How to Remove Buildup Inside a Fabric Softener Dispenser

PDF download Download Article
Natural ways to unclog fabric softener dispensers & prevent buildup
PDF download Download Article

If your fabric softener isn’t dispensing properly or your clothes aren’t coming out of the wash feeling soft, a clogged fabric softener dispenser might be the culprit. Luckily, cleaning out a dirty dispenser is super quick and easy. In this article, we’ll show you how to scrub out a fabric softener dispenser in your front- or top-loading machine using natural cleaning solutions. Some dispensers are non-removable, so we’ll be sure to show you how to clean those, too. If you’re ready to unclog your fabric softener dispenser, read on!

Cleaning a Fabric Softener Dispenser

Remove the dispenser from the washer and wipe it down with a wet cloth, as well as area around it. Wipe out the opening of the agitator or drawer with a damp cloth. Then, push the dispenser back in when it’s fully dry.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Removable Dispensers in Front- or Top-Loaders

PDF download Download Article
  1. Most machines have removable fabric softener dispensers that you easily pull out of the washer. If you have a top-loading machine, the dispenser is likely on top of the center agitator or in a drawer under the lid’s hinges. [1] If you have a front-loading machine, look for the dispenser in a drawer on the front of the machine. [2]
    • For dispensers on top of the agitator : Grip the dispenser and pull it upward. Then, separate the dispenser cup from its housing by squeezing the bottom piece and pulling it upwards. [3]
    • For drawer dispensers : Open the drawer, press down on the blue or white tab towards the back, and pull the drawer out. [4]
    • Check your washing machine’s owner’s manual if you’re still having trouble finding your fabric softener dispenser.
    • If you pull on the dispenser and it doesn’t budge, it’s likely non-removable and bolted to your top or front-loading washer. Clean it following the section below.
    • Most open tray dispensers on the inside of top-loading machines are non-removable.
  2. Fill up your sink or a large bucket with hot water and add in several drops of dish soap. Then, swirl the mixture around to get it nice and sudsy. Just drop in your washer’s dispenser cap and its housing, or your entire dispenser drawer. [5]
    • The hot water and dish soap lift up any fabric softener or detergent clogging your dispenser that’s preventing the softener from dispensing.
    Advertisement
  3. White vinegar and baking soda are natural cleaning products that remove grime and sticky fabric softener residue. Just place your dispenser cap or drawer in your sink and sprinkle it with baking soda. Then, splash it with white vinegar and hot water so the mixture bubbles up and foams. [6]
    • If your fabric softener dispenser has any rubber parts, use hot water and dish soap instead. Vinegar can damage and corrode rubber. [7]
  4. Whether you’re cleaning the dispenser in hot, soapy water or the vinegar and baking soda solution, take a sponge or brush and gently wipe it down. If there are any tough-to-reach spots or corners, use a toothbrush to scrub them clean. [8]
    • If you’re cleaning a dispenser drawer, pull up on the inserts over each compartment to remove them and clean the inside of the tray.
  5. Run the dispenser cap and housing, or the drawer, under warm water to wash away the cleaning solution and all the residue you scrubbed off. Then, wipe the dispenser and all its parts dry with a clean, soft cloth. Or, leave the dispenser out on your counter to air dry. [9]
  6. With your dispenser still removed, look inside the agitator or the drawer opening. Fabric softener often builds up outside of the dispenser and can prevent it from working properly. Just take a clean cloth or sponge and wet it with warm water. [10] Then, use it to wipe out any gunk or fabric softener residue. [11]
    • If the residue is dried onto the inside of the agitator or drawer, use a soft-bristled brush to scrub it off.
    • If you’re cleaning the inside of the agitator, wet your cloth or brush in a mixture of equal parts baking soda and water to help loosen up the residue. [12]
  7. When the dispenser is completely dry, just push it into your machine. For dispensers on top of the agitator, simply press the cup back into its housing and push the dispenser onto the agitator until it snaps in place. [13] For drawer dispensers, snap back on any compartment inserts you removed and slide the drawer into the opening. [14]
    8. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Non-removable Dispensers in Top Loaders

PDF download Download Article
  1. Pour a small cap of your regular laundry detergent into a bucket or large mixing bowl. Then, fill it with warm water. Simply swirl the mixture around with a spoon to get it nice and soapy. [15]
    • Alternatively, pour 1 to 2 cups (237-473 ml) of white vinegar inside the dispenser. Vinegar removes residue clogs and neutralizes odors in your machine. [16]
    • To deep clean the dispenser and your washer’s drum, add ½ cup (110 g) of baking soda directly into the bottom of your machine.
    • Most non-removable fabric softener dispensers are on top of the agitator or on one of the corners inside the washer.
  2. Slowly tip the bucket or bowl over the dispenser to pour the mixture inside. Then, turn on your machine and start the warm rinse setting. This runs the detergent through the fabric softener dispenser and clears out any residue. [17]
    • If your washer doesn’t have a warm rinse cycle, use a cool rinse setting. Just pour hot water mixed with dish soap into the fabric softener after the rinse finishes. This helps break down and clean the residue clogging the dispenser.
  3. Repeat the rinsing process so the detergent solution completely cleans out the grime and build-up inside the fabric softener dispenser. Just mix up a new batch of warm water and laundry detergent or vinegar, pour it into the dispenser, and start the warm rinse cycle.
    • If you’re using a cool rinse cycle, pour the hot water and dish soap mixture through the dispenser after each cycle finishes.
    • Wipe the inside of the fabric softener dispenser with a damp cloth or soft-bristled brush to remove any gunk that isn’t cleaned by the detergent and water mixture.
    4. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Fabric Softener Buildup

