How can you clean washing machine

If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Save Pin FB More. Credit: Reed Davis. By Berit Thorkelson and Jessica Bennett. Comments 4 Add Comment. View Comments. May 4, I have been doing laundry for over 7 decades I have always was everything except wool in hot water. I wash silk in the machine. If the manufacturers did a better job of building their machines, we wouldn't have to be playing these "games" now. My last machine lasted over 20 years..

The Whirlpool one I bought last year has to have special cleaner for the inside???? I am less than 5' tall, and practically had to climb in the machine to reach..

March 12, Now that you know how to clean your washing machine, the washer will be ready to clean your clothes again! TODAY does have affiliate relationships with various online retailers.

So, while every product is independently selected, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the revenue. IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Every few washes, take a look at washing machine components like the rubber seal or the agitator and give them a wipe-down. If your washing machine has a lint filter only some do , make sure to clean it every few washes, as well.

And lastly, never overload the washing machine! By Kristi Kellogg and Miranda Silva. By Kristi Kellogg. Gather Your Cleaning Supplies. Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner. The Guide to Good Sleep. How to Clean a Mattress in 9 Simple Steps. AD It Yourself. Be careful when you lift them away from the metal as you may accidentally rip or unseal them.

Where possible wipe away any residue that is stuck to the seal. If necessary gently remove any stubborn grime with a toothbrush. The washing machine's filter, usually found beneath the drum door just above floor level, stops all the nasty stuff that gathers in the crevices too — fluff, hair and coins — from reaching the pump.

So, it does an important job. Check your washing machine's instructions to find out how to remove the cover if it's fixed, and how to remove the filter. The user manual should also explain how to clean the filter. You may need to place a bowl or tray on a towel beneath it to catch leaks from the drain. Replace the cover carefully. The drum in particular becomes quickly dusty, but the detergent drawer can drip, as can the drum itself during or after a wash.

Top and front loaders: Using a damp cloth and washing up liquid, clean any stains from the outside of the washing machine and wipe away any dust. Dry the exterior with a clean kitchen towel. It's perfectly fine to run a maintenance clean with laundry detergent rather than a specialised washing machine cleaner. You can use your regular detergent — although we find that what works best is a natural, plant-based detergent marked as 'concentrated'. These are typically stronger, so you don't need to use a lot of it, and they leave your washing machine sparkling clean.

It's 95 per cent plant based and contains powerful enzymes that are up to the task of deep cleaning your machine, as well as your clothes. And it smells so, so good.

It also comes in refillable, recycled packaging. We're also big fans of Smol — an online company that sends you washing pods every month, based on how many washes you do weekly. These pods come in bio or non-bio versions and they are eco-friendly, cruelty free and very convenient since they get delivered straight through your letterbox. Sodium percarbonate is also often labelled as 'laundry bleach' or 'oxygen bleach' and does a really good job at freshening up and ridding washing machines of unpleasant smells.

Stronger than baking soda but safer than liquid bleach, it's a great all-rounder for your weekly washing machine clean. It comes in powder form and should be used in exactly the same way as sodium bicarbonate. There are two main ways to try and get rid of buildup in your washing machine: one is with an alkaline substance such as baking soda.

Baking soda's high pH makes it perfect for cutting through greasy and oily stains, making it very effective in kitchens. However, if you live in a hard water area, you may have noticed that cleaning your washing machine with baking soda isn't doing a lot. If that's the case, it's time to try the opposite — acidic — approach. Citric acid and ascorbic acid commonly known as vitamin C are reducing or chelating agents, which makes them particularly effective for cleaning buildup associated with hard water — rust, limescale, and soap scum or detergent buildup.

Bring a pan of water to the boil, take off the heat, and dissolve approximately grams of ascorbic acid powder and grams of citric acid powder in the water.

Add the warm solution directly to the drum of your machine and pour a little into the tray. Run the machine on a hot wash without any clothes. Don't use citric acid undiluted on plastic washing machine trays as it could cause damage.