No matter the advances in technology, laundry still feels like a tedious, never-ending chore. On the bright side, cleaning your washing machine doesn’t have to be so difficult.
If you own a Samsung washer with a Self-Clean mode, your appliance will do all the hard work for you. It cleans the areas in your washer that are prone to mold growth and detergent residue build-up.
Here, we’ll help you understand why your Samsung washer’s Self-Clean mode light is blinking. We’ll also show you how to run a self-cleaning cycle.
Why is the Samsung Self-Clean light blinking?
If the Self-Clean LED light on a Samsung washer is blinking, it’s reminding you to run a self-cleaning cycle. It will stay on for an hour before automatically turning off.
The Self-Clean light will blink for another five consecutive cycles before turning off. It will reappear after 20 or 40 washes.
On Samsung top-load washers, the Self-Clean indicator light will start blinking after you completed 20 wash cycles. It will turn on after 40 washes on front-load models
According to Samsung, you should run a Self-Clean cycle at least once per month if you only do a few washes. Or, you can wait until the Self-Clean indicator light turns on.
How to Use Self-Clean Mode on Samsung Washers
To run a Self-Clean cycle on a Samsung washer, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Turn on the Samsung washer.
- Step 2: Empty the drum.
- Step 3: Press the Self-Clean button.
- Step 4: Push Start.
- Step 5: Remove visible residue with paper towels.
- Step 6: Open the lid and detergent drawer and let them fully dry.
Depending on your Samsung washer model, the Self-Clean feature might be known as Self-Clean+ or Pure Cycle. Just click the corresponding button for the self-cleaning function to activate it.
For routine maintenance, you can run a Self-Clean cycle without bleach. However, if your Samsung washer has a sewage smell(samsung top load washer smells like sewer) or visible mold, pour liquid chlorine bleach into the detergent drawer until it reaches the max line.
Here are some signs that will help you determine when it’s time to run a Self-Clean cycle with bleach.
- Your washer has an unpleasant odor.
- You can see mold growing inside the drum.
- Your laundry has mold stains and foul smells.
If you notice suds or detergent residue in the tub during a cycle, you should run another cycle after. When it ends, wipe any visible residue with paper towels.
| Tips: • Run a Self-Clean cycle regularly to keep your washer free of mold, bacteria, and foul odors. • Never leave laundry inside the tub while running a Self-Clean cycle as it can damage your washer, as well as its contents. • Don’t add natural ingredients like (vinegar or baking soda) to a Self-Clean cycle because they may damage your washing machine. |
Why Use the Self-Clean Mode in a Samsung Washer
A Samsung washer’s Self-Clean feature makes cleaning easier and more effective. It cleans the washer with hot water and high-speed drum rotations.
It will loosen hardened gunk and detergent build-up, preventing mold from growing inside the drum and around the door gasket.
Here are the reasons why you should use Self-Clean as the primary method of cleaning your Samsung washer.
- It doesn’t require expensive chemical products for cleaning, which can save you a lot of money.
- It eliminates mold, bacteria, and detergent residue build-up in invisible places with very little effort on your part.
- It prevents unpleasant odors from developing.
- It improves the cleaning performance of your washer.
- It helps your washer last longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
During a Self-Clean cycle, your Samsung washer fills up with water to loosen accumulated dirt, detergent residue, or mold on the interior and exterior of the tub. Then, the drum spins at high speed to get rid of hardened gunk.
The duration of Samsung Self-Clean cycles will vary per washer model. It runs for an hour on top-load models and four hours on front-load units.
Although vinegar is an effective and accessible cleaning product, Samsung warns against its use as it may damage your washing machine and its components. The same goes for other natural ingredients like baking soda.
According to Samsung, you should also refrain from using organic and natural cleaning products. Even for high-efficiency (HE) detergent, you shouldn’t use it in your Samsung washer if it contains natural ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.
If you don’t run Self-Clean cycles, you must manually clean your washing machine or else it will start to smell and develop mold.
Mold, mildew, and bacteria will build up inside your washer and produce foul smells that can transfer to your laundry during cycles.
Without regular cleaning, your washer can also start developing a variety of problems, ranging from water leaks(samsung washer leaking from bottom) to drainage issues(samsung washer not draining).
