How to Clean a Washing Machine
As you all know I have been working on cleaning through all those spaces in my house that seem to get neglected, and doing it all by adding an additional 30 minutes a week to my cleaning routine.
Week #1 in March was to clean the washing machine. I’m not sure how the inside of a machine that claims to clean things can get so dirty, but it does. My washer has a feature built in to alert you after so many wash cycles, and a light goes on signaling it’s time to clean the washer. For me it’s easiest to clean all the nooks and crannies first and then run the cleaning cycle on the washer. Save all those old toothbrushes because they come in handy when it’s time to clean around the lid of the washer.
*First take out all the detergent, bleach, and softener dispensers and run them through the dishwasher.
*Second give the area under and around the lid as well as the drum a good scrubbing with the toothbrush and a mild solution of bleach water (it’s easiest to make it up in a spray bottle and mist it on the area to be cleaned). Don’t forget to rinse with clean warm water after cleaning.
*Third set your washer to the highest water selection, add one cup bleach or a packet of Affresh and run the washer for the longest washing setting it has.
*Fourth after the cleaning cycle is done repeat the same process only this time use 2 cups white vinegar.
While the washer is doing it’s thing wipe down the outside with an all purpose cleaner and remove any stubborn stains or scuffs with a magic eraser. As a precautionary measure make sure your first load after cleaning be whites in case of any bleach residue left behind. You should now have a sparkling clean washing machine, I know I do and next week I will be tackling the Dryer.
