The reset: an hour, start to finish
Start with the detergent drawer, because it is the easiest win. Pull it fully out — most slide free once you press the little release tab — and leave it to soak in hot soapy water while you work. Then take an old toothbrush to the cavity it came from, especially the roof of the recess, where softener dries into a lilac crust.
Next, the door seal. Wearing gloves, work a damp cloth right around and into the fold, turning the cloth as it blackens. This is the part most people skip and the part that holds the most residue. Dry it afterwards rather than leaving it wet.
Now the filter, which lives behind a small hatch at the bottom front of most front loaders. Lay down a towel and put a shallow roasting dish underneath, because there will be more water than you expect. Unscrew slowly, let it drain, then pull the filter out and rinse away the hair, grit and lost coins. If your laundry has been coming out with flecks of lint on it, this is usually why.
Finally, run the machine empty on the hottest, longest cycle it has — the one often labelled as a drum clean or a cotton boil wash. Heat is the part that actually kills the film. You can add a dedicated machine cleaner or a scoop of soda crystals; whatever you choose, use it alone, with no laundry in the drum.
