LG Washer tCL — Tub Clean Reminder Fix

What it means

LG washer tCL is not a fault — it's LG's Tub Clean Reminder.
The washer counts the cycles since the last drum-clean and shows tCL when it's been roughly 30 cycles, prompting you to run the dedicated Tub Clean cycle to remove detergent residue, lint, and bacteria from the inside of the drum.

Affected Models

LG Front Load Washer
LG Top Load Washer
LG WashTower (combined washer + dryer)
LG TurboWash Washer
LG TwinWash Washer

Common Causes

30 cycles have passed since the last Tub Clean (normal — run the cycle)
Tub Clean cycle counter triggered automatically
Drum hygiene maintenance reminder
Notification only — no fault has occurred

How to Fix It

Empty the drum.

Remove all clothes from the washer.
The Tub Clean cycle uses high temperatures and bleach / cleaner that would damage clothing.
Confirm the drum is completely empty before starting.
Add a tub cleaner.

Add a Tub Clean tablet directly into the drum (Affresh or LG's branded tablets work), or pour a cup of liquid chlorine bleach into the bleach dispenser.
Do not use both at once.
Don't use regular laundry detergent; it foams too much for this cycle.
Run the Tub Clean cycle.

Press the Tub Clean button on the control panel — it's a dedicated button on most LG washers.
The cycle runs for around 90 minutes with hot water and high agitation to scrub the inside of the drum.
Don't open the door during the cycle.
Wipe the door seal afterwards.

When the cycle finishes, open the door and wipe around the rubber seal with a dry cloth.
Run a finger inside the seal folds to remove any loosened residue.
Leave the door slightly open for an hour to dry.
tCL clears automatically on the next cycle.

When to Call a Professional

tCL is not a fault — no professional needed.
Just run the Tub Clean cycle (with the drum empty plus a Tub Clean tablet or a cup of bleach) and the reminder clears.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I run the LG Tub Clean cycle?

LG recommends every 30 wash cycles — that's the trigger for the tCL reminder.
For households doing a wash every couple of days, that works out to about every two months.
For very heavy users or homes with hard water, monthly is fine; for very light users, every three months is acceptable.
The point of Tub Clean is to remove detergent build-up, lint, and biofilm from the inside of the drum where you can't reach with a cloth.