Keeping your laundry machine clean is important to keep it working well and make sure that every load of clothes comes out fresh and clean. The inside of your washing machine can get dirty over time from soap leftovers, fabric softeners, and minerals in the water. This increase can cause bad smells, mold growth, and worse performance. Even worse, machines that aren’t clean can get dirt on your clothes, which defeats the purpose of washing them in the first place. Now let’s look at a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to clean your washing machine so that you always have clean, fresh clothes.
Cleaning your washing machine once a month with vinegar and baking soda and leaving the door open between uses will keep it from smelling bad. Bleach can be used to clean, but vinegar is cleaner and better for the environment. Regularly cleaning the filter is important to keep it from getting clogged and to make sure it works well. Natural cleaners like baking soda and vinegar work well, but there are also store-bought choices.
Mold can grow in a washing machine, mostly where the rubber seal meets the water. Mold can’t grow if you clean often. Run a hot water cycle with vinegar on a new machine before you use it to get rid of any production leftovers. Baking soda and vinegar are both good natural ways to clean your washing machine.
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ToggleWhy It’s Important to Clean Your Laundry Machine Regularly
A lot of people don’t clean their washing machine because they think it does that for them while they wash their clothes. But this is not at all true. Dish soap residue, clothing dirt, and mineral layers from water can all build up inside the machine over time. If you don’t fix this, it can lead to bad smells, dirty conditions, and even motor problems.
By regularly cleaning your washing machine, you can avoid these problems, give your clothes a healthy place to be washed, and make the machine last longer. A cleaner machine uses less energy, which is good for the environment and your power bill.
Tools and Supplies You’ll Need to Clean a Washing Machine
You are going to need the following items in order to clean your washing machine in a successful way:
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Microfiber cloth or sponge
- Toothbrush
- Lemon essential oil (optional, for a fresh scent)
- An old towel or rag
These common household products are all that are required to remove even the most resistant dirt and dust from the inside of your washing machine.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Clean a Laundry Machine
When you clean your washing machine, you have to clean both the drum and the outside of the machine.
First, let’s play the drum.
1. Start by cleaning the drums in a simple way:
To clean your washing machine, the first and most important thing to do is clean the drum. This is where your clothes are cleaned. This is where most of the soap and dirt build up. Thankfully, it’s not too hard to clean.
Set the washer to hot water and put no clothes in it at first. Just pour two cups of white vinegar into the drum or washing tray. The vinegar gets rid of smells, breaks down soap buildup, and kills mold and mildew.
Set the drum on high for another hot water loop after adding half a cup of baking soda. Baking soda is a mild detergent that helps clean the inside of the drum and get rid of any smells that are still there.
2. Clean the seal made of rubber:
Mold and mildew love to grow on the rubber seal (also called the gasket) that goes around the door of your washing machine. This happens a lot with front-loading dryers because this is where water tends to stay.
In a spray bottle, mix white vinegar and water together until they are equal parts. You can spray the mixture on the seal and then wipe off any dirt with a microfiber cloth or sponge. A toothbrush can help get rid of dirt that won’t come off in hard-to-reach places. To keep mold from coming back, make sure to dry the cover well afterward.
3. Wipe down the dispensers for detergent and fabric softener.
Next, pay attention to the dispensers for soap and fabric softener. This is where soap and dryer waste can build up, making your washes less effective.
If you can, take the pump off and soak it for a few minutes in warm, clean water. Scrub away any leftover gunk with a toothbrush. If you can’t get the spill off, scrub the area as best you can with your toothbrush. Before putting the pitcher back into the machine, give it a good rinse and let it dry naturally.
4. Wipe the outside down:
Don’t forget to clean the outside of your washer! On the outside, dust, dirt, and spills can build up and make your machine look dirty.
Wipe down the whole machine with a microfiber cloth that has been wet with a bit of vinegar and water. Pay close attention to the buttons, knobs, and control panel. If you see any tough spots or spills, sprinkle some baking soda on the cloth to make it work even better.
5. Get rid of the filter:
A screen in many washing machines picks up lint, hair, and other small particles while the clothes are being washed. This screen can get clogged up over time, which can slow down the machine.
The filter can be found in the machine’s instructions. Take it off, wash it under running water, and then put it back on. Keeping the filter clean will make your machine work better and keep it from breaking down.
6. Every month, do a maintenance wash.
Do a maintenance wash on your washer once a month to keep it in great shape. In a nutshell, this is a hot water rinse with vinegar or a clothes cleaner. It will help keep your dryer clean and free of buildup and smells.
7. Make sure your washer is dry.
One of the best ways to keep your washing machine dry when it’s not in use is to leave it out of the water. Leave the door open for a few hours after each wash so the drum can get some air. This will keep water from getting stuck inside, which can cause mold and bad smells.
Leave the soap bin open if your machine has one so that any water that is still in it can dry out.
How Do You Deep Clean a Laundry Machine?
It takes more than just a normal run with soap to really clean a washing machine. Over time, dirt, mineral deposits, and soap leftovers can build up in washing machines and make them work less well. A deep clean goes over every part of the machine, even the ones that people tend to forget about.
Here are some steps you can take to really clean your washing machine:
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Take out the soap box and clean it.
