Can I run my bread maker through its cycles even if it's empty?

Why not just clean the inside with soap and water?

Well I have, of course. I even sprayed with bleach water. Think of the inside of your oven. How hard is it to get it really clean with just soap and water?
There are just some places there that won’t come off. They’re hardened and don’t respond to water and cleaner.
I’ve never used it to bake the bread so it’s never gotten hot enough to kill whatever. Plus I bought it used about 5 years ago.
Anyway, no worries. I just made a batch of experimental bread. It looks better already.

Glad you got it cleaned.

I think the reason why ovens are tough to clean and often require harsh chemicals like Easy Off is that the grease from things like meat and sauce gets baked on and hardened. Bread makers probably don’t have that issue. I don’t think my bread maker needs much more than a rinse.

Well, good.