Your dirtiest and smelliest loads get thrown into your washing machine. How do we keep the machine clean so that we continue to get clean fresh clothes at the end of the cycle?
Simple maintenance and cleaning will keep your washer spinning out clean loads as well as it did the first day. As with all things, if you clean as you go you will prevent a major cleanup job.
It your machine has much buildup and is beyond the point of a simple wipe down you have to start with a thorough cleaning.
Big Job: Interior
* Fill your washer up with hot water for the largest load size.
* Wait until the machine fills with hot water.
* Pour in one gallon of distilled vinegar.
* Let the machine go through its entire cycle.
* If there are any spots remaining, quickly use a soft cloth dipped in vinegar to clean up those remaining spots.
* Allow the washer to refill with hot water and let it once again go through the entire cycle to rinse all traces of vinegar and dirt.
* Use a soft cloth to dry down the interior of the washer.
Exterior:
Most machine exteriors are baked-on enamel. The best cleaning solution is a soft cloth and a mild all-purpose cleaner. Carefully wipe down all surfaces and then polish them dry.
Inside the Lid:
Sometimes the inside lid get soap film and scum buildup in the corners and also in the bleach and/or fabric softener dispenser(s). A mixture of baking soda and vinegar is excellent for eliminating the gunk.
It is now ready to tackle another dirty load.
Prevention (or routine) Cleaning:
Now that you machine is clean let's keep it that way.
* Wipe up any detergent spills and build-up as they occur.
* If something left a lot of solid residue in the machine gather all the pieces and discard them, then take a soft cloth to wipe out the entire interior of the machine.
* When doing a load of dirty towels and wash cloths use one to quickly wipe out the underside of the lid and the dispensers.
* Wipe down the outside as time permits, again using a towel
Prevent or Eliminate Odors:
Keep the lid of the washer open until dry to prevent odors from developing.
If the machine smells sour: Fill the tub as for a load of laundry, pour in a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Let it run through the cycle and then dry the inside of the tub.
Hard water buildup:
If your machine has lime deposits or hard water scales the use of a water softener with each load may solve the problem.
Do these simple steps after each load and never again have a washer that has a buildup of scum or hard water stains.