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LG Tub Clean vs Samsung Self Clean: what is the difference?
They are the same idea under different names. LG calls it Tub Clean; Samsung calls it Self Clean, or Eco Drum Clean on older models. Both run the empty drum at high water volume and high spin to flush detergent residue and biofilm from the outer tub. The practical differences are what you are allowed to put in, and how the machine reminds you.
Naming, by brand
- LG — “Tub Clean”. A cycle on the dial or in the menu.
- Samsung — “Self Clean” on current machines, “Eco Drum Clean” on older ones. Same function.
- Others — Whirlpool and Maytag use “Clean Washer”; Bosch and Beko often use “Drum Clean”. Same principle again.
If your machine is none of these, look for anything with “clean” in the cycle name that is not a wash programme.
The one real difference: what goes in
This is where the brands genuinely diverge, and it is worth reading your own manual rather than a general guide.
Samsung is the stricter of the two. Samsung’s guidance for Self Clean is generally to run it empty with nothing added — no detergent, no bleach, no cleaner. The cycle is designed to work on water and agitation alone.
LG is more permissive. LG typically allows a washing machine cleaner or, on many models, bleach in the Tub Clean cycle, and the machine will often prompt you.
The safe default across any brand: run it empty first. If odour persists, check your manual before adding anything. Where a cleaner is permitted, Affresh is the widely stocked option, and the 12-tablet pack covers a year of monthly cycles.
The reminder light — and the number nobody publishes
Both brands nag you on a wash counter rather than a calendar, and the counts are not what most articles claim.
LG recommends running Tub Clean once a month, or every 30 cycles. LG also gives specific advice for a neglected machine: if the tub has not been cleaned in over six months, run the Tub Clean cycle three times consecutively rather than once. A single cycle will not shift six months of buildup.
Samsung is where the common advice goes wrong. Almost every guide says the Self Clean reminder appears after 40 washes. That is only true for front loaders. Samsung’s reminder LED appears after:
- 20 washes on a top-load machine
- 40 washes on a front-load machine
Top loaders get the reminder twice as often, and if you own one and have been following generic “every 40 washes” advice, you have been running it half as often as Samsung intends.
Samsung also notes you do not have to run the cycle the moment the reminder appears — but recommends doing it at your earliest opportunity, and at least monthly even if you wash infrequently.
One thing worth understanding about both: the reminder is a counter, not a sensor. Neither machine can detect whether its tub is actually dirty. It is counting cycles, so a household washing heavily soiled loads will need it sooner than the light suggests.
How long each takes
Expect roughly one to four hours on either brand. Longer is normal and not a fault — these cycles use extended soak and multiple high-volume rinses, which is the entire mechanism. You cannot shorten it meaningfully without losing the effect.
Run it when you do not need the machine. Overnight or first thing works well.
Which brand handles it better?
Honestly, neither meaningfully. The cycles do the same job to a similar standard, and the difference in outcomes comes down to how you use the machine, not the badge on it.
What actually determines whether your machine smells: whether you leave the door ajar, how much detergent you use, whether you ever wash hot, and whether you clean the drain filter and door gasket. None of that is brand-specific.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put laundry in during Tub Clean or Self Clean? No. Both require an empty drum. Clothes absorb the cleaning action and can be damaged by the water temperature.
Samsung says no detergent — is that really right? Yes, on most Samsung models. Detergent is the residue you are trying to remove, and it foams heavily in a high-volume cycle.
My machine has neither cycle. Use the hottest available wash on an empty drum with an extra rinse. Functionally close on most machines. See how to clean a washing machine drum.
How often should I run it? Monthly for most households, regardless of what the counter says. More if you wash cold, use fabric softener, or wash pet bedding.
