Ever thought that your washing machine would clean by itself when you wash the clothes in it. Then you are wrong! Just like your clothes, your washing machine also needs cleaning to provide squeaky clean clothes the next time you wash.
The dirty soil, detergent, hard water minerals, moulds and mildews can build up in the washing machine after washing your clothes. So it is necessary to clean the washing machine once every month to make it fresh and clean.
Here we’ll show you how to clean both front load washing machine and top load washing machine with vinegar and baking soda to bring them back into their pristine condition.
How to clean front load washing machine
Required cleaning supplies
Step 1
Add white vinegar to a spray bottle and spray it on the rubber gasket. Wipe all around with a damp microfiber cloth. The rubber gasket in the front load washing machine is prone to accumulate water, hair, mould and mildew.
Step 2
Add two cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser and set the washing machine to run the longest cycle with the hottest water temperature. Wait for the cycle to finish.
Step 3
Now add a half cup of baking soda directly into the drum and run another cycle by selecting the longest cycle with the hottest water temperature.
Step 4
When the cycle is complete, wipe the drum with a damp microfiber cloth. Spray the vinegar on the microfiber cloth and clean the outside and inside of the door.
Step 5
Leave the door ajar to keep the mould and mildew away and let the washing machine to dry.
How to clean top load washing machine
Required cleaning supplies
Step 1
Set the washing machine to run the longest wash cycle and hottest water temperature. Add four cups of white vinegar and start the cycle.
Step 2
Once the cycle starts, pause the machine and allow it to sit for an hour.
Step 3
While you wait, you can wipe down the top of the washing machine and inside and outside of the lid with a microfiber cloth and vinegar.
Step 4
The fabric softener and detergent dispenser can be scrubbed with a toothbrush to make them fresh and clean.
Step 5
Run the wash cycle after an hour.
Step 6
Once the cycle is complete, add one cup of baking soda and run another wash cycle with the longest duration and hottest water temperature.
Step 7
Once the cycle ends, wipe the top inside of the washing tub with a microfiber cloth.
Step 8
Leave the lid open until its dry, or else you can dry it with a dry microfiber cloth.
Now your washing machine is ready to clean the next load of laundry.
Bonus cleaning tips to keep your washing machine fresh and clean
- Leave the lid open or door open to dry the inside of the washing machine and prevent the formation of mould and mildew.
- Empty the machine as soon as the cycle ends to prevent the formation of any musty odour.
- If your washing machine has a lint filter, then make sure to clean it frequently.
- Only use the required amount of detergent to wash clothes. Over usage can cause damage to the machine.
- Do not overload the washing machine with clothes as it wouldn’t clean the clothes efficiently and cause unnecessary wear down to your machine.
- Check the hoses periodically for any obstructions. There could be a filter to separate the water from sand or dirt. But the sand and dirt can build up in the filter and prevents your washing machine from getting enough water for washing the clothes.