PDF download Download Article
  1. Check the label instructions on the outside of your fabric softener for the recommended amount to use for your laundry load size. Then, pour in the softener and fill the dispenser to the max line with water. Most washing machine companies recommend diluting fabric softener to prevent residue buildup and stains from forming on your clothes. [18]
    • Do not use more fabric softener than what the label instructions recommend. Using too much fabric softener can cause residue build-up that clogs your dispenser.
  2. Fabric softener tends to build up and form a residue over time, so make sure to keep the dispenser clean. After you finish washing a load of laundry, take a damp towel or sponge and wipe out the dispenser cap, drawer, or tray. [19]
    • If you use a powder fabric softener, dry out the dispenser after you wipe it down. This helps prevent the powder from sticking and clumping to the dispenser.
  3. After about 30 washes, take out your machine’s fabric softener dispenser and give it a deep cleaning using the instructions mentioned in the steps above. Or, run it through a warm rinse cycle if it’s non-removable. This removes any stuck-on residue in hard-to-reach areas that regular wiping can’t clean. [20]
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Things You’ll Need

      • Liquid dish soap
      • Cloth or sponge
      • Soft-bristled brush
      • White vinegar
      • Baking soda
      • Bucket or large bowl (optional)
      • Toothbrush (optional)

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      The Best Way to Clean a Front-Loading Washing Machine
      Yes, You Can Shrink Polyester, and Here’s How
      How to
      Remove Static Electricity
      How to
      Use a Washing Machine
      How to
      Shrink a Wool Sweater
      How to
      Stretch Out Clothes & Prevent Future Shrinkage
      How to
      Get Diesel Fuel Smell Off Your Clothes & Hands
      How to
      Unblock a Clogged Washing Machine Drain
      How to
      Do Laundry at a Laundromat
      An Expert-Approved Guide to Naturally Cleaning a Washing Machine at Home
      The Best Way to Dry Your Down Jacket
      How to
      Dry Clean
      How to
      Clean a Washing Machine with Vinegar
      How to
      Wash a Dry Clean Only Coat at Home
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://speedqueen.com/au/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2019/01/AWNA62-BLACK-USER-GUIDE-AWNA62SN305AW01.pdf
      2. ↑ https://www.lg.com/us/support/products/documents/WM2077CW.pdf
      3. ↑ https://speedqueen.com/au/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2019/01/AWNA62-BLACK-USER-GUIDE-AWNA62SN305AW01.pdf
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/iHttpqtOJxM?t=28
      5. ↑ https://speedqueen.com/au/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2019/01/AWNA62-BLACK-USER-GUIDE-AWNA62SN305AW01.pdf
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/2EWRMhAz_Ls?t=585
      7. ↑ https://inthewash.co.uk/cleaning/does-vinegar-destroy-rubber/
      8. ↑ https://www.lg.com/us/support/products/documents/WM2077CW.pdf
      9. ↑ https://www.whirlpool.com/content/dam/global/documents/201504/owners-manual-W10607427-RevC.pdf
      1. ↑ https://www.lg.com/us/support/products/documents/WM2077CW.pdf
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/2EWRMhAz_Ls?t=133
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/UXWqo6hRUFU?t=36
      4. ↑ https://speedqueen.com/au/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2019/01/AWNA62-BLACK-USER-GUIDE-AWNA62SN305AW01.pdf
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/A71zN3Gxz_8?t=64
      6. ↑ https://theportablelaundry.com/how-to-unclog-the-fabric-softener-dispenser/
      7. ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/au/laundry/how-to-clean-a-front-loader-washing-machine-inside-and-out.html
      8. ↑ https://theportablelaundry.com/how-to-unclog-the-fabric-softener-dispenser/
      9. ↑ https://www.whirlpool.com/content/dam/global/documents/200207/owners-manual-3955155-RevA.pdf
      10. ↑ https://www.fisherpaykel.com/download/user-guide/Laundry/Wash/Top%20Loaders/421307-nz-au-top-loading-washer-guide.pdf
      11. ↑ https://www.whirlpool.com/content/dam/global/documents/201508/owners-manual-W10783951-RevA.pdf

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If your washing machine isn’t releasing fabric softener properly, you should be able to fix the problem by cleaning the dispenser. In a top-loading washing machine, the dispenser is usually located under the lid in one corner and may be removable. In a front-loading machine, the dispenser will usually be a drawer at the top where you put your detergent. Start by mixing a solution with 1 gallon of warm water, a quarter-cup of liquid dish detergent, and 1 cup of bleach. If your dispenser is removable, soak it in the solution for 10 minutes, stirring it a few times. Then, wipe it with a soft cloth and rinse it with clean water. If your dispenser isn’t removable, pour the solution into it and run your machine on a warm rinse setting. Repeat the process at least twice more to fully clean the dispenser. For more tips, including how to clean your dispenser with vinegar and baking soda, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 181,477 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Irene Lauridsen

        Mar 3, 2019

        "My Downy fabric softener was getting thicker and thicker and hard to insert into the dispenser. Today I saw that ..." more
        Rated this article:
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement