How to Clean an LG Washer: Tub Clean, the tCL Code, Seal and Filter
To clean an LG washer, empty the drum, add one cleaner (a tablet goes straight into the drum, liquid cleaners and bleach in the dispenser), select Tub Clean and press Start/Pause, then leave the door open to dry. LG says to run Tub Clean monthly; tCL is only the reminder, shown after more than 30 washes. On a front loader, also clean the door seal and drain pump filter monthly and the drawer once or twice a month. A BLITZ tablet goes in the empty drum before Tub Clean: no chlorine or bleach, about $1.04 a clean.
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In this guide
How to run LG Tub Clean, step by step
Tub Clean is the cycle LG built for this job, with hot water held at 60°C, LG Canada says. The steps are the same in every LG front-load and top-load manual we checked; only the buttons change.
- Empty the drum. LG warns that laundry left in can be damaged by the cleaning product.
- Add one cleaning product. A cleaning tablet goes straight into the drum, never the drawer; liquids and bleach go in the dispenser (table below). No detergent or softener: LG says they cause excess suds.
- Close the door or lid, press Power and select Tub Clean. On some models it's an extra function marked with an asterisk (*): hold that button for at least 3 seconds. On an LED WashTower, LG Canada says to hold Tub Clean for 3 seconds; on an LCD WashTower, pick it on the screen. Some models call it Tub Sterilization.
- Press Start/Pause and let the cycle finish.
- Rinse, then dry. After a drum cleaner or descaler, LG's manuals say to run Rinse+Spin before your next load. Leave the door (or lid) and drawer open until dry.
What tCL means on an LG washer, and how to clear it
tCL is not an error code. LG's manuals call it the Tub Clean Alarm: the drum is due for a clean, or Tub Clean is running. On some top loaders, "tc" shows first, then "L".
When it appears: LG Canada says after more than 30 wash cycles. The WM4000H front-load manual says it generally appears every one to two months, depending on how much you wash.
How to clear it: run a full Tub Clean with the drum empty (not another hot cycle: LG ties the reminder to Tub Clean). LG says tCL then stays off until the next cleaning is due. Need to wash now? A normal cycle still works, LG says.
What to put in LG Tub Clean, and where it goes
Use one product at a time, at the dose on its label, and never fill past the MAX line: LG warns powdered cleaner can stay in the drum. Here is where the manuals put each one.
| Product | LG front loader (WM4000H manual) | LG top loader (WT7005C manual) |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning tablet | Straight into the drum | Straight into the tub |
| Drum cleaner or lime scale remover | Main detergent compartment | Its maker's directions |
| Powdered cleaner | Main compartment, liquid detergent cup removed | Its maker's directions |
| Liquid chlorine bleach | Bleach compartment, not past MAX | Main wash liquid detergent dispenser, not past MAX |
| White vinegar (LG Canada page) | 200 mL (3/4 cup) in the liquid detergent cup | |
A tablet is the simplest option: one in the empty drum, then Tub Clean. Thinking of vinegar? Read washing machine cleaner vs vinegar.
Careful: Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar, a descaler or any other acid. LG's manuals warn the mix can produce a lethal gas, and Health Canada says never to mix bleach with other cleaning products.
Using a BLITZ tablet in an LG washer
LG's own manuals list cleaning tablets for Tub Clean, placed straight in the drum (WM4000H front loader and WT7005C top loader). BLITZ Washing Machine Cleaner & Descaler is one of those tablets: citric acid to dissolve mineral deposits, sodium percarbonate (an oxygen cleaner) and a surfactant to lift detergent residue and grime, with no chlorine or bleach. It's septic-safe and unscented. Here's how to use it:
- One tablet in the empty drum, never the drawer, and nothing else: no bleach, no detergent.
- Tub Clean, then Start/Pause. No Tub Clean button? Use the hottest cycle.
- Rinse+Spin before your next load, as LG asks after a cleaner or descaler, then leave the door open.
How often: BLITZ's directions are one tablet every two weeks, so a box of 24 lasts a year: $24.95 / 24 = about $1.04 a clean. At the very least, use one at every tCL. For a musty smell, LG's fix is Tub Clean once a week for three weeks in a row.
LG front loaders: the door seal, drain pump filter and drawer
Tub Clean can't reach three parts; LG's manual names the first two as odour sources.
Door seal (gasket): once a month
Clear the groove at six o'clock, then wipe the seal with the WM4000H manual's mix, 3/4 cup (177 mL) of chlorine bleach in 3.8 L of water (gloves, never undiluted), or LG's other option, 5 g of oxygen bleach in 5 L of warm water. Dry it and leave the door open. Full steps and black stains: how to clean a front-load washer gasket.
Drain pump filter: once a month
LG says to clean it with the monthly Tub Clean. It sits behind the service panel at the bottom left, and a clogged filter shows OE.
- Unplug the washer and lay down a towel and a shallow pan. After a hot cycle, let it cool first (our advice).
- Open the panel, unclip the small drain hose and pull its cap to let the water out. Don't pull the hose out too far.
- Twist the filter counterclockwise, rinse it with warm water and a soft brush (not in the dishwasher), and clean the opening.
- Cap the hose, then screw the filter back clockwise until it stops. LG warns a missing or loose filter can leak.
Detergent drawer: once or twice a month
Press the release button, lift out the inserts and wash them in warm water with a soft brush, no soap, then brush the empty recess. Never spray water inside the washer: LG warns of fire or electric shock. Smell still there after all three? Our front-load washer smell guide covers the drain hose too.
LG top loaders and WashTower: what changes
- Top loaders: same Tub Clean steps. A tablet goes straight into the tub; bleach goes in the main wash liquid detergent dispenser; a lime scale remover follows its maker's directions. After each wash, LG says to wipe the lid and the inside of the lid seal and leave the lid open overnight.
- Dispensers: check the drawer and the bleach dispenser cover once or twice a month (warm water). No door seal or pump filter to clean. More brands in how to clean a top-load washer.
- WashTower: the washer is a front loader, so the routine above applies; only the Tub Clean button differs (step 3).
How often to clean each part of an LG washer
LG's minimum is monthly; its 30-wash counter comes first above about 7 loads a week. BLITZ's routine is one tablet every two weeks, which keeps residue and scale from building up between monthly jobs: more in how often you should clean your washing machine.
LG codes that point to a cleaning job
- IE: with the taps open, the inlet screens may be clogged with scale. LG says to soak them in white vinegar or a lime scale remover, taps off and hoses removed.
- Sud or svd: too many suds. Use HE detergent at less than half the maximum for an average load (LG), then run Rinse+Spin.
- LE1 (top loaders): coins, pins or clips under the pulsator. Press Spin to drain, then remove them.
- Call LG: FE or PE (LG says to call for service), tE or LE that return after LG's restart steps, or a musty smell still there after three weekly Tub Cleans.
Why we pick BLITZ for an LG washer
- One unscented tablet, no chlorine or bleach, for front-load, top-load and HE washers. It goes straight in the drum, where LG's manuals put cleaning tablets.
- A year in one box: 24 tablets for $24.95, about $1.04 a clean (goblitzclean.com, October 20, 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
What does tCL mean on an LG washer?
It's LG's Tub Clean Alarm, not a fault. The washer is asking for a Tub Clean; LG Canada says it appears after more than 30 wash cycles.
How do I get rid of tCL on my LG washer?
Run a complete Tub Clean with the drum empty; LG says tCL then stays off until the next cleaning is due. To wash right away, pick a normal cycle.
Can I use cleaning tablets in an LG washer?
Yes. LG's WM4000H and WT7005C manuals list cleaning tablets for Tub Clean, placed straight in the drum. Put one BLITZ tablet (citric acid and an oxygen cleaner, no chlorine or bleach) in the empty drum, run Tub Clean, then Rinse+Spin.
How much bleach do I put in LG Tub Clean?
Liquid chlorine bleach up to the MAX line and never more than one cup, LG's manuals say: in the bleach compartment on a front loader, in the main wash liquid detergent dispenser on a top loader. Never with vinegar, a descaler or a tablet.
Where is the drain filter on an LG front-load washer?
Behind the small service panel at the bottom left of the front. Drain the small hose next to it into a pan before you twist the filter out.
Sources: LG Canada help library ("Cleaning the tub, Why?"); LG WM4000H*A and WT7005C*/WT7155C* owner's manuals (English and Canadian French); LG help library pages on Tub Clean, tCL, the door gasket and error codes; Health Canada; BLITZ product page. All checked October 20, 2026. Button names vary by model.
LG and WashTower are trademarks of LG Electronics. BLITZ is not affiliated with LG.
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