If you want your clothes clean and smelling fresh, you need to make sure your washing machine isn’t grimy. So let’s look at the best ways on how to clean a washing machine.

Washing detergent and minerals from the laundry water can cause a build-up of muck within your washing machine, which you may not be able to see. In addition, your washing machine door or lid is the perfect damp breeding ground for mould.

It’s recommended that you give your washing machine a good clean every six months or so. Simply follow these easy steps to sanitise your machine.

How to clean a washing machine: FRONT LOADER

Ingredients:

Baking soda
White vinegar

Utensils:

Spray bottle
Microfibre cloth

Method:

Unplug the washing machine from its power source
Decant some vinegar into your spray bottle

Clean The Gasket
Spray the rubber door gasket with the white vinegar and then wipe it down with a damp microfibre cloth.
Ensure to wipe underneath the rubber and all around it as well. Be prepared for some slime and gunk, hair and mould.

Clean the Detergent Dispensers
Remove the detergent dispensers and give them a good clean. If they don’t come out, just scrub them as best you can. You can use an old toothbrush or pipe cleaner to get to those hard to reach spots.

Run Cleaning Cycle
Then, add two cups of white cleaning vinegar to the detergent dispenser.
Run an empty wash cycle on the longest, hottest water setting. If you have a drum cleaning cycle, pick this option.

Then run another cycle on the highest level and at the hottest water temperature, this time adding one-half cup of baking soda directly into the drum.

When the second cycle is complete, wipe the inside drum of the machine with a damp microfibre cloth.
Don’t forget to clean the front of the machine as well.

How to clean a washing machine: TOP LOADER

Ingredients:

White vinegar
Baking soda

Utensils:

Microfibre cloth
Toothbrush

Method:

Add four cups of white vinegar to the inside of the washing machine.
Set the machine to the highest level and the hottest setting.

Then, once the cycle has started, pause the machine and let it sit for one hour.

You can use this time to wipe down the top of the machine with a microfibre cloth dunked in the hot vinegar water.
You can also make use of an old toothbrush to clean the fabric softener and bleach dispensers.

Once an hour has gone by, you can then unpause and continue with the washing cycle.

Once that cycle has finished, run another full cycle, adding one cup of baking soda to the machine.

When the second cycle is complete. wipe the inside and top of the machine tub with a microfibre cloth to remove any scum.

Top tip: Leave the washing machine lid or door open when not in use. This will help prevent mould and mildew from forming.

Last Resort

If you’ve followed these tips on how to clean a washing machine and it still smells, you may have mould growing behind the drum, or possibly a blocked filter. It’s best to call in a qualified repair person so that they can investigate and if necessary dismantle the machine to give it a proper clean.

Do you ever clean your washing machine? Share your tips on how to clean a washing machine in the comments below.