Nowadays, washing machines have become an essential appliance in every household. It keeps the clothes that you wear clean and smelling good. However, it can be vulnerable to dirt build-up as time goes by. It is essential to know how to clean it, especially its drum, to get the highest possible performance from the machine. Here’s a step by step guide on how to clean your washing machine and its drum.
Step #1: Sanitize the Gasket and Door Seals
The gasket and the door seals of your washing machine are notorious for building up dirt after a couple of usages. Often, it can be difficult to notice how dirty it is because it is tucked in the crevice of the machine. To sanitize this area, you would need to use white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide (not both together!). Place either liquid in a bowl and prepare an old toothbrush. Dip the brush in the solution and brush the grease, mold, and whatever dirt is in the cavities of the gasket and the door seal. Allow the solution to stay in the area for an hour to make sure it is thoroughly disinfected. After that, wipe off the solution from the gasket and door seals using a clean piece of cloth.
Step #2: Turn on the Washing Machine at its Hottest Setting
Once you are done cleaning the gasket and the door seal, you can now move on to cleaning the interior of your washing machine. This step is relatively simple. All you need to do is turn on the appliance to its hottest setting then let it finish a full load capacity without actually putting clothes inside. High-temperature helps kill the bacteria that live inside your washing machine that are not visible to the naked eye.
Step #3: Put Baking Soda and Vinegar on the Washing Machine’s Drum
After you sanitize the interior of your washer, the next thing that you have to do is clean its drum. To do this, you use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. There are two different ways to apply this to the washer, depending on its type. For front loading washing machines, all you have to do is put the baking soda and vinegar mixture in its soap dispenser. Once it’s in there, you can begin a wash cycle, and that’s it. It is a little bit different for a top-loading washing machine. You need to allow the water to run in the unit first for a couple of minutes before adding the baking soda. After that, let a cycle begin and stop it after a minute to let the mixture soak in the surface for at least one hour. After an hour, continue the cycle until the end.
Step #4: Let Your Washing Machine Run A Full Cycle
When you have finished doing the steps above, you now must let your washing machine run a full cycle with just water. This will allow it to remove the baking soda and vinegar residues and other leftover dirt inside.
Step #5: Run Another Cycle with Hot Water
Doing this can be optional, but it is advisable to ensure that no dirt residue is left. All you have to do is let your washing machine run a full cycle using hot water. Easy right? It is advisable to clean your washer and its drum at least once every fifteen days if you frequently use it. It will ensure that your clothes are thoroughly cleaned, and your washing machine is well maintained.
Other Alternatives
The steps mentioned above are not the only way of cleaning a washing machine. Here are some alternatives that you may find to suit you better:
- Using Citric Acid and Baking Soda Mixture
Citric acid is a more potent alternative to white vinegar used in home cleaners. You can also use it in cleaning your washer by following the steps mentioned above.
- Cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can be a good alternative in cleaning your washer’s drum because it can effectively remove molds and limescale. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, which help ensure that no leftover harmful pathogens from your clothes stay in your washer. However, be careful with the potency of your hydrogen peroxide. You should only use 3% diluted by liquid.
- Applying Chlorine Bleach
When cleaning your washing machine, you may notice that the dirt build-up has caused it to have a bad odor. If it does, you can use chlorine to remove it. However, make sure to rinse it off properly afterward because it may cause skin irritation.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning a washing machine and its drum is reasonably easy as long as you follow the steps mentioned above. Hopefully, these pieces of information have given you a better idea of its maintenance and how to clean it effectively. If you are looking for a new washing machine check out our buying guide.
