However, because they’re so effective, it can be easy to forget that washing machines need to be occasionally cleaned out by hand. Without proper maintenance, washing machines can become breeding grounds for bacteria and mould. But how are you supposed to clean out a washing machine? What areas are you meant to target?
Want to keep your handy washing machine working for a number of years to come? In this article, we’ll highlight some of the most effective ways to clean your washing machine. So that your clothes can always smell their best!
How Do You Clean A Washing Machine?
Perform A Short Cleaning Cycle
Luckily, you may be relieved to hear that cleaning your washing machine is very simple. Most modern washing machines offer users the option to run a short cleaning cycle. This short cycle is designed to fill the empty drum with a small amount of water, alongside some bleach. This kills bacteria and germs and helps to cut away at stubborn grime and dirt.
We recommend taking a look at the user manual for your specific washing machine model. You want to ensure that there is an available cleaning cycle, and to find out how long it takes to elapse. Simply follow the instructions in the user manual to perform a basic cleaning cycle.
Cleaning a washing machine is pleasantly simple! For basic maintenance, simply set the cleaning cycle to work, allow the drum to be refreshed, and then give it a once-over by hand! It should only take a few minutes!
If your washing machine does not provide access to a cleaning cycle, don’t fret. It’s still very easy to achieve the desired effect. What you will need to do is grab either some bleach or white vinegar and baking soda, and pour around half a cup’s worth into the dispenser drawer. Never mix white vinegar and bleach. From here, all you need to do is run a very basic wash at a high temperature over 60 degrees. Higher temperatures are great at killing bacteria, germs, and mould.
Once the cycle is finished, your drum should now look just like new! At this point we would recommend taking a closer look at the drum personally, to see if there are any small pockets of grease or detergent residue. Bleach and vinegar are great at washing away bacteria and germs, but you’ll need to inspect the drum afterwards to ensure it hasn’t left anything behind!
Wash The Dispenser
Very often, people will spend countless hours cleaning up their washing machines, only to totally neglect the dispenser drawer! It’s understandable why this happens. After all, the dispenser is ordinarily filled with bleach and other cleaning products. How could it possibly become dirty? However, it’s important to remember that small remnants of cleaning products can be left behind with every wash.
It’s really easy to neglect the dispenser drawer when cleaning your washing machine. To ensure your clothes come out smelling great, be sure to clean the dispenser drawer as often as possible!
Pull out the dispenser drawer, and you might notice a few small pockets of dirt built up in the various corners. At this point, you’ll want to grab an old toothbrush, and carefully scrub away at the affected areas with warm water and a bit of soap. Once you’ve given it a good once-over, leave it to air-dry before placing it back into the machine. This helps to prevent the build-up of mould and mildew.
Clean The Door Seal
The door seal of your washing machine plays a key role in preventing water from escaping your washing machine while in use. However, these unsung heroes can very easily collect dirt and grime, and become hives of bacteria and mould.
Washing machine door seals usually have a number of folds, so you should make sure to carefully inspect every inch.
Grab a simple cloth, and dip it into warm water mixed with soap. Take the cloth and carefully wipe down the entire surface of the door seal. You may find a few snagged hairs or other pockets of fabric that have become stuck in the door seal. You might initially gag but don’t worry, it’s very normal to find these building up in the seal!
Once you have finished wiping down the seal, simply leave the door of the washing machine slightly ajar for a while, to allow the seal to air dry.
We strongly recommend leaving the door of your washing machine open slightly after every single wash. This allows the entire unit to air dry. This really effectively helps to prevent mould from building up.
Clean The Filter!
An improperly maintained filter can very quickly lead to laundry that has an unusual and strong odour. The filter is designed to catch small bits of debris and dirt that can get dragged into the machine alongside your laundry.
Items caught by the filter are sent down to the drain tube, where they very often sit in many people’s washing machines for months at a time. In order to clear out the filter, you’ll have to open up the drain tube. Before doing this, be sure to check the user manual of your washing machine, so you can be sure to do it safely and correctly.
Be warned that opening the drain tube will cause some amount of water to be released. This water might smell a bit strong, as it will be full of debris that has been caught by the filter. Catch this water in a bowl, and simply dispose of it once the tube has drained. Once the tube has drained, pull out offending debris, and rinse it over with a small cloth.
It’s recommended to check the drain tube at least once a month, to make the job of draining it a lot easier!
How Many Times A Year Should You Clean Your Washing Machine?
If you want your washing machine to perform at its best at all times, we strongly recommend that you clean it out once a month. Not only will this help to extend the life of the washing machine, but it will also ensure that your clothes don’t come out smelling odd!
