How to Clean a GE Washer: Basket Clean, the Light, Gasket and Filter
Empty the basket, add one cleaner (GE pours 1 cup or 250 mL of liquid bleach or a washing machine cleaner; with BLITZ, one tablet), close the lid, select Basket Clean and press Start. On GE front loaders the cycle is Self Clean; on top loaders without Basket Clean (GTW720 to GTW845, Profile PTW600 to PTW805), it's Bulky. GE asks for it at least once a month (front loaders: monthly or about every 40 washes). The GE top-load and front-load manuals we checked have no load-counting reminder light: GE says the cycle on the panel is the reminder. On a front loader, also clean the gasket, the drawer and the pump filter. One BLITZ tablet every two weeks: about $1.04 a clean.
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In this guide: 8 sections
How to run Basket Clean on a GE washer, step by step
Basket Clean is GE's built-in tub cleaning cycle: a hot deep wash with intense agitation, a dispenser purge on some models and a deep rinse (GTW580 to GTW685 manual). GE front loaders call it Self Clean.
If it gets interrupted: after a power outage the cycle picks up where it stopped. Otherwise, GE says to run a complete Basket Clean before your next load.
Careful: One cleaner per cycle. Never add bleach with a BLITZ tablet, vinegar or any acid: Health Canada warns the mix releases toxic gases.
Basket Clean, Bulky or Self Clean: which cycle your GE has
Not every GE has a Basket Clean button. Find your model number in the chart.
More on each model family
- Bulky models: Bulky fills to the maximum water level and offers Hot. On Profile PTW models, GE also points to a basket cleaning option in the SmartHQ app.
- Basic top loaders GTW220 to GTW540: no cleaning cycle in the manual. GE says to wipe the basket with a soft cloth dampened with liquid detergent, then rinse.
- Front loaders: some GE models label the cycle BasketClean.
- GE Profile combo washer-dryer (PFQ97HS, PFQ83HS): Self Clean, about 50 minutes, then a 60-minute drying step.
Other brands name the cycle differently: see how to clean an LG washer (Tub Clean), how to clean a Samsung washer (Self Clean), how to clean a Whirlpool or Maytag washer and how to clean a Frigidaire or Electrolux washer (both Clean Washer).
The GE Basket Clean light: is it a reminder?
Not a counter. LG shows tCL after 30 washes and Samsung flashes its Self Clean light after 20 or 40. None of the GE top-load or front-load manuals we checked lists a light that counts loads for Basket Clean or Self Clean.
GE's support page says the cycle sitting on the control panel "serves as a reminder to maintain the tub." The lights that do mean something:
Our tip: set a phone reminder every two weeks, the BLITZ routine.
Using a BLITZ tablet in a GE washer
GE's own steps put a washing machine cleaner straight into the basket, then run Basket Clean or Self Clean. BLITZ Washing Machine Cleaner & Descaler is that cleaner in tablet form: citric acid for mineral deposits, sodium percarbonate (an oxygen cleaner) and a surfactant for detergent residue and grime, with no chlorine or bleach. It's unscented and septic-safe.
- One tablet in the empty basket or drum, never in the dispenser.
- Run the clean cycle: Basket Clean, Self Clean, or Bulky at Hot on models without Basket Clean. Basic top loaders: the hottest cycle with the most water, so it reaches the rim (BLITZ directions).
- Front loaders: Rinse & Spin after, as GE suggests following Self Clean, then leave the door open or let UltraFresh Vent dry it.
How often: one tablet every two weeks, so a box of 24 lasts a year: $24.95 / 24 = about $1.04 a clean (goblitzclean.com, October 24, 2026). That's twice GE's monthly minimum.
GE top loaders: agitator or Infusor
GE top loaders have a tall agitator or a low Infusor wash plate. The clean cycle does the basket and tub; each type has one part to clean by hand.
Agitator models: the softener cup
GE's steps: lift the dispenser off the top of the agitator and pop the cup out of its cover. Soak both in 3.8 L (1 US gallon) of warm water, 60 mL (1/4 cup) of heavy-duty liquid detergent and 240 mL (1 cup) of bleach. Loosen buildup with a soft cloth, never a stiff brush (it roughens the surface), then rinse and put it back.
Infusor models: the dispenser drawer
Pull the drawer out until it stops, then lift the front to remove it (on Profile Flex Dispense drawers, lift the back on both sides). Wash it in warm, soapy water with a mild detergent (not in the dishwasher), rinse, and push the siphon caps fully back. Wipe the dispenser box in place with a damp cloth: GE says not to remove it. Rim and lid steps for every brand: how to clean a top-load washer.