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Set the washer to hot and add white vinegar. This will break up any buildup.
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After that, do a baking soda cycle to get rid of smells.
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Scrub the plastic cap and the filter really well.
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Clean the outside of the machine and let it dry completely.
Not only does deep cleaning get rid of mold and bad smells, it also improves the performance of your machine, making it run more efficiently.
How Do You Clean the Inside of a Washing Machine?
The inside of a washing machine can grow bacteria, mold, and mildew, especially in places with a lot of wetness. It is very important to clean the inside of the washing machine so that it stays clean and works well.
How to clean the inside of a washing machine:
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To break down soap residue, start a new hot water cycle with no water in it. Add two cups of white vinegar.
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Put a half-cup of baking soda right into the drum and run another hot water cycle after that.
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Scrub the rubber seal around the door with a cotton cloth that has been dipped in vinegar. Make sure to look for any hiding spots where dirt or mold could grow.
If you clean the inside of your washing machine often, your clothes will smell clean and fresh when they come out.
How to Clean a Washing Machine
A few important parts of your washing machine need to be cleaned: the drum, the soap pump, and the outside. If you keep up with regular maintenance, your washing machine will stay in great shape and always give you clean, fresh clothes.
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To give you a quick idea of how to clean a washing machine:
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To clean the drum, use a hot cycle with vinegar.
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Clean the soap box and the rubber cap.
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To get rid of lint and other junk, clean the filter.
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Clean the outside of the machine to keep it looking brand new.
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Mold won't grow if you leave the door open after every wash.
These steps will help you take care of your machine and make it last longer, so every time you do laundry, it will work at its best.
Run a Hot Cycle with Vinegar
White vinegar is one of the best natural ways to clean your washing machine. It breaks down mineral buildup, soap scum, and detergent waste that can make your washer smell bad and clog it up.
To use vinegar in a hot cycle, do the following:
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You can put two cups of white vinegar in the washing tray or the drum itself.
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Set the machine to the hottest and longest run that it can handle.
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Let the cycle finish so that the vinegar can clean and break down the dirt in the drum.
Your washing machine will stay clean and free of dust as long as you use this hot setting once a month.
Scrub Inside of Washing Machine
Once the hot cycle with vinegar is done, scrub the inside of the washer to get rid of any leftover dirt, especially in places that are hard to get to. A lot of dirt, mold, and soap buildup can be found on the inside of the drum, the rubber seals, and the detergent bins.
Here’s how to clean the inside of your washer:
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In a spray bottle, mix vinegar and water together until they are equal.
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Spray the mix around the rubber rings and inside the drum.
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Scrub these areas with a cotton cloth or an old toothbrush to get rid of any dirt or germs that you can see.
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If you want to get rid of tough stains, put some baking soda on the brush.
Scrubbing your washing machine on a regular basis stops germs from growing and keeps the inside clean.
Clean Washing Machine Exterior
Over time, dust, soap spills, and dirt can build up on the outside of your washing machine. Not only does cleaning the outside keep your laundry room clean, but it also keeps dust and dirt from getting inside the machine.
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To clean the outside of the washing machine, use a microfiber cloth that has been wet with white vinegar and water.
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Pay close attention to the keys, control panel, and any other places where dirt or dust could gather.
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If you need to, you can use a toothbrush to clean around things that are hard to reach, like the laundry box or buttons.
By keeping the outside clean, you can keep your laundry machine looking nice and keeping it clean.
Prevent Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew like warm, damp places, which means that your washing machine could be a good place for them to grow. Mold and mildew must be stopped in order to keep the laundry room healthy and odor-free.
Here are some ways to keep mold and mildew away:
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After each wash, leave the door open so the machine can get some air.
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To get rid of dirt and moisture, clean the rubber seal often.
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It's important to use the right amount of soap because too much can leave behind a film that mold loves.
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To get rid of mold, run a hot water cycle with vinegar once a month.
If you follow these steps, you can keep your washing machine from smelling bad and putting your health at risk from mold and mildew.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Your Washing Machine
It’s pretty easy to clean your washing machine, but there are a few mistakes that people often make. Stay away from these things to keep your machine in good shape:
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Too much soap use: Too much soap can make your machine dirtier because it leaves behind a film that is tough to rinse off.
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Not getting cleaned every month: To stop buildup and smells, it's important to clean regularly. Do not wait until the machine smells bad to clean it.
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Not drying the machine right: After every wash, leave the door and soap box open so that air can flow through and dry out any water.
Tips for Keeping Your Laundry Machine Fresh Between Cleanings
In addition from deep cleaning it once a month, here are some easy things you can do between uses to keep it clean and fresh:
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For each load, use the right amount of soap. If you use too much soap, it can leave behind a film that helps mold grow.
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Take out the wet clothes right away after each wash so that water doesn't build up in the drum.
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Once a month, use a washing machine cleaner to keep it clean and stop smells from building up.
Conclusion
As part of normal home care, cleaning your washing machine is important to make sure it works well and lasts as long as possible. By doing the easy things listed above, you can keep your washer in great shape and make sure that every load of clothes comes out clean and fresh. If you take good care of your washing machine, it will stay clean, smell-free, and work well for many years.