How to Clean a Miele Washing Machine

June 22, 2026

If your Miele washing machine smells musty, leaves laundry feeling less fresh, or shows residue around the door seal or detergent drawer, it may be time to clean the washer itself.

A washing machine works hard in the background of everyday home life. It handles towels, bedding, gym clothes, pet items, detergent, fabric softener, lint, and body oils. Over time, moisture and residue can collect in small areas, even when the washer looks clean from the outside.

The good news: cleaning a Miele washing machine does not have to feel complicated. With a few clear steps and a simple care routine, you can help keep your washer feeling fresher and easier to maintain.

Note: Miele washer models can vary. Always check your owner’s manual for model-specific instructions before running a maintenance cycle, cleaning the drain filter, or using any washer cleaner. OrientLeaf is not affiliated with Miele.

Quick Answer: How Do You Clean a Miele Washing Machine?

To clean a Miele washing machine, start with an empty drum. Wipe the door glass, rubber gasket, and drum opening with a soft cloth. Add a washing machine cleaner tablet directly into the empty drum, then run a maintenance wash, machine-clean cycle, or hot water cycle according to your washer’s instructions. After the cycle, clean the detergent drawer, check the drain filter if your model has one, and leave the door and drawer open to air dry.

For many households, cleaning the washer about once a month is a simple starting point.

Why Your Miele Washer Needs Cleaning

Miele washers are known for thoughtful engineering and long-lasting appliance design, but every washing machine still needs routine care. Moisture, detergent residue, fabric softener, lint, and everyday laundry soils can collect in hidden areas over time.

Common buildup areas include:

The inside of the drum
The door glass
The rubber door gasket
The detergent drawer
The drawer opening
The drain or pump filter on some models
Small folds or edges where moisture can sit

When these areas stay damp or collect residue, your washer may start to feel less fresh. Laundry may also come out with a faint stale smell, especially after low-temperature washes or frequent towel loads.

Cleaning the washer regularly helps make appliance care easier to keep up with, instead of waiting until odor or visible residue becomes harder to manage.

Signs It Is Time To Clean Your Miele Washer

You may want to clean your Miele washing machine if you notice:

A musty smell when you open the door
Laundry that smells less fresh after washing
Residue in the detergent drawer
Moisture sitting in the rubber gasket
Gray film around the drum opening
More lint or hair trapped near the seal
Water draining more slowly than usual
A reminder from your washer to run a maintenance cycle

A single sign does not mean the machine is damaged. In many cases, it simply means the washer needs a little routine care.

Before You Start: What You May Need

Keep the process simple. You may need:

Soft microfiber cloth
Small soft brush or old toothbrush
Warm water
Mild detergent for exterior surfaces
Small towel
Shallow bowl or tray if cleaning the drain filter
Washing machine cleaner tablet
Your Miele washer manual

Avoid sharp tools, abrasive scrubbers, and mixing multiple cleaning products. If your Miele manual recommends a specific maintenance cycle or cleaning method, follow that guidance first.

Step 1: Empty the Washer

Before cleaning, remove all laundry from the drum. Check for small items that may be stuck near the back of the drum or inside the rubber gasket.

Look for:

Socks
Coins
Hair clips
Pet hair
Lint
Tissue pieces
Small trapped fabrics

A maintenance or washer-cleaning cycle should be run with an empty drum.

Step 2: Wipe the Drum, Door Glass, and Gasket

Open the washer door and wipe the visible inside surfaces with a soft cloth.

Focus on:

Door glass
Drum opening
Rubber gasket
Any folds in the seal
Areas where water is sitting

The rubber gasket is especially important on front-load washers because moisture can sit inside the folds. Gently pull back the seal and wipe inside with a microfiber cloth. For small areas, use a soft brush.

Do not use sharp objects to remove buildup from the gasket. The seal helps prevent leaks, so it should be cleaned gently.

Step 3: Add a Washing Machine Cleaner Tablet

Once the washer is empty and visible residue has been wiped away, place one washing machine cleaner tablet directly into the empty drum.

Do not place the tablet in the detergent drawer unless the product label specifically says to do so.

A pre-measured tablet helps make the process simple. There is no measuring, no pouring, and no large bottle to store in the laundry room.

Step 4: Run a Maintenance Wash or Hot Water Cycle

Select the washer-cleaning cycle, maintenance wash, or a hot water cycle according to your Miele washer’s instructions.

General steps:

Make sure the washer is empty.
Place the cleaner tablet directly into the drum.
Select the recommended maintenance or hot water cycle.
Let the full cycle run.
When the cycle finishes, open the door and wipe away any loosened residue.

Cycle names and temperatures can vary by model. Some Miele washers may have a maintenance program, while others may call for a hot cotton or high-temperature cycle. Check your manual for the correct setting.

Step 5: Clean the Detergent Drawer

The detergent drawer can collect detergent, fabric softener, and water over time. If it stays damp, it may start to smell stale or leave visible residue.

General steps:

Pull out the detergent drawer according to your washer’s instructions.
Remove any inserts if your model allows it.
Rinse the drawer with warm water.
Use a soft brush to loosen residue in corners and compartments.
Wipe the drawer opening inside the washer.
Let the drawer dry before placing it back.

