The Best Way To Clean Your Washing Machine
One centre of the home happens to be the kitchen when it comes to food, which makes everyone happy, and the living room for some happy family time.
But when it comes to cleaning, the washing machine happens to be the centre of activities whenever a thorough cleaning exercise is happening in your home, because it is an essential appliance in any household.
Have you ever experienced a faulty washing machine in your family before? That is a major burden to the smooth running of your domestic routine.
Sometimes, other than when it is newly purchased, it hardly gets any tender love and care from its owners, because once it has rendered its cleaning service, it is abandoned right there until the night time it is needed. Do we make an impressive effort to have it cleaned out to ensure it operates efficiently and effectively?
A machine that cleans clothes is only expected to collect dirt. Grime, dirt and debris are deposited in the washing machine, and when not cleaned and aired enough, can generate and give off odour, which can affect the clothes coming into it, making sense of the question “Can a dirt thing make something clean”? regularly tidying up your washing machine can greatly improve its functionality and extend its lifespan.
As obvious as it seems, people still wonder why a washing machine will require cleaning. This blog post will take you through steps on how to clean your washing machine.
Start with Cleaning The Exterior Of The Washing Machine
- Start With Cleaning The Exterior of the Washing Machine
Cleaning the exterior of your washing machine is a prior step to ensuring your washing machine is cleaned. Use your all-purpose cleaning cloth to wipe down the washing machine, targeting the grime gathering in narrow ends, cleaning the control panel and buttons, noticing if the soap or other substances have settled on it, and attacking its paint.
Clean the detergent dispenser
Clean the detergent dispenser
The regular usage of the detergent dispenser involves having detergent added every time you are about to wash some clothes, and over time this causes it to become clogged with moist detergent that eventually goes dry.
Detach the dispenser from the machine, and wash it in warm water, which eventually becomes soapy because of the deposited detergent, you scrub the dispenser hard, either with a piece of clothing or a toothbrush which reaches the tiny corners.
Remove Lint from your Washing Machine
- Remove Lint from your washing machine
Some washing machines come with their lint trap compartment, while some don’t, as you see them in driers. If yours has got a lint trap, then it could become clogged with lint and other debris deposited by the washed clothes.
It is important to always clear out the lint compartment, to prevent it from clogging. Locate the lint trap, detach and wash it with warm soapy water, dry it up, and attach it right back to the machine, to avoid misplacement.
Clean the drum
- Clean the drum
The drum of your washing machine may also become dirty over time, and it is very understandable why many seem to think it doesn’t need to be cleaned because it cleanses itself while cleaning clothes.
Items from pockets of the clothes could be deposited, and depending on how sandy the wash clothes are, you could visibly see sand deposits inside the drum.
To wash it, pick out the items that are large enough, before adding two cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser, and running the machine on a hot cycle to help remove the visible and non-visible buildup and odour.
Take Immediate Action on moulds
- Take Immediate Action on moulds
When moulds are spotted in your washing machine, immediately eliminate them by mixing one cup of bleach with water, pouring the solution into the drum, and running the washing machine on the hottest possible cycle.
This can be prevented by not always completely shutting your washing machine when not in use.
- Maintain the Washing Machine’s cleanliness
Once you have cleaned your washing machine by running it on the hottest cycle possible, subsequent actions should be to maintain cleanliness in the future by ensuring you wipe down the exterior of the machine regularly, removing the deposited lint and debris from the lint trap compartment after every wash.
Finally, cleaning your washing machine should be a part of your cleaning routine around the house, as this is part of its maintenance that is easily overlooked because it is a cleaning device, so it should somehow clean itself. By adopting the steps listed above, you keep your washing machine running and provide a high standard of cleaning service it was made for.
To extend the lifespan of a washing machine, always prevent excessive build-up and clogging by clearing and cleaning it regularly.
Washing Machine Cleaning Tips:
1. Cleaning Products for Washing Machines
Keeping your washing machine clean helps it stay functional for a long time, and various products are specifically designed for this exact purpose, products such as washing machine cleaners, descaling powders, and multi-purpose cleaners are in existence and being used by families and households.
These products typically target the buildup of limescale for those living in regions with hard water, detergent residues which settle in the machine after wash, and mould which build up when washing machines are not aired enough.
Brands like Affresh, Tide, and OxiClean, offer effective solutions for maintaining your washing machine, be it old or new. Regular use of these products can help prevent odours, improve washing efficiency as well as cleaning, and extend its life.
2. Cleaning Washing Machines with Dishwasher Tablets
The use of dishwasher tablets to clean the washing machine is sincerely a popular and effective method. Simply place one or two tablets in the drum and run a hot cycle. The essence is for the tablets to break down grease, grime, and detergent residue, leaving your machine clean and odourless.
This method is particularly useful for tackling stubborn dirt and buildup, which means if it has been a while since you cleaned your washing machine, this could be an intense, yet significant way to get it back to a good hygienic standard.
It’s a convenient option as dishwasher tablets are readily available in most households, and they do the exact work, except in dishwashers, so it is understandable to do this with your washing machine at a time of insufficiency. lol.????
3. Cleaning Washing Machines with White Vinegar
When you neither have a washing machine tablet, nor a dishwasher tablet, something else to consider, will be that white vinegar. White vinegar is a natural/ eco-friendly cleaning agent that effectively cleans your washing machine. While it may not amaze you like the other products will, it sure does the job.
To use vinegar, pour two cups of white vinegar into the detergent drawer and run a hot cycle without any laundry, remember this is not to clean your clothes but your washing machines.
The vinegar helps to dissolve limescale, remove detergent residue, and eliminate odours. For an extra boost, you can add half a cup of baking soda to the drum during the cycle. This combination enhances the cleaning power for better results.
4. Cleaning Washing Machines with Soda Crystals
Soda crystals are another excellent option for cleaning your washing machine. Add a cup of soda crystals directly into the drum and run an empty hot cycle.
Soda crystals help to break down grease, limescale, and detergent buildup. They are also effective in deodorizing your machine. Regular use of soda crystals can help maintain the cleanliness and efficiency of your washing machine.
5. Cleaning Washing Machines with Bicarbonate of Soda
Bicarbonate of soda, commonly known as baking soda, is a versatile cleaning agent that can be used to clean your washing machine.
Sprinkle a cup of baking soda into the drum and run a hot, empty cycle. Baking soda helps to neutralize odours, remove stains, and dissolve detergent residues. It’s a simple and natural way to keep your washing machine clean and fresh.
6. Cleaning Washing Machines with Vinegar
It is a straightforward process to use vinegar to clean your washing machine is straightforward and highly effective. Pour two cups of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser and run a hot cycle without any clothes.
Vinegar is excellent for breaking down limescale, removing soap scum, and killing mould and mildew. For added cleaning power, you can mix vinegar with baking soda. This method helps maintain a clean and efficient washing machine, ensuring your laundry stays clean.
