Machines, be they in the industries, motor vehicle engines, or architectural sectors, need to be serviced over time. With this as part of the maintenance program, it ensures a long run of the equipment.
Honestly, people didn’t know that cleaning a washing machine was a thing. I mean, doesn’t it get cleaned every time you wash your clothes? Right? Wrong.
Think about it; a washing machine is constantly bombarded with bits of food, fibers, and other organic materials that can get caught in the nooks and crannies.
Also, the wet, warm environment inside the machine is a perfect breeding ground for molds and mildew, especially in the hard-to-reach areas, which may never be completely dry.
Thirdly, detergent and hard water can build-up, which can dull your clothes and clog the mechanism.
This is why we are discussing how to clean a washing machine so that you can do that to yours today.
Cleaning requires steps to be followed, and below is an explanation of the way forward:
- Assemble your cleaning pieces of equipment which include:
- A spray bottle
- Baking soda
- Microfibre cloth
- Distilled white vinegar
- Toothbrush
- Thoroughly wipe down the crannies and nooks outside the drum using a rag dipped in vinegar. Ensure you avoid using an abrasive material on the glass as it can get scratched. If possible, soak any removable parts in water mixed with vinegar.
- Using a toothbrush, peel off layers in the rubber gasket and try your level best to get into the hard-to-reach spots. If the area is affected with mildew or mold, then peroxide will work out best.
- Once the exposed parts are clean, tackle the inner parts by filling the liquid detergent dispenser with vinegar. The vinegar’s acidity will help break down any hard water and soap scum hence disinfecting the machine.
- After this, set your machine into its hottest cycle and run it without any cloth. Repeat the procedure using a handful of baking soda and turn it back on for one cycle.
- If you want to save water, you can interchange between baking soda during one month and vinegar on the other. Do not mix the two as vinegar is an acid and baking soda, a base; the two will neutralize, therefore not benefiting the cleaning process.
- After that, the easiest way is to keep the lid up until it’s nice and dry or wiping it out with a dry microfibre cloth.
- After cleaning the washing machine, one has to maintain its cleanliness by doing monthly cleanups. This is achieved best by the use of a detergent containing oxygen-based bleach and sodium carbonate. As the cycle runs, the detergent gets sud up into a foam, getting inside all the nooks, crannies, and crevices before automatically rinsing it away.
- In order to prevent the mildew from forming again, it is recommended to leave the lid up or door open immediately after a washing cycle to give it a chance to dry up.
- One might be tempted to add extra laundry detergent to a dirty load of clothes. Adding extra detergent does more harm to the machine. It leaves a soapy residue on the clothes and causes unnecessary wear to the washing machine. It is also recommended to check out the washer’s instructional manual on what and how much detergent to use. If an extra cleaning on your clothes is needed, use the sanitize cycle instead of adding extra detergent. This helps in killing heavy-duty bacteria using hot water in an extended cycle.
- After every few washes, please take a look at all washing components like the rubber seal or the agitator and give them a wipe-down.
Moreover, one has to take these precautions when handling the washing machine:
- Never overload the washing machine as it will make it hard on it, causing it to wear down more quickly.
- When the machine is not in use, always leave the door open to ensure that the interior dries thoroughly.
- Never leave dump clothes in the washer; instead, transfer them immediately to the drier.
- Keep the top surfaces free of lint and detergent.
- Remove lint from the drier screen after every use.
We hope this guide has taught you one or two things about how to clean a washing machine to make it last longer.
