How to make your laundry machine fresh and clean

Your step-by-step guide to keeping your washing machine clean

You will be exposed to germs, foul odours, mould, and bacteria if you do not learn how to clean a washing machine.

What causes washing machines to become so filthy?

Fabric softeners and laundry detergents adhere to the inside of the washing machine, while mould and mildew thrive in the hot, humid Australian climate.

Furthermore, your washer acquires dirt after each wash, with the majority of the dirt and grime adhering to the rubber corners of the seals. The seal remains moist, and any dirt that remains causes mould to grow. Don't wait for terrible odours or stains on your clothes to indicate that your washer needs to be cleaned.

How to clean your washing machine

We'll show you how to clean your washing machine to keep it running at its best.

1. Begin by replacing the door seals and gaskets.

Place some cloths on the gasket cavities after soaking them in white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Allow the white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to remove the grease or mould and disinfect the area for about an hour. To remove any residue, wipe the gaskets and door seals with a toothbrush.

Rinse well. After cleaning the gasket, fill the washer with water and put it to the extended cycle, heaviest load, and hottest setting.

2. Pour baking soda and vinegar into the drum or detergent drawer.

Combine one litre of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda in a mixing bowl. Instead of vinegar and baking soda, you can use chlorine bleach, enzyme detergent, citric acid, hydrogen peroxide, or oxygen bleach.

Start the wash cycle with the vinegar in the detergent drawer and the baking soda in the softener drawer if you're cleaning a front-loader.

Allow the water to run for a few minutes before adding the vinegar and baking soda if you have a top-loader. Allow the machine to run for approximately a minute to combine the two components, then turn it off for an hour. After an hour of soaking, finish the washing cycle.

3. Continue the washing cycle.

While the washing cycle is running, clean the outside of the washing machine with a soft cloth soaked in vinegar.

4. Repeat the hot water cycle.

Repeat the process, but this time with hot water. Any residual residue is cleaned up with hot water and a dash of vinegar.

When the cycle is finished, leave the door open to allow the drum to dry and prevent mildew from forming.

5. Make sure all of the components are clean.

Although this step is optional, why would you want to leave the other components dirty? While you're at it, clean the entire gadget!

Clean the interior of the lid with one of the vinegar-soaked cloths. Grab a toothbrush and dig into the corners and crevices that are difficult to reach. Don't forget about the tub's rim and the top edges. If you're cleaning a top-loading washer, don't forget to clean the agitator.

Finally, wipe the outside of the machine with a damp towel to make it as gleaming as it is on the inside.

Cleaning a washing machine with five different ways and chemicals

Baking soda and apple cider vinegar These two substances are the most commonly used at home to clean a washing machine. One litre of vinegar, half a cup of baking soda, and 90°C water on a long washing cycle are all you need for this process. To maintain your washer smelling clean and fresh, use baking soda and vinegar to dissolve any limescale. The main disadvantage of these two substances is that the mixture is moderate and does not completely remove mould. If your washing machine is unclean from washing soiled clothes, you'll require more powerful cleaning solutions.

Oxygen bleach and enzyme detergent Choose a powdered enzyme detergent with the greatest grease-eating enzymes over a liquid enzyme detergent. Add the two and select the biggest load option with the water set at 90 oC. The enzyme detergent and oxygen bleach clean the inside of your washing machine and eliminate any sticky residue.

Citric acid is a type of acid that is found in citrus fruits Citric acid is a natural and powerful cleaning solution that can be used to remove soap scum, limescale, unpleasant odours, and any other buildup from inside the washer. Set the water temperature to 90 degrees Celsius and combine one cup of citric acid with half a cup of baking soda.

Peroxide (H2O2). This chemical is a highly effective mould, limescale, bacterium, and virus remover for washing machines. Fill a long wash cycle with one litre of hydrogen peroxide and 90 degrees Celsius of water. To get the greatest benefits, soak it for around three hours. For front-loading washing machines, you'll have to repeat the operation a few times.

Bleach with chlorine. This is the most effective cleaning solution for foul odours, but it can only be used with cold or warm water set at 40 degrees Celsius. When using chlorine bleach, keep in mind that it can permeate porous surfaces like porcelain or the plastic inner drums of your washer. Chlorine bleach is similarly ineffective at removing limescale and mould.

How to clean the washing machine's other components

The tub rims should be cleaned. Clean the aperture of the washing machine with a towel soaked in white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, especially between the upper borders and the rub rim. Make sure you get into those difficult-to-reach places.

Organizing the detergent cabinet. Remove the detergent drawer from a front-loading machine and soak it in hot water. Remove any mould or debris with a toothbrush. Before reassembling the drawer, give it a thorough cleaning and allow it to dry. Remember to clean the area where the detergent drawer is located, as it may contain mould and residue. The detergent drawer can be removed according to the directions in the manual.

The filter must be cleaned. Cleaning the drum and other elements of the washing machine removes foul odours, but you must also clean the filter to keep the washer in good working order. The filter door is located at the front and bottom of the washing machine if it is a front-loading unit. The filter for a top-loading washer is located inside the fabric softener drawer. Place a towel under the front loader's door and a shallow dish on top to collect the water once you've reached the filter. Allow the water to accumulate in the bowl by unscrewing the filter cap. Soak the filter in soapy water for a few minutes and then brush away any residue with a toothbrush.

How to clean and sanitise your washing machine

A clean washing machine smells great, and so do your clothes. If your machine emits an odour, it's because you've allowed residue to accumulate inside. Here's how to keep your washer in good working order.

Don't use too much detergent. Excess detergent in the laundry causes it to build up. Dosing instructions should be found on the box.

Do not put soiled clothes in the washing machine; instead, rinse them to remove the grime.

Use the tablets in your machine or a water softener linked to your in-flow pipe to prevent limescale build-up.

Allow the drum to dry out by leaving the door open after each washing cycle; this is a simple technique to avoid mould growth. If you have a front-loading washer, make sure the detergent drawer is also open.

To get rid of any concealed build-up, run an empty hot wash at least twice a month.

You might not be able to get all of the filth, mould, and residue out the first time if your washing machine is in bad shape. To achieve the optimal results, you may need to clean the washer up to six times at home.

For many people, this is too much labour, and it's time to enlist the help of professional cleaners. A professional cleaner will treat your washer with the gentle loving care it requires.

Say Goodbye to Mold & Bacteria The Natural Way!