How to Clean a Washing Machine
You need a washing machine to clean all your clothes and have them smelling clean, so have you ever thought about what it takes to keep the actual machine clean? Cleaning a washing machine is important as a poorly-cleaned one can actually affect your clothes! Here’s how to get started with cleaning a washing machine.
Top Load Washing Machine
Tools
Water
3-4 cups distilled white vinegar
1/2 cup baking soda
Procedure
Drain your washing machine of all water.
washing machine
Run the washing machine to full using hot water.
As soon as the washing machine begins to agitate, add the distilled white vinegar, followed by the baking soda.
Let the washing machine agitate some more for a few more minutes before turning it off. Let the water sit in the washing machine anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour.
Restart the machine and let it complete a whole wash cycle.
When the wash cycle ends, the washing machine will begin to drain. Advance the washing machine to a spin cycle to allow further cleaning. However, since some washing machines don’t allow spinning while draining, you can simply just let your washing machine drain.
Get a piece of clean cloth and soak it in a solution of one part hot water and one part distilled white vinegar. Used the cloth to wipe the inside of the washing machine and its parts, which includes the blades of the agitator, the top of the tub under the lid and the bottom part.
Removable parts can be removed, cleaned separately, dried and replaced back in their original places.
Front Load Washing Machine
Tools
Distilled white vinegar
Soft clean cloth
Procedure
Fill the washing machine with water and a cup of distilled white vinegar. Run a a long wash cycle.
When the cycle is finished, drain the washing machine completely.
Get a soft, clean cloth. Soak it in a solution that’s one part distilled white vinegar, one part warm water. Use the soaked cloth to wipe clean the interiors, door gasket, seals and the bottom of the washing machine.
Rinse the same portions of the washing machine to clear them of vinegar.
Leave the door slightly open to let the interior of the washing machine dry.
Repeat cleaning the front load washing machine at least once a month.