tcL is a Tub Clean reminder, not a temperature-sensor diagnosis. First confirm that a complete Tub Clean cycle ran empty, rather than an ordinary wash or an interrupted cleaning attempt. A different error interrupting cleaning needs its own diagnosis.
LG washers that use tcL for tub cleaning. Exact reset/reminder timing and cleaner placement vary; SideKick uses a much smaller cleaning dose than a full-size washer.
Wait for motion to stop and the door or lid to unlock. Water may be hot. Isolate power and follow the exact manual before any user filter maintenance. Never open a filter against a full drum, force a lock or bypass an interlock.
Compare the behavior
The page corrects a consequential confusion in scattered results: a cleaning reminder is not a dirty-tub sensor verdict or a temperature code. Completion history matters more than another reset combination.
| Observed state | Interpretation / next step |
|---|---|
| tcL and completed empty maintenance | Check exact-model reminder behavior if it remains. |
| OE or another error during cleaning | Cleaning did not complete; resolve that error. |
| tE rather than tcL | A different temperature-system fault. |
Code-specific checks
Confirm the characters and completed task
Photograph tcL rather than relying on how the characters were remembered. Check the cycle selected was actually Tub Clean and whether it reached completion. If OE stopped the machine while it was cleaning, that is an unfinished cleaning cycle plus a drain fault, not evidence that tcL means a bad thermistor.
Use the correct cleaning instructions for the machine
Run the permitted empty maintenance cycle with the cleaner and dose specified by the exact manual and product label. Do not copy a full-size bleach quantity into a pedestal washer. Never mix cleaning chemicals, add laundry to a maintenance cycle or increase concentration just because a reminder remains.
Do not invent a universal reset
LG’s SideKick guidance says a completed clean clears the reminder until cleaning is due again. Other models can display reminders differently. If the correct completed procedure does not resolve the display, give LG the model, cycle result and exact characters. Repeated high-concentration cleaning is not a substitute for confirming model-specific reminder behavior.
If the warning returns
Interrupted clean → resolve interruption
Wrong cycle → correct empty maintenance
Completed but repeat display → model-specific support.
When to stop and get help
Only carry out maintenance permitted in your model’s manual. For service, note the full model number and suffix, displayed code, selected cycle and what happened during the checks. Leave internal wiring, gas components, pumps and safety devices to a qualified professional. A symptom alone does not identify a failed part.
Sources & references
- tcL is a Tub Clean reminder. At a Glance
- SideKick reminder clears with completed Tub Clean until next due. Tub Clean completion
Based on publicly available manuals, manufacturer support and the references listed here. We have not inspected or tested your appliance. Follow the instructions for your exact model; a guide cannot replace an in-person diagnosis.