A household’s mainstay is the washing machine. The best washing machine does its sure magic of turning dirty clothes into clean ones. The washing machine needs some careful loving care, just like any other device in your home. Even the greatest of the greatest washing machines eventually develop internal mold, detergent residue, and dirt. This eventually causes odors, decreases efficiency, and can even lead to damage to the machine.
However, cleaning a washing machine is not that difficult. In this article, we will provide an elaborate step-by-step guide on ‘How to Clean Your Washing Machine’ so that you can use it for a longer period of time.
Why is it Important to Clean Your Washing Machine?
Let us understand the advantages of a clean washing machine:
- Odors: Besides detergent and fabric softener, the residues of dirt and debris gathered inside the washer may provide complete grounds for the growth of bacteria and germs, which finally result in those irritating smell and odour in your washer.
- Efficiency Improved: A better-maintained washing machine works more effectively. Your clothes are cleaner, and your expensive washing machine undergoes less wear and tear.
- Longevity: One of the best tips for cleaning a washer to prevent clogging is through regular care. Regular cleaning will ensure that the mechanical breakdown of parts will be kept at a minimum and will extend the lives of the appliance.
- Less Energy Consumption: Because of the use of washing machine cleaning tips, the machine will execute its operations with less energy. This slowly decreases utility bills over some time.
How to Clean a Washing Machine: A Step-by-Step Explanation
1. Gather Your Cleaning Supplies: Washing Machine Cleaning Tips
You will need simple supplies to begin cleaning your best washing machine. Below are some things you’d need to implement the washing machine cleaning tips.
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Microfiber cloths
- An old toothbrush or small cleaning brush
- A spray bottle
- Bleach (optional)
- Detergent
2. Cleaning the Detergent Dispenser
We often forget detergent dispensers. First of all, with repeated use, detergent and fabric softener leave a residue that tends to be sticky. Regarding the same, let us look at how to clean washing machine in this situation.
Remove the Dispenser: Remove the detergent drawer if your washing machine allows. Most dispensers can be pulled out easily.
Soak & Scrub: Fill the basin with warm water. After that, add a small quantity of white vinegar. Then soak the dispenser for 15-20 minutes (or more). This can help in loosening the residue buildup that is present inside. After washing, scrub the remaining residue with the help of a small or old toothbrush.
Rinse and Dry: Before you reinstall the dispenser, make sure you give it a thorough rinse in warm water and wipe it dry with a microfiber cloth.
3. Cleaning the Drum: How to Care for Your Washing Machine
However, the drum is the most integral part of a perfect washing machine that needs cleaning to avoid mould, mildew, and even odour from building up.
Vinegar Hot Cycle: Straight into your washing machine drum, fill 2 cups of white vinegar. Vinegar acts as an effective natural cleaner; it will help dissolve all kinds of residue from detergent build-ups and kill bacteria. Run a hot water cycle without clothes in the machine. The hot water with vinegar will do a great job cleaning the drum.
Add Baking Soda: Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the drum after the vinegar cycle. Run another cycle on hot. It will also be effective in being a natural deodoriser, which will help clear off the remaining odours.
Wipe Down Drum: Open the drum, and at the end of a complete cycle, wipe down interior surfaces with a microfiber cloth to remove residual residue.
4. Cleaning of the door seal of the best washing machine.
During the use of a front-loading washing machine, a lot of moisture gets accumulated apart from the dirt & detergent around the rubber seal of the doors. Trust us, your washing machine might be a feeding ground for the mould and mildew.
Check and clean the area: Gently pull back the rubber gasket to check for debris or mildew. Lightly clean off visible dirt with a damp cloth.
Vinegar Mold Attack: If you see mould, give those areas a good spritzing with equal water and white vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes. After 10-15 minutes, scrub softly with a small brush.
Dry Thoroughly: We highly recommend you wipe the seal with a dry cloth. This will ensure that it is as dry as bone to prevent the mould from continuing to grow.
5. Cleaning the Filter: How should a washing machine best be cleaned?
This filter catches a lot of lint, small pieces of fabric, and other particles that block the drain. When this filter builds up with too much material accumulated, even the best washing machine cannot do the job it is supposed to.
Locate the Filter: Many machines have it at the bottom front, but this may vary. If you can’t tell, consult your machine manual.
While removing the filter, it is advisable to put a towel or shallow tray beneath it so that the water can drip into it instead of on the floor. Pull out the filter and clean it under running water, brushing if needed.
Reinsert the Filter: If clean, securely put it back into the machine.
6. Exterior Cleaning: How to Maintain a Washing Machine
Your washing machine’s (be it front load or top load) outside will be covered in dust.
Hence, we highly recommend you to utilize a microfiber cloth. First, dampen it with a few drops of mild detergent and then clean the outer surface. Pay close attention to the control panel and the region surrounding the detergent drawer when you wipe the outer surface.
To get streak-free results, spray a little white vinegar on the outside and buff it dry with a cloth.
7. Routine Maintenance: How to Clean the Washing Machine
To ensure the continued upkeep of your washing machine, the following additional maintenance tips are recommended for adherence:
Leave the Door Open: Leaving the door of your washing machine open for several hours after use can be an effective way of ensuring the interior has air and dries off completely; this can inhibit mould growth or mildew.
Clean Monthly: Set it in your schedule once a month to deep clean inside your washing machine.
Proper Detergent: Always use the detergent recommended for your particular machine. For example, high-efficiency machines require high-efficiency detergents. Too much detergent can build up residue in an appliance.
Descaling Your Machine: If you happen to stay in a locality that has hard water, then a descaling agent should be used with your washer every few months. This helps to evade buildup resulting in limescale.
Conclusion: Ways to Clean Washing Machine
A clean washer means fresh and clean laundry, plus an appliance that has been given its due – a longer life. Having followed these expert suggestions, your washing machine will be performing the best it can; with routine cleaning, the machine will always function properly, without any odour you would rather live without. Consequently, you will obtain fresher clothing while conserving significant financial resources that would otherwise be spent purchasing a new washing machine. So, roll up those sleeves and show the poor washing machine a bit of tender loving care; it will reward you with fresher, more efficient laundry.
