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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Short answer: Empty the washer, select Self Clean, Pure Cycle, or Self Clean+, and start the cycle without laundry. For routine maintenance, Samsung generally says no detergent, bleach, vinegar, or other cleaner is needed. Existing mildew, mold, or a persistent odor requires separate cleaning of the gasket, dispenser, pump filter, and—if appropriate—a model-specific bleach procedure.
Samsung uses different names, controls, and chemical instructions across front-load, top-load, FlexWash, and Laundry Combo models. Check the manual for your exact model before adding any product.
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What Samsung Self Clean does—and does not do
Self Clean is an empty-drum maintenance cycle that cleans or loosens buildup inside the washer tub and internal areas affected by moisture, detergent, and residue. Samsung also calls the feature Pure Cycle on some models. Self Clean+ is an enhanced designation available on certain washers and Laundry Combo products; its internal cleaning coverage depends on the model.
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Self Clean does not automatically clean every part of the appliance. You may still need to clean:
- The front-load door gasket and the space behind its folds
- The detergent drawer and drawer recess
- The pump filter on applicable front-load models
- The lid, door, rim, and exterior surfaces
- The drain hose, standpipe, or plumbing if water is not draining correctly
A clean-looking drum therefore does not prove that the rest of the washer is free of residue or mold. Samsung’s overview of Self Clean features and its washer-cleaning guidance should be used alongside the manual for your appliance.
Before you start
- Find the model number. It is usually on a label around the door, lid, rear, or side of the appliance. Use it to locate the correct Samsung manual.
- Empty the drum completely. Check beneath the door seal and around the drum for coins, tissues, hair ties, or other small objects.
- Check for standing water. If water remains, use the washer’s normal drain or Spin-only function according to the manual. Do not begin a cleaning cycle with unexplained standing water.
- Decide whether this is routine maintenance or remediation. The normal monthly cycle is not the same procedure as treating visible mold or an established mildew odor.
- Do not add chemicals automatically. For routine cleaning, Samsung generally specifies an empty washer with no detergent or cleaner.
How to run Samsung Self Clean
Quick procedure
- Remove all laundry and objects from the tub.
- Close the door or lid.
- Press Power.
- Select Self Clean, Pure Cycle, or Self Clean+.
- Do not add clothes, detergent, bleach, vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or another product unless your exact manual specifically requires it.
- Press Start, Start/Pause, or hold the designated start control, depending on the model.
- Let the cycle finish.
- Inspect the drum, wipe away any remaining residue, and leave the door or lid and detergent drawer open to dry.
Some washers have a dedicated Self Clean button. Others require you to turn the cycle dial to the setting, select it on a touchscreen, or open Product Care. Samsung’s model-oriented cleaning guidance illustrates why there is no single button sequence for every Samsung washer.
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Samsung gives approximate times of about one hour for top-load washers and up to about four hours for front-load washers. Actual time varies with the model, capacity, programmed temperature and phases, filling and draining, balancing, and whether the displayed time is only an estimate. A long cycle is not automatically a fault.
The washer may fill and drain several times, and the drum may temporarily contain hot water or loosened residue. Do not interrupt the process merely because it takes longer than a normal wash. If the control display remains unchanged for an unusual length of time, water does not drain, or an error appears, consult the model manual before attempting recovery.
How often should you run it?
About once a month is the simplest general schedule. Samsung also uses reminder intervals on some models—approximately 20 washes for certain top-load washers and 40 washes for certain front-load washers. Some Laundry Combo models specify once monthly or every 40 cycles.
These numbers are not universal specifications. Follow the reminder and the manual for your model. If a tub-clean reminder appears, it is generally a maintenance prompt rather than an indication that the washer has failed; Samsung says it does not necessarily have to be run immediately.
Should you add detergent, bleach, vinegar, or washer cleaner?
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Routine Self Clean | Usually add nothing. Samsung generally says the cycle does not require detergent, bleach, or another cleaner. |
| The washer has no Self Clean or Pure Cycle | Check the manual. If it permits a washing-machine cleaner, follow both the product label and the washer instructions. |
| Visible mold or strong mildew odor | Use Samsung’s separate, model-appropriate remediation procedure rather than adding bleach by habit. |
| Suds or residue remain | Run another Self Clean cycle, wipe residue, and review detergent type and quantity. |
| The problem keeps returning | Clean the gasket, drawer, and pump filter; investigate drainage and contact Samsung service if necessary. |
Do not assume that a commercial washer cleaner is compatible with every Samsung model. Do not prescribe a universal dose: formulations and directions differ. “Natural” products are not automatically safe for seals, coatings, sensors, or plumbing. Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or any other cleaning chemical.
Bleach: routine maintenance versus mold treatment
Do not add bleach by default to the monthly Self Clean cycle. Samsung’s routine guidance generally calls for no added cleaner.
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- Self Clean keeps the tub fresh without harsh chemicals
For an existing mildew smell or visible mold, Samsung publishes a separate procedure that includes liquid chlorine bleach. The cited procedure directs the user to:
- Run an empty Spin-only cycle to remove standing water.
- Put liquid chlorine bleach in the detergent compartment up to the maximum line, following the exact model instructions.
- Start Self Clean, Self Clean+, or Pure Cycle immediately. Do not leave bleach sitting in the washer.
- Wipe residue from the tub after the cycle.
- Run Rinse+Spin.
- Repeat the rinse or cleaning steps if residue remains.
- Leave the door or lid and detergent drawer open to dry.
- Clean the pump filter on applicable front-load models.
This compartment instruction is specific to Samsung’s mildew-removal procedure. It must not be generalized to ordinary laundry cycles, where bleach normally belongs in the designated bleach compartment. If your manual differs from Samsung’s general web instructions, the manual for your exact model controls. See Samsung’s mildew and odor guidance.
