Even though your washing machine is constantly running water and detergent through its interior as it cleans your clothes and linens, your machine can often become dirty with mildew and residue from detergent. This can cause your machine to work less efficiently. Here are some tips to help you clean the interior of your washing machine so it can clean your dirty laundry.
Clean Your Top-Loader
If your washing machine loads from the top, it is not as air-tight as a front loader machine, but it can still get a build-up of mildew and other residues. Mildew is especially adept at growing within the hoses and drain pump. You can clean your washer a couple times each year to keep its interior free of build-up and soap scum.
Start your washing machine on a large wash cycle with hot water to fill the drum with as much water as possible. Add approximately one quart of bleach into the water and let it agitate around inside the drum for a few minutes. Stop the machine by lifting the lid or pausing the cycle and allow it to sit for an hour with the bleach and water inside the drum. Let the cycle finish and the water drain from the machine while you wipe off residues from on and around the lid, around and inside the detergent, fabric softener, and bleach wells. Use a rag and vinegar to clean these areas.
Bleach will kill any mildew and mold growing inside your machine and any bacteria that has managed to survive inside your machine. Mildew and bacteria can cause your clothes to come out of your washer smelling worse than when you put them into the machine.
Repeat the same hot water cycle but add one quart of white vinegar into the machine, letting it agitate for a few minutes, and letting it sit for an hour. The vinegar will dissolve any hard water deposits inside the machine and can also remove soap scum buildup.
Clean Your Front-Loader
To clean your front loader washing machine, you can also use vinegar and bleach, but you will need to add each solution into the machine's detergent and fabric softener wells. And you can only add as much as the wells allow. Run a full cycle with hot water for the bleach and vinegar, separately.
After your machine has completed both cycles, open the front door and wipe down the rubber gasket inside the machine's opening. You will also need to lift up the rubber seal and wipe off the underside of this area. The rubber material can attract debris from your clothes. Use a cloth and white vinegar to clean the rubber seal. You may find small articles down inside this rubber seal that were left inside clothing during wash cycles. This area can also be a collection site for mold, mildew, and dirt from washes.
Then, to avoid mildew growth inside your front loading machine, be sure to leave the door open after each wash cycle. This will allow the interior to dry completely and will prevent mildew smells from getting into your clean laundry.
Use these tips to help you keep your washing machine clean and working well. However, if you continue to have problems, contact a professional who handles washer repair.
Share22 May 2017
Hello, my name is Kendall Nolan and you've arrived at my blog that will tell you all about appliances and appliance services. When I built a new home, I had to purchase new appliances for the house. I wanted to make sure that I chose the best appliances for my money, so I did months of research before I bought them. I looked at online reviews, spoke with friends and family, and even talked to several appliance technicians to find out which appliances were the best. I also checked out appliance services in my area to ensure they performed appliance maintenance. If you need to know anything about appliances or appliance services, you'll learn what you need to know in my blog. After learning all the answers to my questions, I was able to choose the appliances that worked the best for me.