If you are holding a washing machine cleaner tablet and looking at a row of dispenser compartments, stop there. The tablet belongs inside the washer itself.
Quick answer: Put a washing machine cleaner tablet directly in the empty drum or basket, preferably on the bottom. In a front-load washer, place it through the door; in a top-load washer, place it through the lid. Do not put it in the detergent drawer, bleach dispenser or fabric-softener compartment. Run a washer-cleaning cycle with no laundry, following both your washer manual and the cleaner label.
That placement matches the directions for KLEKPUE Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets – 12 Pack. It also agrees with LG's tablet guidance and Whirlpool's Clean Washer procedure. Always check your model's instructions because approved cleaners and cycles can differ.
Where to Put the Tablet in a Front-Load Washer
Open the front door, check that the stainless-steel drum is empty, and set the tablet inside the drum. The bottom of the drum is a simple, visible spot. Close the door and choose the washer's approved Clean Washer, Tub Clean or equivalent maintenance cycle.
Keep the tablet out of the rubber door gasket. That fold is a place to inspect and wipe by hand, not a product dispenser. Do not tuck a tablet into the drain-filter opening or behind a removable panel.
Where to Put the Tablet in a Top-Load Washer
Lift the lid and place the tablet at the bottom of the empty wash basket. If the washer has an agitator, set the tablet on the basket floor beside it. If it has a low-profile impeller, place the tablet in the open basket; do not pry open the impeller or hide the tablet underneath it.
Then select the cleaning program your washer manual specifies. Some top-load models control their own water level during a cleaning cycle, so do not assume that manually selecting the deepest fill is always necessary.
Why Not Use the Detergent Drawer?
The detergent, bleach and fabric-softener compartments release their contents at different points in an ordinary laundry cycle. A solid washer-cleaner tablet is meant to dissolve inside the empty wash drum during a maintenance cycle. Putting it in a small dispenser can prevent it from moving through the cycle as directed.
For example, LG explicitly puts tub-cleaning tablets in the drum, while its directions for certain liquid and powder cleaners use dispenser compartments. The form of the cleaner matters. Follow the label of the product you actually have.
A washer-cleaner tablet is also different from a laundry detergent pod. It is made for cleaning the appliance, not for washing clothes.
Four Steps Before You Press Start
- Remove everything from the washer. Take out clothing and other items. Do not run the cleaner with a laundry load.
- Read the washer manual and tablet label. Confirm that your machine allows a washer-cleaning product and identify the recommended cycle. Use the quantity on the cleaner package; more is not automatically better.
- Place the tablet in the empty drum or basket. Add it before starting the cycle, not to a dispenser drawer or directly onto the door seal.
- Run the approved cleaning cycle. Let it finish. Do not add detergent, bleach, vinegar or another cleaner to the same cycle unless both sets of instructions expressly allow the combination.
The KLEKPUE package recommends 1–2 tablets for routine cleaning and 4 for a first cleaning. It also describes an optional soaking stage. Only pause or soak if your washer's manual allows that procedure; otherwise use its approved cleaning cycle. Our complete washing-machine cleaning guide covers the other areas that may need wiping.
After the Cycle
When the washer finishes and it is safe to open, look for loosened residue or any undissolved material. Wipe accessible surfaces with a soft damp cloth and run an extra rinse if the cleaner label or washer manual calls for one. Leave the door or lid and dispenser slightly open to dry when safe around children and pets.
A cleaning tablet does not replace wiping the front-load gasket or rinsing a removable detergent drawer. If odor returns quickly, use our washer-smell troubleshooting guide to check other likely sources. For a regular schedule, see how often to clean your washing machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a washer-cleaner tablet in the detergent drawer?
For KLEKPUE tablets, no. Put them directly in the empty drum or basket. Other cleaner formats may have different instructions, so check their labels rather than treating all cleaners alike.
Does the tablet go in the drum before or after water fills?
Place it in the empty drum before starting the cleaning cycle. Do not attempt to open a running washer to add it later.
Should I unwrap the tablet?
Remove the individual wrapper before placing the tablet in the washer. Do not put packaging in the drum. Check the product package for any additional preparation instructions.
What if I accidentally put the tablet in the drawer?
If the cycle has not started, remove it and place it in the empty drum. If the cycle has run, follow your washer's directions for cleaning the dispenser and for running a rinse; do not force a stuck tablet through the drawer.
Can I put it in with clothes or in a dryer?
No. Use washer-cleaner tablets in a separate, empty washer-cleaning cycle. They are not laundry detergent and are not intended for dryers.
The Easy Rule to Remember
For a washer-cleaner tablet, think inside the empty washer: front-load drum or top-load basket. Check the manual, use the label's quantity, run the approved cycle and wipe away any remaining residue afterward.