Everything needs cleaning from time to time, even the machines we use to clean with! The washing machine can quickly build up dirt and grime, causing a foul odor if not cleaned regularly. These odors can transfer to your clothing and the problem snowballs. Cleaning your machine regularly will help to keep it fresh and ready for use.
Table of Contents:
What You Will Need
- Lemon Juice, Lime Juice or Vinegar
- Borax
- Spray Cleaner
- Paper Towels
- Q-tips
- Bucket
- Vacuum with hose attachment
Important Safety Tip: Before attempting to clean your washing machine, it is important to UNPLUG YOUR MACHINE. NEVER attempt to clean your washing machine when it is still plugged in as you run the risk of electrocution!
Cleaning the Washing Machine:
- Start by using the spray cleaner and paper towels to wipe down the top, front, and sides of the washing machine. This step alone makes a big difference in the appearance of your machine.
- Next, we will work on cleaning out the inside of the machine.
- Spray some cleaner onto a couple of paper towels and use it to wipe down the underside of the lid, and under the lip of the washer.
- Now it’s time to clean the basin of the washer. Fortunately, the machine will do most of the work for you. You will need to run several cycles to get the machine completely clean.
- Begin by filling the washing machine using the hot water and largest load setting.
- Add 2 cups of lemon or lime juice if you have rust problems or 2 cups of vinegar for odor problems. If you have both problems, run a cycle of each.
- Allow the washing machine to run through a complete wash and rinse cycle.
- Fill the washer a second time with hot water on the largest load setting.
- Add 2 cups of bleach to the water. This will aid in stain removal.
- Allow the washing machine to run through a complete wash and rinse cycle.
- If all of the stains are removed, run an additional cycle without adding anything to the water. This will allow any remaining residue to be rinsed away thoroughly.
- Remove the bleach dispenser and fabric softener dispenser and soak them in a bucket of warm water.
- When they have soaked long enough to loosen most of the build-up, remove them from the water and lay them on a paper towel.
- Spray them with the spray cleaner and wipe away any dirt using the paper towels. Use Q-tips to remove dirt from corners and tight areas.
- Dry the dispensers and return them to their original places in the machine.
- Use the vacuum with the hose attachment to vacuum all around and under the washing machine. A large amount of dust tends to accumulate behind the washer and dryer, so take extra care in vacuuming all the dirt away, especially from cords and electrical outlet areas. This not only makes it cleaner, it helps to alleviate a possible fire hazard.
- This is a good time to check the hoses and make sure they are securely attached. If not, you may be mopping the floor soon too!
Additional Tips and Advice:
- If you have stubborn stains on the inside of your machine, there are cleaning products designed for washing machines that are available at most hardware and home improvement stores.
- If your clothes have picked up the odor from your machine, wash them with a cup of borax.
- Front loading washers tend get a build-up over time that leads to unpleasant odors. There are natural cleaners available to remove the fungus and get rid of the odor. However, to keep it away, you may need to change your detergent and/or fabric softener.
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In your article, “How To Clean A Washing Machine”, you suggest adding 2 cups of vinegar to help eliminate odor. Is this safe for front loaded HE washers? Which dispenser should the vinegar be poured into? Your answers would be very much appreciated. Thanks!
Sorry that this is so late… put the vinegar in the basin ( where the clothes go ) and it should be safe.
Would love instructions on cleaning a front loader. My rim is mildewy and has some kind of slime around it. I try to clean it, bleach it, use vinegar, peroxide……does anyone else have this problem? If I don’t do a load everyday, the next day there is a horrible smell when I run a load! How often should I clean the trap below? Is that part of the problem? Help!!!
My cat suddenly refuses to go into the laundry room wihich is also where her food, water, and litter box are! Looks in that room like there is a snake in there! Perfectly happy just outside the room. The only thing I can find is a sudden increase in amount (and smell) of mildew (black stuff) around the rubber seal of my Neptune front loader. So, we start doing even more to get this stuff off, using all the help sources mentioned here and elsewhere. Keep you posted. Any tips?
Oh my gosh…my clothes are also starting to smell. I lost my job and cleaning lady last May. I had no idea it was my washer. I looked inside of my washer and there is a big black streak of mildew that won’t come off. No one told me that you are suppose to keep the door open to prevent mildew. Thanks for the tip… The black looks nasty and smells nasty. Why doesn’t Neptune use a different material for their inside liner? Duh…….