How to Clean a Washing Machine
Don't neglect cleaning the appliance that gets your clothes clean
Victoria Harrison
2 August 2017
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
How often do you clean your washing machine? If it’s not on your regular household chore list, it could be time to add it. But don’t worry, it’s a quick and easy task that can be done in a few minutes if you follow these simple steps.
Why clean a washing machine?
Although a washing machine’s sole purpose in life is to get clothes clean, sometimes it can use a little help to stay sparklingly spotless and fresh. Bacteria and dirt can build up in a machine over time, causing an unpleasant odour and reducing your machine’s effectiveness. The good news is, it’s easy to remedy this.
Although a washing machine’s sole purpose in life is to get clothes clean, sometimes it can use a little help to stay sparklingly spotless and fresh. Bacteria and dirt can build up in a machine over time, causing an unpleasant odour and reducing your machine’s effectiveness. The good news is, it’s easy to remedy this.
Remove the drawer
To keep on top of detergent build-up, you’ll need to regularly clean out the detergent drawer. And it’s not just excess washing powder that can build up in here – dirt and mould can, too. Remove the drawer according to your machine’s instructions (there’s usually a spring catch to release it) and give it a good scrub in a bowl of hot soapy water. Some drawers can also be taken apart to enable a really thorough clean. Just reassemble the drawer once it is clean and pop it back into the machine.
To keep on top of detergent build-up, you’ll need to regularly clean out the detergent drawer. And it’s not just excess washing powder that can build up in here – dirt and mould can, too. Remove the drawer according to your machine’s instructions (there’s usually a spring catch to release it) and give it a good scrub in a bowl of hot soapy water. Some drawers can also be taken apart to enable a really thorough clean. Just reassemble the drawer once it is clean and pop it back into the machine.
Tackle the door seal
This part of the machine is often forgotten, but it shouldn’t be as dirt and mould can build up in the rubber seal over time. It’s quick to fix though – just give it a good clean using a damp cloth every few weeks to keep it fresh.
Learn how to defrost a freezer
This part of the machine is often forgotten, but it shouldn’t be as dirt and mould can build up in the rubber seal over time. It’s quick to fix though – just give it a good clean using a damp cloth every few weeks to keep it fresh.
Learn how to defrost a freezer
Run the hot cycle
To give the drum a deep clean, add a cup of vinegar to the drum and run it (empty) on the hot cycle. This will help to disinfect the interior of the machine and wash away any bacteria build-up. Going forward, it’s worth doing this once a month (without the vinegar) to keep your machine gleaming and odour-free.
To give the drum a deep clean, add a cup of vinegar to the drum and run it (empty) on the hot cycle. This will help to disinfect the interior of the machine and wash away any bacteria build-up. Going forward, it’s worth doing this once a month (without the vinegar) to keep your machine gleaming and odour-free.
Leave the door open
If you can do so without causing a trip hazard, leave the door open after a load until the interior of the drum dries out. This will help to prevent mould from building up. The same applies for the detergent drawer.
TELL US
Do you have any household cleaning tips? Let us know in the Comments section.
If you can do so without causing a trip hazard, leave the door open after a load until the interior of the drum dries out. This will help to prevent mould from building up. The same applies for the detergent drawer.
TELL US
Do you have any household cleaning tips? Let us know in the Comments section.
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Did you use malt vinegar by any chance? It tends to have a bad smell. I use spirit vinegar which is pretty much impossible to get in U.K. supermarkets but you can get it as some specialist shops and online. It’s my preferred vinegar for all cleaning jobs, no smell left behind.
Ah guys there are numerous proprietary products in the laundry section of your supermarket - Dettol make one - for cleaning washing machines. They don't leave a smell - they clean your machine and cost about €4. Forget vinegar - I don't care what grade - you're not tossing a salad you're cleaning your washing machine. And don't get all green on me - you use washing powder in your machine or are you putting pumice stones in with your clothes. Apologies for being so dramatic.
Citric acid will do the trick