Washing Machine Tub Cleaning: The Viral "Towel + Cleaner" Reel Trick vs Samsung & LG's Official Method (Korea Guide)

If you follow Korean home-hack accounts, you've probably seen this Reel: a yellow towel laid inside a washing machine drum, some mystery liquid poured over it, and the caption "pour this into your washer." The video never tells you what the liquid is or whether running a cleaning cycle with a towel inside is actually safe. It just says "comment for the DM." So we went to the official support pages of Korea's two big washer makers, Samsung and LG, plus Korea's best-known bleach brand, and put together the method the manufacturers actually recommend, and the combinations you should never try. It's handy if you're living in Korea, staying in a long-term rental or Airbnb, or just want a cleaner washer at home.

1. The short answer: take the towel out

The Reel's key move, "towel in, pour cleaner, run a tub clean," goes directly against both Samsung's and LG's official guidance.

• Samsung (Korea service center): never put laundry in during a tub clean (세탁조 세척) cycle, because it can damage or discolor fabrics. The no-detergent tub clean course should also run without detergent or laundry.
• LG: the Tub Clean / 통살균 course runs with an empty drum. It uses high heat and strong spinning, so anything inside can get damaged.

So Korea's two biggest washer makers agree: empty drum.

Is there any truth to the towel idea? Samsung's support page has the honest version. For an old machine that hasn't been cleaned in a long time, you can run an extra rinse or wash some towels after the tub clean to pick up loosened debris. In other words, towels go in after the clean, not during it.

2. What the Reel doesn't tell you

The liquid poured on the towel is only identified as "product no. 1554" behind a profile link, which is a typical affiliate funnel. As of October 3, 2026, we could not confirm what the product is, and the cover image doesn't show whether it's oxygen-based or chlorine-based. So we won't guess.

The video also says "a friend who repairs washing machines recommended this" and hints that a dirty tub made the kids itchy. Neither claim can be checked, and no official or medical source links tub residue to itchy skin. Itching has many causes, so see a doctor if it keeps happening. Want another example of a viral "comment for the secret" Reel taken apart? Read our beondegi "height secret" fact-check.

3. Samsung vs LG: the official method side by side

The biggest difference is chlorine bleach. Korean households call it rakseu (락스), after the Yuhanrox brand.

	Samsung	LG
Button label (Korean panel)	세탁조 세척 (tub clean)	통살균 (tub sterilize)
Laundry or towels inside?	No	No, empty drum
Cleaner	Commercial tub cleaner, or liquid chlorine bleach 150–300ml (1–2 cups)	Oxygen-based tub cleaner. Chlorine or acidic cleaners in the sterilize course can discolor or corrode the drum
How often	About once a month	About once a month (1–2 times for front loaders)
Reminder icon	After about 40 washes	After about 30 uses

LG names Homestar Perfect Tub Cleaner (홈스타 퍼펙트 세탁조 클리너, co-developed with LG H&H) as its recommended product. Because the two brands disagree on bleach, the rule is simple: follow the manual for the brand you actually have. Most Korean rentals have Samsung or LG, and the logo is usually right on the door.

If you use bleach: the Yuhanrox method

Yuhan Clorox's official Q&A (July 2, 2020) says order matters. First clean with a tub cleaner and rinse. Then add 500mL of Yuhanrox per 10kg of drum capacity (750mL for 15kg) and run one tub-clean or standard cycle. Don't reverse the order, and don't mix it with other detergents.

No tub-clean button? Do this instead

Older top loaders often have no dedicated course. LG's guide (updated May 26, 2026):

1. Put the cleaner in the drum
2. Fill water to at least 2/3 of the tub
3. Run for 2–3 minutes, then switch off
4. Let it soak 2–4 hours
5. Switch back on and run a full wash, rinse and spin

For older Samsung models, Samsung suggests the heavy-soil course (찌든때) or jeans course (청바지) at a high water level with cleaner added.

Why the black flakes?

LG explains (page dated February 27, 2026) that humidity, too much detergent, concentrated softener and natural soap leave residue. Bacteria and mold stick to it and come off as black flakes. That's why prevention matters as much as cleaning.

4. Practical checklist before you clean

• Take everything out, towels included. Wash towels separately after the clean if you want to catch debris.
• Pour the cleaner straight into the drum, not the detergent drawer.
• Never mix bleach with vinegar, citric acid, oxygen bleach or other detergents. It produces toxic gas (Samsung and Yuhan Clorox both warn about this).
• Skip the baking soda + citric acid combo too. LG warns the sudden reaction can force the drum door open.
• Skipped it for 6+ months? Run it 3 times in a row (LG). Otherwise monthly is enough.
• A blinking tub icon isn't a fault. It's a maintenance reminder. Samsung's lights up for 60 minutes at a time, up to 6 times, until you run the clean. Worth knowing if a rental washer shows an icon you can't read.
• Leave the door and detergent drawer open after each wash until dry, and don't overdose detergent.
• Front loaders: wash the detergent drawer weekly with lukewarm water and a toothbrush, wipe the door gasket monthly with oxygen bleach and dry it, and empty the drain filter (behind the small lower cover) now and then.
• Still black flakes after 3 runs? Book a professional disassembly cleaning (e.g. Samsung Care Plus, 1588-4190). If you're renting, tell your landlord or host first.

5. The budget pick: Daiso tub cleaner for ₩1,000 (about $0.70)

Photo: official Daiso Mall product page (item no. 1059854)

Daiso is Korea's huge budget household-goods chain, with stores in almost every neighborhood and subway hub. Its "세탁조 클리너 500ml" (Washing Machine Cleaner) costs ₩1,000 (about $0.70), item no. 1059854, and has a 4.7 rating from 984 reviews on Daiso Mall (checked October 3, 2026).

The product page doesn't say whether it's oxygen-based or chlorine-based, so check the back of the pack. If the washer is an LG, make sure it's oxygen-based. The label is in Korean, so a translation app's camera mode helps: look for 산소계 (oxygen-based) or 염소계 (chlorine-based). Showing staff the item number is the fastest way to find it.

Moving out and the washer is too old to save? Korea runs a free pickup service for large appliances. See our guide to free appliance pickup in Korea.

Bottom line

The Reel's "towel plus cleaner" trick is exactly what Samsung and LG tell you not to do. The real method is an empty drum, the right cleaner for your brand, about once a month, with towels washed afterward if you want to catch leftover gunk.

Save this for your next wash day, especially if you're about to face a Korean-only washer panel. Found a tip that works, or noticed the makers' guidance has changed? Drop a comment and we'll update the post.

Sources: Samsung Electronics Service Korea support solutions (40255, 41708) / LG Electronics Korea support solutions (20152958627723, 1430889036106, 1006656, 1436232784400) / Yuhan Clorox customer Q&A (July 2, 2020) / Daiso Mall official product page (item 1059854, checked October 3, 2026) / original Reel: Instagram @seoyseoa.pping (October 1, 2026). Photo from the official Daiso Mall product page. Prices converted at about ₩1,400 = $1. Always follow your own washer's manual for model-specific details. Information as of October 3, 2026.