A washing machine can get very dirty, especially if it's used to wash towels and blankets with pet hair and mud. One way to clean a washing machine is to use a cleaning tablet, similar to detergent, during an empty wash cycle. While this is a great life hack, you want to always follow your washing machine’s instructions for use and the directions that come with the tablets.

For Uproot Washing Machine Cleaner, the routine is straightforward: put one tablet in the empty drum, run the specified cleaning cycle, and wipe away any residue afterward. The sections below explain how to choose a formula, handle pet hair, check compatibility, and compare the cost of regular cleaning.

Jump to: How to use tablets | Washer compatibility | Pet households | Odor and buildup | Ingredients and septic systems | Cost per clean

How to Use Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets

Start by following the instructions included with the cleaner you purchased. Tablet doses and cycle instructions will often vary, so check the packaging handy and review the washer manual before the first cleaning.

For Uproot tablets, follow the product's cleaning directions:

1. Remove all clothing, towels, and linens from the washer.

2. Place one tablet in the washer drum. Do not use the detergent dispenser.

3. Uproot recommends using the Normal cycle and hot water cycle, if available. Alternatively, you can use the washer's specific cycle to clean the washer, if available. Refer to your user manual for additional information.

4. Use a cloth or towels to remove the residue left behind.

Do not put this with your laundry. Washer-cleaning tablets and laundry detergent are not the same. If you have different washer-cleaning instructions from the washer-cleaning tablet instructions, go with the instructions from the washer manufacturer.

How Often to Clean Your Washing Machine

Uproot recommends using its tablets every two weeks, or even sooner if musty odors appear. That is a product-specific schedule. Whirlpool's general maintenance guidance, on the other hand, recommends cleaning about once a month or every 30 wash cycles.

Use the instructions for your cleaner alongside the maintenance schedule for your machine. A calendar reminder can help you keep track of when you last cleaned it, especially if several people in the household share laundry duties.

Choosing Tablets for Front Load Top Load and HE Washers

Check the cleaner's compatibility information before buying. Uproot lists its washing machine cleaner as compatible with front-load, top-load, and high-efficiency washing machines.

Compatibility tells you whether the cleaner is intended for that type of washer. The appliance manual explains how your particular machine should be cleaned. Check three details:

• Cycle Selection: The cycle for deep cleaning the washer is labeled as "Clean Washer," "Wash Tub Clean," or similar.

• Positioning of the Cleaner: Tablets, if included, should be placed in the washer cleaner dispenser and not the detergent dispenser.

• Other Directives: Look for instructions for care and maintenance of the door seal and the wash dispenser, if any.

Keep the model number with your cleaning supplies or saved on your phone. It makes finding the correct manual easier than relying on instructions for a similar-looking washer.

Washing Machine Care for Pet Households

There are a few ways to help manage pet hair prior to it winding up on your clothes and in your home laundry. For instance, LG's loading guidance suggests that you brush off fabric items to remove loose hair and soil. It’s also a good idea to brush pet bedding (when bedding is washable) to remove obvious hair and check the care label to determine if there are any restrictions on the loading of the bedding.

Most of the time, the pet hair that sheds in the laundry doesn’t completely dissolve. One pet hair laundry aid states that after each wash, the user should brush hair from fabrics, clean the dispenser and wipe down the drum as directed. Uproot's pet-hair guidance states that its tablets don’t fully dissolve, and that hair may still remain.

When evaluating pet product laundry aids, understand that even though a product focuses on pet related needs, pet hair may still require manual removal.

Dealing With Musty Odors and Washer Buildup

A musty washer calls for a look at the whole cleaning routine. A tablet cycle is one step; areas such as the detergent dispenser and the rubber gasket around a front-loader's door may need separate attention.

LG's front-load washer maintenance guide treats the dispenser, drain filter, door and gasket, and tub as separate maintenance areas. It also notes that hair and lint can collect around the door seal.

• Inspect the seal and door. Remove visible debris and clean these surfaces as the manual directs.

• Check the dispenser. Clean detergent residue and fabric softener buildup from parts designed to be removed or wiped.

• Check filter instructions. If your washer has an owner-accessible drain filter, follow the model's instructions, including its shutdown and draining steps.

Whirlpool's washer-care guide also recommends allowing the interior to dry between washes. Follow your appliance's instructions and keep children and pets away from an open machine.

If an odor persists after the recommended cleaning and maintenance, use the manufacturer's troubleshooting guidance. Repeatedly adding more tablets does not identify the cause of an ongoing problem.

Checking Ingredients Fragrance and Septic Compatibility

Choose a washing machine cleaner based on specific information about its formula and intended use. Fragrance preference, septic compatibility, and environmental claims are separate questions to consider.

Ingredients and Fragrance

To evaluate a washing machine cleaner, consider the specifics of its formula. Other considerations, like fragrance or environmental claims, should be directed to the product’s manufacturer. The same is true for the compatibility of the cleaner with a septic system.

Uproot has published an ingredient list for Washing Machine Cleaner Pro that includes sodium percarbonate, sodium carbonate, citric acid, and proteases and lipases. Check the ingredient list (and the package) of the product you are considering for verification.

Septic Systems and Environmental Claims

The Uproot Washing Machine Cleaner product listing is septic-safe. Follow the labeled dose and check any requirements specific to your septic system.

The EPA's septic-care guidance explains that septic systems rely on living organisms to treat waste. It advises against disposing of large quantities of toxic cleaners through drains and even recommends spreading out the laundry use throughout the week.

When using an eco-friendly product for your washing machine, ask for evidence to support the product claims. The EPA's guidance on greener cleaning products cautions that broad environmental labels can be vague. Check the exact product's ingredient information, packaging claims, and any certification it displays. For example, the EPA provides a searchable directory of Safer Choice certified products. A septic-safe label addresses a different question from a verified environmental certification.

Comparing Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets by Cost Per Clean

Compare the number of cleaning cycles a pack provides, along with its purchase price. A pack with more tablets is not automatically better value if each cleaning requires a larger dose.

Cost per clean = pack price divided by the number of cleaning cycles in the pack.

As a hypothetical example, a $20 pack containing 24 tablets, used one at a time, provides 24 cleanings at about $0.83 each. These figures are for illustration only.

Uproot's directions call for one tablet per cleaning. Use the current price and tablet count for your selected pack to calculate its cost.

Check whether the advertised price requires a subscription, bundle purchase, or discount code. If delivery charges change the comparison, add them to the purchase price before dividing. Compare recurring costs using each product's recommended cleaning frequency, too.

The lowest price per tablet does not answer every buying question. The cleaner also needs to fit your washer, your preferred fragrance, and any septic-system requirements. Use cost per clean to compare products that meet those needs.

Clean Your Washer on a Regular Schedule

Keep the washer manual available, set a cleaning reminder, and check the door seal after washing pet bedding. Use the tablet dose and cycle specified for the cleaner, then complete the separate maintenance your machine requires.

To choose a Uproot formula and pack size, see the Uproot Washing Machine Cleaner product page. It includes current options and product directions for your next cleaning.