Your washing machine diligently cleans your clothes load after load, but who cleans the cleaner? Over time, residues from detergent, fabric softeners, and grime can accumulate, leading to unpleasant odors and potentially affecting the cleanliness of your laundry. Regular maintenance can help keep your washing machine running efficiently and your clothes smelling fresh. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to effectively clean your washing machine, ensuring it stays in top-notch condition.
How To Clean a Washing Machine
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies Before diving into the cleaning process, gather the necessary supplies. You’ll need:
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Microfiber cloth or sponge
- Toothbrush
- Hot water
- Optional: Essential oils (such as lavender or lemon) for a pleasant scent
Step 2: Clean the Exterior Start by unplugging your washing machine to ensure safety. Then, using a damp microfiber cloth or sponge, wipe down the exterior surfaces of the machine, including the control panel, knobs, and door. For stubborn stains or dirt buildup, use a mild detergent solution. Remember to dry the surfaces thoroughly to prevent water damage.
Step 3: Clean the Dispenser Drawers Remove the detergent and fabric softener dispenser drawers from the washing machine. Wash them in warm, soapy water, scrubbing away any residue or mold with a toothbrush. Rinse the drawers thoroughly and allow them to air dry completely before placing them back into the machine.
Step 4: Clean the Drum To clean the interior of the washing machine, start by running a hot water cycle without any laundry or detergent. This helps to loosen any lingering residues and prepare the machine for a deeper clean.
Next, add two cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser or directly into the drum. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and helps to break down mineral deposits and soap scum. Run another hot water cycle.
After the vinegar cycle is complete, sprinkle one cup of baking soda directly into the drum. Baking soda is effective at neutralizing odors and removing stains. Run a final hot water cycle to complete the cleaning process.
Step 5: Wipe Down the Door Seal and Drum While the drum is still damp, use a microfiber cloth or sponge to wipe down the door seal and inner drum. Pay close attention to any crevices or folds where dirt and grime may accumulate. If mold or mildew is present, mix equal parts of water and vinegar and use a toothbrush to scrub the affected areas.
Step 6: Air Out the Machine After completing the cleaning process, leave the washing machine door open for a few hours to allow air to circulate and dry out any remaining moisture. This helps prevent mold and mildew growth and keeps your machine smelling fresh.
Step 7: Maintain Regular Cleaning To keep your washing machine running smoothly, incorporate regular cleaning into your household routine. Aim to clean the machine at least once a month, or more frequently if you notice any odors or buildup.
How To Clean a Front Load Washing Machine:
Front load washing machines are relatively new on the home appliance market plus have rapidly accumulated popularity for their efficiency plus cleaning abilities.
Despite all the advantages they have to offer consumers, there’s one common complaint which seems to plague owners: stinky laundry. The main culprit is the interior rubber lining.
Wiping down the interior of the washer together with cleaner, using additional detergent or performing everything on the longest, latest cycle does absolutely nothing to help dissipate the scent.
Nevertheless, one simple cleaning task won’t only get rid of the issue, it’ll keep your washer in tip best condition. HE washers use less water plus less energy, that in turn, contributes to more mildew, mold, detergent residue plus buildup in your washer.
1.To clean the drum, pour 1/3 cup of baking soda into the machine. Pour 2 cups of vinegar into the detergent tray. Run your cycle. These two agents will complement one another and clean your machine.
2.At the end of the cycle, wipe the interior rubber liner to remove any debris. Do this routinely to keep it odor-free.
3.Leave the door open to let it air dry after each cycle. You may even want to wipe the glass door dry to prevent mildew. This step goes a long way in preventing odor. You never want to trap moisture inside an appliance for a long time. That will lead to more odor.
A clean washing machine not only ensures the longevity of your appliance but also helps maintain the freshness and cleanliness of your laundry. By following these simple steps, you can keep your washing machine in top condition and enjoy fresh-smelling clothes with every wash. Regular maintenance is key to a hassle-free laundry experience, so don’t forget to give your washing machine the attention it deserves.
I hope this information on How To Clean a Washing Machine has been beneficial to you. If you’d like to learn more about how to clean everything in your home, subscribe to my site for regular updates and cleaning hacks.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores? Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price.
Need to deep clean? I have lists for you to guide you along.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.
Also, to keep up the general housework, you may need to create a daily housekeeping schedule that suits your specific needs. To do so, I have created a helpful series you can read here.
Need some Inspiration to Declutter? Join us for the Year Long Through Declutter Series by subscribing by email below. To subscribe, leave a comment below.
The Year Long Thorough Declutter Series is designed to help you declutter every room and every space in your home. It includes daily tasks, so you can track your progress. We declutter 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. It also includes detailed lists to declutter each room and each space within your home. Subscribe below to receive your daily task. You can sign up here.
Looking for a “Declutter Your Home” checklist? Read more below.
If you are asking: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? You need a basic routine to maintain it once it’s clean. Specifically, to keep up the general housework, you need to create a daily housekeeping schedule that suits your specific needs. To do so, I have created a helpful series you can read here.
Complete Home Declutter (tasks you can do in 30 minutes): Follow each room-by-room “declutter your home” checklist below
I have declutter checklists for every room and every space in your home to guide you along below. What is the best way to declutter? Follow my “Declutter Your Home” checklists to get you started.
Need “Declutter Your Home” checklists for each room? Read more below.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
How to Declutter the Guest Room or Your Kid’s Room checklist can be found here.
Also, my How to Declutter Your Laundry Room and Patio checklist is found here.
My How to Declutter Your Coat Closet/Hall Closet/Linen Closet checklist can be found here.
Next, you can find my How to Declutter Your Home Office checklist here.
Find my How to Declutter Your Attic checklist by clicking here.
The How to Declutter Your Garage checklist can be found here.
My How to Declutter Your Living Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Kitchen Checklist can be found here.
The How to Declutter Your Entry/Foyer/Mudroom checklist can be found here.
My How to Declutter Your Clothing checklist can be found here.
Also, a How to Declutter Your Bedroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bathroom checklist can be found here.
Happy Decluttering!
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New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:
Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. If you don’t have a calendar, you can grab my free weekly printable calendar page here. It is in my shopify store, but it is totally free, so you won’t be prompted to put in any payment information. It is a free download and will be delivered straight to your email.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you often ask: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Or, if you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.
Step 3: How do you remove clutter?.…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.”Declutter Your Home” checklists are provided in each email.
Step 4: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer and use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered.
Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.
Check out the most popular posts on deemiddleton.com:
14 Things That Make Your Home Look Cluttered
How to Create a Daily Housekeeping Schedule
How to Clean House When You Are Completely Overwhelmed By Clutter
What is Preventing You From Getting Organized?
Also, check out a great post on decluttering over here from becomingminimalist.com. Joshua Becker has some great tips on decluttering and minimalism.
For further reading, check out the fly lady here. She has some great cleaning and kitchen decluttering ideas plus excellent organization tips to get you started.
I hope you have benefitted from my post on HOW TO CLEAN A WASHING MACHINE. Leave a comment below to subscribe to my daily declutter task email series.
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