How to Clean Your Washing Machine
Is your washing machine caked with hard water build up? Does your washing machine have mildew or mold? Is your washing machine covered in dirt? Whatever reason you need to clean your washing machine I have a couple economic solutions for you.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural and green way to clean your washing machine. Vinegar is a disinfectant so cleaning with it will kill most germs in your machine. To use Vinegar pour about two cups of straight vinegar into your soap dispenser or directly into the tub. Run a hot/hot wash. This will help break up any buildup in your machine. You may need to wipe out the machine and run another round of vinegar depending on how dirty your washing machine is. You can also use a diluted solution of three parts water and one part vinegar in a spray bottle and use it to clean the exterior of your washing machine.
Bleach
Bleach is a household must especially when dealing with mold and mildew. Bleach is a strong chemical so if you choose to use it make sure the room is well ventilated. To use bleach to clean your washing machine add about one cup of straight bleach to the detergent dispenser or directly into the tub. Run a hot/hot wash. The bleach will help breakup any residue in the washing machine and will kill any mold or mildew. You may need to run another round of bleach through your machine depending on how dirty it is. You can use a diluted solution of three parts water and one part bleach to clean the exterior of your washing machine.
Keep your new washer working great, your old washer running like new, or clean up a free washer for a like new machine.
Extra Tips
- For hard to reach places like the rim of your tub, use a spray bottle with diluted solution of your choice and q-tips.
- Be sure to run as many cycles of just water through your washing machine after cleaning to rid of excess solutions and smells. If your machine still smells strongly of vinegar or bleach run another plain cycle. If you don’t get all of the solution out (especially bleach) it could end up damaging your clothes.
- Use the hottest temperature your washing machine has. The hotter the water the easier it is to break up the gunk in your machine.
- If your machine is getting frequent mildew, mold, or a musty smell leave your washing machine door open. The smell is usually caused by a small amount of excess water sitting in the tub and turning rancid. By leaving the door open it allows the flow of air to come in and dry the water up.
Keep your new washer working great, your old washer running like new, or clean up a free washer for a like new machine.