If your Miele washer has an automatic detergent system, such as a cartridge-based dispenser, follow your manual for model-specific cleaning instructions. Do not remove or rinse parts that are not designed to be cleaned that way.

A simple between-wash habit: leave the drawer slightly open after laundry so it can air dry.

Step 6: Check the Drain Filter If Your Model Has One

Some front-load washers have an accessible drain or pump filter near the lower front of the machine. Depending on your Miele model, this area may need periodic attention.

Before opening the filter area, always check your manual. If you recently ran a hot cycle, wait until the water has cooled.

General steps for models with an accessible drain filter:

Turn off the washer.
Place a towel and shallow bowl under the filter area.
Open the access panel.
Drain any water carefully, if your model has a drain hose.
Remove the filter according to your manual.
Rinse the filter and remove lint or small debris.
Reinsert it securely.
Close the access panel.

If the filter is not secured correctly, it may cause leaking or draining issues. When in doubt, follow the Miele manual or contact a qualified appliance technician.

Step 7: Let the Washer Air Dry

After the cleaning cycle and wipe-down are complete, leave the washer door open for a while so the drum can dry.

If your space allows it, also leave the detergent drawer slightly open. This helps moisture escape from the drawer and drawer opening.

Air drying is one of the easiest habits to build into your laundry routine, and it can help the washer feel fresher between cleaning cycles.

How Often Should You Clean a Miele Washing Machine?

For many households, cleaning the washer about once a month is a practical starting point.

You may want to clean it more often if:

You do laundry almost every day
You wash towels frequently
You wash pet bedding
You often use low-temperature cycles
You use fabric softener regularly
You notice detergent residue
Your laundry room is humid
Your washer starts to smell less fresh

If your washer shows a maintenance reminder, follow the machine’s guidance. For light-use households, you may be able to clean less often, but a simple monthly routine is easier to remember.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Mistake 1: Only cleaning the drum

The drum matters, but odor and residue can also sit in the gasket, detergent drawer, and filter area.

Mistake 2: Using too much detergent

More detergent does not always mean cleaner laundry. Too much detergent can leave residue behind, especially in high-efficiency machines.

Mistake 3: Closing the door right after every load

A closed door traps moisture. Leave it open when possible so the washer can dry.

Mistake 4: Forgetting the detergent drawer

The drawer can stay damp even if the drum looks clean. Rinse and dry it regularly.

Mistake 5: Mixing cleaning products

Do not mix vinegar, bleach, cleaning tablets, or other cleaners. Use one method at a time and follow your washer manual.

Mistake 6: Ignoring model-specific instructions

Miele models can vary. Always check your manual for cycles, dispenser care, drain filter access, and cleaning recommendations.

A Simpler Routine With OrientLeaf

Washer care should feel easy enough to keep up with.

OrientLeaf Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets are designed to make routine washer maintenance simpler. Just place one tablet directly into an empty washer drum, run a maintenance or hot water cycle according to your washer’s care instructions, and get back to your day.

No measuring. No pouring. No bulky bottle.

This does not replace basic habits like wiping the gasket, cleaning the detergent drawer, or checking the filter on applicable models. Instead, it supports a simple, low-effort routine that helps make appliance care easier to manage.

Key Takeaways

Cleaning a Miele washing machine is easier when you break it into small steps.

Start with an empty drum. Wipe the door glass, rubber gasket, and drum opening. Add a washing machine cleaner tablet directly into the empty drum. Run a maintenance wash, washer-cleaning cycle, or hot water cycle according to your model’s instructions. Then clean the detergent drawer, check the drain filter if your washer has one, and leave the door open to dry.

A simple monthly routine can help your washer feel fresher and easier to maintain.

FAQ

How do I clean a smelly Miele washing machine?

Start by cleaning the rubber gasket and detergent drawer. Place a washing machine cleaner tablet directly into the empty drum, then run a maintenance wash or hot water cycle according to your washer’s manual. After the cycle, wipe the inside and leave the door open to dry.

Can I use a washing machine cleaner tablet in a Miele washer?

Many front-load washers can be cleaned with a washing machine cleaner tablet when used according to the cleaner’s label and the washer’s care instructions. Place the tablet directly in the empty drum unless the label says otherwise.

Should I put the cleaning tablet in the detergent drawer?

In most cases, washing machine cleaner tablets are placed directly in the empty drum. Do not place the tablet in the detergent drawer unless the product label specifically instructs you to.

How do I clean the detergent drawer on a Miele washer?

Remove the detergent drawer according to your model’s instructions, rinse it with warm water, use a soft brush to loosen residue, wipe the drawer opening, and let the parts dry before replacing them.

How often should I clean my Miele washing machine?

For many households, once a month is a simple starting point. Clean more often if you do laundry frequently, wash towels or pet items, use fabric softener often, or notice odor returning quickly.

Can I use vinegar in a Miele washing machine?

Some people use household cleaning methods, but washer manufacturers may have specific recommendations. Always check your Miele manual before using vinegar or any cleaner, and never mix cleaning products.