Cleaning the inside of Your Washing Machine might seem like a major redundancy, and we get that. After all, isn’t it cleaning itself every time you wash a load of clothes? Not well enough, actually. Because just like bathtubs, showers, and dishwashers, washing machines gradually build up internal deposits of minerals, soap scum, dirt, and grime.
So whether you have a top loader or an HE front loader, it’s a good idea to clean your washing machine at least twice a year. Even more often if you notice your clothes aren’t getting as clean as they used to or you detect an odor from inside your machine.
If you have a top loader:
- Fill the washing machine with hot water as you would for a normal wash cycle, but minus the clothes and detergent. Next, add 4 cups of bleach. Let it agitate for a few minutes and then sit for at least an hour.
- Run the machine through the longest wash cycle.
- Refill with hot water and add 4 cups of distilled white vinegar, then let it stand for another hour.
- Meanwhile, clean the dispensers, doors, knobs, and all other crevices of your washing machine with distilled vinegar. A tooth brush or cotton swab works great for those small, hard to reach places.
- Run your machine through its longest wash cycle once again. Then open it up and you’ll marvel at the results!
If you have a front loader:
- Fill the washing machine with hot water on the largest setting and add 2 cups of distilled white vinegar. Let it run through a complete wash cycle.
- Refill your washer with hot water on the largest load setting and add 2 cups of bleach. Run through a complete wash cycle. (Most front loaders have a clean cycle setting, during which you can add vinegar or bleach).
- Run a final wash cycle without any additives to remove any lingering residue.
- Remove and clean the bleach and fabric softener dispensers in warm, soapy water. Allow to dry, then replace in the machine.
- Mix ½ cup of bleach with ½ gallon of warm water and clean the rubber door seal with a soft cloth. For stubborn mold and mildew, leave the cleaning solution on the seal for at least 5 minutes before wiping.
If after all your clothes still aren’t as clean you like as you were hoping, you might have a hard water problem, and that’s something Norhio Plumbing can help rid your home of once and for all. While we’re at it, our water treatment specialists also can provide you with cleaner and healthier drinking water throughout your home or just at a single location, like your kitchen sink. For more information or a free in-home water quality consultation, contact Norhio Plumbing today.
