How to Keep Your Washing Machine Clean
For something that has ‘washing’ in the name and has the job of making your clothes clean, the thought of cleaning the washing machine itself is rarely thought of. However, if you’ve ever been unlucky enough to catch a whiff of a dirty washing machine as you load-in or take-out clothes, you’ll know it’s a job that needs to be done.
Cleaning your washing machine regularly does a whole host of good things: gets rid of bad smells, banishes mould, gets rid of clothes-ruining residues, and keep it running for longer. It’s true, an uncleaned washing machine can allow the perfect breeding ground for mould to grow, leftover and dried detergent can stain clothes, and make it not work as well as it once did.
Bear in mind that the rule of thumb for this task is to do it once a month to get the most benefits!
Now you know why you should be cleaning your washing machine; you probably want to know how…
1. Thoroughly wipe all the drawers with a damp cloth.
To get rid of pesky detergent build-up, you’ll need to take all the drawers out from your machine and, depending how much build-up there is, either wipe them down or soak them in hot, soapy water. The fabric conditioner drawer usually has the most gunk left over, so that might need more attention.
Make sure they’ve been air-dried before they go back in!
Depending on the model of your washing machine, it may have a cycle specifically for cleaning itself. All you need to do is add a little bit of bleach.
If it doesn’t have the cycle, run your machine on a hot wash with no clothes or detergent inside. This will help rid it of any dirt and mould you can’t see!
The rubber seal is where the dreaded mould loves to hide. So, giving the seal a thorough wipe, scrub, and dry will help prevent this from happening as much as possible. It’s recommended to do this step every few washes.
4. Clean the outside of your machine.
Dust and grime easily accumulate on the outside of washing machines. Every once in a while, it’s worth giving your washing machine a clean on the outside, too.
5. When not in use, leave the door open.
This will allow air to circulate through your machine and get rid of any lingering odours that may try to stick around. You could even leave the dispenser drawer slightly open, too, just for that extra freshness.