Safety: Never put clothing in the tub during this treatment. Do not exceed the compartment’s maximum line. Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or another cleaner, and do not add a second chemical to “neutralize” bleach that was added accidentally.
What to do after the cycle
- Look inside the drum and around the rim for loosened residue.
- Wipe residue away with a cloth or paper towel.
- Wipe the door gasket, including beneath its folds on front-load machines.
- Remove and clean the detergent drawer and the recess behind it.
- Clean the pump filter if your front-load model has one and the manual permits user cleaning.
- Leave the door or lid open.
- Leave the detergent drawer open so trapped moisture can evaporate.
These steps matter because Self Clean cannot reliably replace manual cleaning of accessible components. Samsung’s washer FAQ provides additional maintenance and troubleshooting guidance.
Fixing odors, mold, and residue
Mild or occasional odor
Run an empty Self Clean cycle, then dry the washer thoroughly. Clean the gasket and dispenser, leave the door or lid and drawer open, and reduce excess detergent or softener. Moisture trapped by a closed door, heavy product use, cold-water-only washing, and buildup in the gasket or drawer can all contribute to odor.
Suds or residue after Self Clean
Run another empty Self Clean cycle. Wipe away what remains and use Rinse+Spin if needed. Excess or incorrect detergent is a common thing to review. Do not add more chemicals to solve residue from the first treatment.
Visible mold or strong mildew smell
Follow Samsung’s separate bleach sequence above, then manually clean the gasket, dispenser, and applicable pump filter. One cycle is not guaranteed to eliminate established mold, particularly when contamination is behind a seal or inside an inaccessible component.
Odor returns after cleaning
Check for a dirty pump filter, residue behind the gasket, detergent buildup, standing water, a drainage or plumbing problem, or mold in an inaccessible area. If proper cleaning does not resolve the smell, Samsung service is more appropriate than repeatedly adding chemicals.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Front-load versus top-load maintenance
| Issue | Front-load | Top-load |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Self Clean duration | Approximately four hours | Approximately one hour |
| Common odor areas | Door gasket, dispenser, and pump filter | Lid area, dispenser, tub, and trapped moisture |
| Filter maintenance | Many models have a user-accessible front pump filter | Filter arrangement varies by model |
| Reminder example | Often around 40 washes on applicable models | Often around 20 washes on applicable models |
| Drying | Keep the door and drawer open | Keep the lid open |
These are general patterns, not guarantees. FlexWash and Laundry Combo controls and maintenance requirements may differ substantially.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Running Self Clean with towels, clothing, or small objects inside
- Adding detergent or bleach to every cleaning cycle
- Putting bleach in a compartment without checking which procedure the instruction concerns
- Mixing bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or another product
- Assuming Self Clean cleans the rubber gasket, drawer, pump filter, or drain system
- Closing the door or lid immediately after the cycle
- Using too much detergent or softener
- Treating a reminder as an error
- Treating an approximate cycle time as a guarantee
- Using a normal hot wash as a universal substitute when Self Clean is unavailable
Troubleshooting branches
Self Clean is not on the control panel
Look for Pure Cycle, a cycle-dial option, or a touchscreen path such as Product Care. If the feature is genuinely absent, follow the manual. Samsung says some models may use a washing-machine cleaner according to its label, while other models may specify a different cycle. Do not assume that Normal or another hot cycle is suitable for yours.
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The door will not open
Do not force it. Wait for the cycle to finish and the lock to release. If water remains, use the model’s documented drain or emergency-release procedure. A locked door combined with standing water can indicate a drainage issue.
The cycle appears stuck
Allow for the long duration expected on some front-load models. If there is no progress, an error code, unusual noise, or failure to drain, stop troubleshooting by guesswork and use the exact manual’s error and drain instructions.
Suds appear
Run another Self Clean cycle, then review whether the detergent is suitable for the washer and whether too much was used. Persistent sudsing can point to product overdosing rather than a defective Self Clean cycle.
Mold or odor keeps returning
Clean all accessible moisture-trapping areas, inspect the pump filter and drainage, and seek Samsung service if the issue persists. Repeated cleaning will not correct a failing pump, plumbing problem, or contamination inside an inaccessible component.
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A practical maintenance schedule
- After every wash: Leave the front-load door or top-load lid open, and leave the detergent drawer open.
- Weekly: Wipe the door, gasket, lid area, and detergent area.
- About monthly: Run Self Clean, Pure Cycle, or Self Clean+ with the tub empty.
- Every one to three months: Clean the drawer and pump filter as applicable, or follow the model’s specified interval.
- Whenever the reminder appears: Run the cleaning cycle at a convenient opportunity, subject to the manual’s instructions.
When to contact Samsung service
Arrange service when a strong odor remains after proper cleaning, standing water repeatedly returns, the washer shows recurring drain or other error codes, the door lock or controls malfunction, or mold appears to be inside inaccessible parts. Samsung’s washer support page provides model-specific manuals, troubleshooting, and service options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run Self Clean with clothes inside?
No. Self Clean, Pure Cycle, and Self Clean+ are empty-drum maintenance cycles. Remove all laundry and objects first.
Is Pure Cycle the same as Self Clean?
It serves the same general tub-cleaning purpose, but Samsung’s names, controls, and exact operation vary by model.
Does Self Clean clean the rubber gasket?
Not reliably. Wipe the gasket separately, especially behind its folds on front-load washers.
What does a flashing tub-clean reminder mean?
It is generally a maintenance reminder, not proof that the washer is broken. The exact reminder behavior is model-dependent.
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