GE front loaders: the gasket, drawer and pump filter
Self Clean doesn't reach these three parts.
Door gasket: check it regularly
Press the gasket down with both hands and look inside the fold. Pick out anything trapped and make sure nothing blocks the holes behind it. GE allows mild detergent, diluted bleach or diluted vinegar on the surface, then a warm-water wipe before your next load. Black spots that stay: how to clean a front-load washer gasket.
Dispenser drawer: once or twice a month
Pull it out until it stops, press down the lock tab at the back of the cavity and slide it out. Rinse it with hot water and brush the upper and lower recess. Using only HE detergent limits buildup.
Pump filter: lint and lost items
GE's troubleshooting points to this filter for odours, a washer that pauses and a door that stays locked. Our suggestion: check it with your monthly Self Clean.
See the pump filter steps
- Open the access door with a coin or small flathead screwdriver. Set a shallow pan and towels down: about a cup of water is normal.
- Pull down the pour spout, then turn the filter counterclockwise slowly to control the flow.
- Clean the debris off, screw it back clockwise and tighten, flip the spout up and close the door, bottom tabs first.
Tip: Models with UltraFresh Vent dry the drum after the cycle so the door can stay closed. No vent? Leave the door slightly open between loads, as GE advises.
How often to clean a GE washer
GE's floor is once a month. On front loaders, 40 washes only comes first above about 9 loads a week (our math). Hard water, a big family or a musty smell call for every two weeks: more in how often you should clean your washing machine.
GE washer still smells? Check these
- Strong odour: GE says you may need to run Self Clean more than once. Use one BLITZ tablet per cycle.
- Detergent: HE only, the recommended amount (or SmartDispense set to Low). Take wet loads out promptly.
- Drain hose: pushed too far down the standpipe, it can siphon dirty water back in. GE says to clip it to the side of the pipe.
Why we pick BLITZ for a GE washer
- It goes where GE puts a cleaner: one unscented tablet in the basket, then Basket Clean, Bulky or Self Clean. No chlorine or bleach.
- A year in one box: 24 tablets for $24.95, about $1.04 a clean (October 24, 2026). Rated 4.9 out of 5 (14 reviews).
- A Québec company in Laval, with service in French and English. Septic-safe. Also on Amazon.ca.
- Free shipping in Canada from $40 ($7.95 under), most orders in 2 to 3 business days, 10% back in store credit on goblitzclean.com and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean my GE washer with Basket Clean?
Empty the basket, add one cleaner (one BLITZ tablet, or GE's 1 cup of liquid bleach), close the lid, select Basket Clean and press Start. Pressing Power before it ends cancels it.
Does a GE washer have a Basket Clean reminder light?
Not in the GE top-load and front-load manuals we checked. GE says the cycle on the panel is the reminder, so set your own: every two weeks with BLITZ, monthly at the least.
Can I put a washer cleaner tablet in GE Basket Clean?
Yes. GE's steps put a washing machine cleaner straight into the basket. Use one BLITZ tablet, alone, in the empty basket.
How long does GE Self Clean take?
About 90 minutes on GE and GE Profile front loaders. The Profile combo takes about 50 minutes, plus a 60-minute drying step.
My GE top loader has no Basket Clean. What do I use?
On GTW720 to GTW845 and Profile PTW600 to PTW805, GE's manuals use Bulky. On basic models, run the hottest cycle with the most water, one BLITZ tablet in the basket.
How do I clean a GE Profile washer?
The same way: Profile front loaders use Self Clean, Profile top loaders use Bulky, with one BLITZ tablet in the basket.
Sources: GE Appliances support pages (Top Load Washer and Front Load Washer, Cleaning the Tub; Front Load Washer, Odor in Tub) and pressroom; GE owner's manuals 49-3000346 (GTW580 to GTW685), 49-3000187 (GTW720 to GTW845, PTW600, PTW605), 49-3000295 (PTW600 to PTW805), 49-3000255 (GTW220 to GTW540), 49-3000368 (GFW550 to PFW955) and 49-3000353 (PFQ97HS, PFQ83HS); Health Canada; BLITZ product page. All checked October 24, 2026. In Canada, GE's manuals list 1-800-561-3344 and GEAppliances.ca for service.
GE, GE Profile, Infusor, UltraFresh Vent, SmartDispense and SmartHQ are trademarks of their owners. BLITZ is not affiliated with GE Appliances.
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