How to clean your washing machine according to laundry experts

You may think that cleaning your washing machine, something you use to clean your things , sounds ironic and completely unnecessary, but knowing how to clean a washing machine is extremely important. Whether you use the safest detergents or natural products, even thebestwashing machines and dryers need to be cleaned thoroughly from time to time.

"Laundry detergents are made up of detergents and oils that must be removed regularly to make the machine more efficient," says Patric Richardson, founder of The Laundry Evangelist and host of the new Discovery + The Laundry Guy series . "If you never clean your washing machine it will be less efficient and sometimes the debris from the washing machine will peel off your clothes, leaving an oily-looking smell or stain."

Obviously, this is exactly the opposite of what you would hope for when you put your clothes in the washing machine! Also, you don't want to shorten the life of your washing machine , which is not a cheap item. Fortunately, some common household ingredients work amazingly well in the washing machine . Here's how to quickly and easily address current issues and avoid future issues.

How often should you clean your washing machine?

Learning how to clean your washing machine is one thing, but knowing how often to clean it is another. Of course, if you suddenly have a smelly washing machine, or worse, you see mold in your washing machine, then of course you need to take action because mold is one of the things in your home that can make you sick . But you really should clean it regularly. How often? "It really depends on your machine and the products you are using," says Richardson. "When you use herbal products, they tend to rinse off the detergent and leave less residue. So once a year it would work. However, if you use petroleum-based laundry detergent, fabric softener, or perfume, you should clean them more often, possibly every three to six months. ""

CONNECTION: The ultimate guide on how often you everything clean should

What's the best way to clean a washing machine?

If you are wondering how to clean your dishwasher with vinegar , read on. But if you're wondering how to bleach your washing machine, keep your horses; Richardson advises against it. "Bleach has no place in my laundry room," he says, choosing a mixture of vinegar and borax.

"The quickest, easiest way to clean your washing machine is to put a pound of borax and a gallon of vinegar in your washing machine and let it run on the longest, hottest cycle," says Richardson. "When you're done, clean the seals and latches and voila! Simple ". You will use the same approach for top loading and front loading washers, he says, but the location of the seal is different.

How to clean a top loading washing machine

If you have a top charger, it's pretty easy to clean, even if it smells awful.

What will you need:

Addresses:

1. Pour a pound of borax into the drum of your washing machine.
2. Then pour in a gallon of white vinegar.
3. Let your washing machine run on the hottest, longest cycle.
4. When you're done, clean the inside, seals, and latches with a soft cotton cloth.
5. Leave the door open to air dry.

Remember to clean the detergent drawer with vinegar when you are finished. "On a top-loading washing machine, pull out the drawer and tilt it up to remove," says one of Samsung's washing machine experts.

How to clean a front loading washing machine

Cleaning a front loading washer is just as easy, and you use the same affordable household cleaners to get the job done.

What will you need:

• borax
• White wine vinegar
• Cotton factory

Addresses:

1. Gently pour a pound of borax into the bottom of your washing machine's drum, distributing it as you go so it doesn't build up and spill.
2. Where you would normally pour bleach, pour a gallon of white vinegar.
3. Next, run your washing machine on the hottest, longest cycle.
4. When you're done, use a cotton swab to clean everything, including the inside of the drum, seals, and latches.
5. Leave the door open to air dry.

You will also need to clean the detergent drawer opening. "In a front-loading washing machine, you can remove the laundry drawer by pressing the ends of each side of the drawer at the same time and then pulling them out," says the Samsung expert. Then clean it with vinegar and remove mold and grime before putting it back in.

RELATED: Washer / Dryer Issues Sorry for ignoring this

imaginima / Getty Images

How to clean the outside of a washing machine

Of course, the inside of your washing machine isn't the only thing you need to clean. Stains of dirt, grime, and water also accumulate on the outside of the washing machine. You should remove these without damaging the finish. "Door surface defects are usually caused by water or detergent residue," said the Samsung representative. "A mild detergent and a damp cloth will remove most stains. If you've tried before and the stains stay the same, use a small amount of Cerama Bryte hob cleaner . ""

What will you need:

Addresses:

1. Pour a small amount of mild detergent or Cerama Bryte onto a clean, damp microfiber cloth.
2. Cleanse the affected area by gently rubbing it in a repeated circular motion.
3. When you're done scrubbing, wipe the area with a clean, damp microfiber cloth.
4. Next, use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to dry the area.

This is how to keep your washing machine clean between loads

If you follow these steps, your washing machine will continue to smell fresh in the long run, according to a Samsung expert.

• If you normally wash in cold water, run a warm or hot water cycle from time to time to reduce the build-up of dirt and detergents.
• Keep the door and detergent drawer open between cycles. This will help ventilate them and prevent moisture from staying long enough for mold or mildew to grow.

Now that you know how to clean a washing machine, discover the secret ingredients to add to your clothes .

Swell:

Popular videos

Let's block ads! (Why?)