the bleach and softener compartments and slide the tray free. Scrub each insert and the tray’s underside with warm water and a soft brush. Clean the empty housing too, then reassemble.
The outside. Wipe stains and spills off the cabinet and control panel with a soft cloth and a little mild cleaner.
How do you clean the LG drain pump filter?
LG calls this step very important for avoiding leaks. A clogged filter can leave water sitting in the drum, which can lead to odor over time. These steps are for LG front loaders only.
- Power off and unplug the washer.
- Check the tub for hot water first. Hot water from the washer can cause burn injuries, and Tub Clean runs hot.
- Open the service panel in the location shown in your model manual.
- Unclip the drain hose and pull its cap. Drain the water into a short bucket or shallow pan. Don’t pull the hose too far, or it kinks.
- Twist the filter counter-clockwise and remove it.
- Scrub it with a soft brush and warm water. Never put it in the dishwasher. Brush out the opening too.
- Cap the hose, clip it back and screw the filter in. Tighten until it stops turning, then close the cover.
Tip: Gate the puppy out before you open that panel. Drain water can spread across the floor, and a curious puppy may try to lap it up.
How do you clean an LG top load washer?
These steps come from LG’s top load tub page.
- Empty the tub and select the Tub Clean course.
- Add the cleaner amount its label gives, then press Start/Pause right away.
- Repeat it 3 times if the tub hasn’t been cleaned in 6 months or more.
- Leave the lid open until the inside dries.
Some LG top loaders have a blue lint disc on the tub wall, the Lint Magic filter. Clean it after every wash, Parts Town advises.
No Tub Clean button? Look up the exact model manual or ask LG for its approved cleaning procedure. Do not improvise a prolonged chemical soak.
Why does my LG washing machine smell?
Residue and trapped moisture can contribute to odor. Bacteria and fungi can still stick to water stains when the washer sits in a humid, shaded spot. LG’s pages also blame too much fabric softener, a closed door, hair in the gasket and a clogged drain filter.
HE washers use significantly less water, so soap residue can stay behind and grow mildew over time.
| The smell | Check first | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Musty or mildew | Gasket, dispenser, drain pump filter | Clean them, then run Tub Clean |
| Odor after cold washes | Dispenser buildup from undissolved detergent | Clean the drawer and measure detergent |
| Sewage or rotten eggs | Drum and drain pump filter | Still there once the drum smells clean? See our drain sections |
Our washer smells guide goes deeper on mildew, sewer and rotten egg smells.
A cleaning cycle may not remove old stains or solve every source of odor. That goes for the tablets we sell, too. Mold you can see under the gasket lip needs the hand wipe from the front load steps.
Tip: Measure fabric softener with the cap on towel day. LG links too much softener to tub odor and says to dilute concentrated softeners with water.
What mistakes make an LG washer smell in a puppy house?
- Too much detergent. Use the dose appropriate to your machine, detergent concentration, load and water conditions. More can cause buildup.
- Laundry left sitting. Unload right after the cycle and keep the tub empty between loads.
- Pods and cleaner on a low shelf. The ASPCA warns pods can cause stomach upset and upper airway irritation in pets that eat them. A pet that vomits may inhale detergent and get severe pneumonia.
- An open drum at puppy height. LG warns not to let children get into the tub to play. We’d keep a curious puppy out of it, too.
- Furry blankets straight into the drum. Get more fur off the blanket before the wash. For the wash itself, see our guide on how to wash a dog bed.
When should you call LG or an appliance tech?
Most LG smells are a Saturday job, done while she naps in her crate. Call for help when:
- The musty smell outlasts three weekly Tub Cleans. LG says to request a repair through its 24/7 chat support.
- A top loader’s mildew is too far gone for a tub cleaner. LG points you to a local appliance repair shop, since LG techs don’t do that cleaning.
- Mold won’t come off the gasket. Mr. Appliance says persistent mold may mean the seal needs replacing.
- Water still won’t drain after you clean the drain pump filter. A clean filter is LG’s first fix for a washer that won’t drain. Past that, request a repair before you buy a new drain pump.
- Water leaks after you refit the drain pump filter. Check that it’s threaded and tight, then request a repair.
LG charges a gasket cleaning fee even under warranty, since cleaning isn’t a fault repair.
LG washing machine cleaner FAQ
Can you put vinegar in LG Tub Clean?
Of LG’s US pages, only the 2023 top load odor page lists vinegar for Tub Clean. LG’s front loader page asks you to avoid acidic cleaners, and vinegar is an acid. LG’s Saudi Arabia guide adds that vinegar can ruin rubber parts and lead to leaks if used too often. On a front loader, we’d leave it out. Never add it with bleach.
How long does LG Tub Clean take?
LG’s US help pages don’t give a run time. On top loaders, the remaining time shows on the display. A completion alarm sounds, and the power turns off about 10 seconds later.
Can you run LG Tub Clean without a cleaner?
LG’s main tub page doesn’t say either way. It does say that for the best results, LG recommends a washing machine tub cleaner, used per its package.
Does LG make its own washer cleaner?
LG’s top load tub page recommends Home Star Perfect Tub Cleaner, developed with LG’s washing machine business division. Otherwise, LG asks for a cleaner made specifically for tub cleaning.
Should I leave my LG washer door open?
Let the interior dry as your manual recommends. Prevent children and pets from entering the laundry area or drum.
How do I clean the inlet filters on an LG washer?
Follow the model’s inlet-filter procedure. Switch off power and water before disconnecting hoses. Do not pull or soak parts unless the manual permits it. Ask LG for help if a filter is stuck.
Editorial review: Updated October 23, 2026 after reviewing search results and relevant source guidance. This is an editorial guide, not a product test or individualized professional advice.
Sources
- LG USA Support: How to Clean the Tub of Your LG Washing Machine, plus its front loader tub, top load tub, top load odor, odor and buildup, washer not draining and gasket mold pages, and LG Saudi Arabia’s Top 15 Cleaning Tips for LG Washing Machine
- Parts Town: How to Clean an LG Washing Machine
- Mr. Appliance: How to Clean Front-Load Washer Mold
- Washington State Department of Health: Dangers of Mixing Bleach with Cleaners
- ASPCA: Animal Poison Control Alert, Keep Laundry Detergent Pods Away from Pets