Luckily, if you clean out your washing machine monthly, the job will be incredibly simple. There will be very little dirt and grime build-up, so you should only need to spend a few minutes cleaning all of the key areas.
Be sure to keep an eye on the drain tube, so that smelly water doesn’t build up inside it and permeate into the central drum!
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Washing Machine?
If you were to go without cleaning your washing machine for a prolonged period of time, there are a number of problems that you may encounter!
Unusual Smells
What’s the point of a washing machine if your laundry is going to come out smelling odd after every cycle? Insufficient cleaning of your washing machine can very quickly lead to this problem.
Though washing machines use water and cleaning products, they are still susceptible to dirt and grime build-ups. Whether that be small pockets of detergent hiding on the drum, or piles of dirt gathering beneath the filter. Pockets of dirt and grime will naturally emit smells. These smells will very quickly attach themselves to your clothes if left unattended.
Improper Function
Dirt and grime can very easily build up in all corners of your washing machine. If you were to allow a significant amount of dirt and grime to build up in your washing machine, it would quickly become out of control. In no time, dirt and grime will begin attacking important components and impacting the function of the entire machine!
Washing machines aren’t exactly cheap, so you’ll want to do your best to stave off totally preventable damage wherever possible. Cleaning your washing machine regularly helps it to last much longer!
Spread Of Sickness!
Perhaps most striking of all; leaving a washing machine uncleaned can very easily lead to illness! Washing machines can very easily be perfect breeding grounds for bacteria, mould, and viruses. The moist and warm environment is perfect for these intrusive bugs.
Leaving these pesky bugs to propagate in your washing machine can very easily put your health at risk!
Every time you place your laundry into a dirty washing machine, you risk bacteria and viruses latching themselves onto your fabrics. If these fabrics were to be worn or used by an immunocompromised individual, their health could be put at risk!
It’s also important to note that bacteria, germs, and viruses can still spread even within a clean washing machine. Heavily used fabrics, such as underwear, towels, or bed linens often accumulate heavy pockets of bacteria. In order to clean these out effectively, you’ll need to wash them at high temperatures that can kill off bacteria. We’d recommend against washing such fabrics alongside more ordinary fabrics like T-shirts or trousers!
Is Bleach Or Vinegar Better To Clean A Washing Machine?
When cleaning your washing machine, you have the option to either use white vinegar mixed with baking soda, or specialised bleach. It’s important to note that both are incredibly effective at cleaning your washing machine. Feel free to use whichever option appeals most to you.
However, we must once again impart how important it is to NEVER try both white vinegar and bleach at the same time. Mixing these two together can result in chlorine gas, which is incredibly lethal.
White vinegar is a much more economical option, and it is much better for the environment. If you want to save money and protect the planet, we recommend using white vinegar to clean out your washing machine.
How To Prolong The Life Of Your Washing Machine?
There are a number of ways that you can prolong the life of your washing machine, but the best way is to simply stay on top of its maintenance!
Be sure to clean your washing machine every month. Check for pockets of dirt and grime that could latch onto your clothes and leave them looking worse than when you put them in the machine! Make sure to also keep an eye out for pockets of mould and mildew. These can prove incredibly damaging to your clothes and your health if left unchecked!
Whenever you finish a washing cycle, be sure to leave the door slightly ajar, to allow the unit to air out. This helps to prevent mould and mildew from developing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Clean A Washing Machine?
Cleaning a washing machine is important for helping it to perform at its best for many years to come. The most effective way to do it is to start a short cleaning cycle, with a bit of white vinegar or bleach. Once the cycle is complete, simply wipe the drum down, wipe the door seal, and check the dispenser drawer for dirt!
Should I Clean The Inside Of My Washing Machine?
It can be easy to assume because washing machines are responsible for cleaning you won’t ever need to clean inside of them. However, if you want your washing machine to last, and not stain your clothes, you need to clean inside of them. You should aim to clean the inside of your washing machine at least once a month.
Should I Run My Washing Machine Empty For A Clean?
Absolutely. The best way to clean a washing machine is to run a simple hot cycle with nothing inserted in the central drum. Add some bleach or white vinegar (never both) to the dispenser drawer, and allow the water to clean the drum extensively! After the cycle is finished, you may want to wipe the drum by hand.
Will A Hot Wash Clean My Washing Machine?
Definitely! Whenever you want to clean out the drum of your washing machine, you should use hot water. Hot water, above 60 degrees is perfectly suited to killing bacteria and viruses. Hot water should also be used when washing things such as underwear, bed linens or towels, to remove germs from the fabrics!
