Maintaining And Cleaning Your Washing Machine

A washing machine may clean your clothes, but it can’t clean itself! We often tend to forget that appliances like this need a good clean from time to time. Not only is this important for the overall appearance and cleanliness of your kitchen, but it is vital for the efficiency of the machine too. Do make sure to get a water softener solution if you have hard water. Hard water tends to damage washing machines and lower the expected life of the washing machine.

If you don’t end up cleaning your washing machine properly, you could break the machine. If there is a fault, don’t try to fix this yourself. Call your landlord or property management company, or if it’s your own home, get straight on the phone to a plumber!

Instructions for a front-loading washing machine

Most washing machines in homes today are front loading. They use less detergent than top-loaders and they are more energy-efficient. Here’s how to clean yours….

Tools and materials you will need

You are going to need the following:

• A sponge scourer
• Water
• Bicarbonate of soda
• Vinegar

Step-by-step cleaning guide

1. Start by mixing together ¼ cup of water and ¼ cup of bicarbonate of soda in a small bowl. This creates a ‘detergent’ that will be used to clean your machine.
2. Pour the vinegar into a measuring jug.
3. Head over to your machine with both solutions.
4. Open your machine’s detergent container, and put the bicarbonate mixture inside. The vinegar should then be poured into the drum.
5. Set your washer on the hottest water setting for a normal load.
6. Close the door, turn the machine on, and let it do all the hard work for you. The vinegar and the baking soda will naturally break up the mineral deposits.
7. Once the wash is finished, open the door and use a cleaning sponge to clean around this area, getting rid of any residue and stubborn mould.
8. Once you have done this, you should simply rinse your machine with a bit of water.

Instructions for a top-loading washing machine

If you have a top-loading washing machine in your rental property, here’s how you can clean it successfully…

Tools and materials you will need

You are going to need the following:

• A microfibre cloth
• A toothbrush
• Baking soda
• White vinegar or bleach

Step-by-step cleaning guide

1. The first thing you need to do is set your washing machine on the longest wash, hottest water setting, and highest load size.
2. As the washing machine starts to fill up, open the lid, and add a quart of white vinegar or bleach. Both will clean your washing machine immaculately, yet white vinegar does not contain any toxins.
3. Now add a cup of baking soda. You should then shut the lid and allow the washing machine to stir for a minute or two.
4. Open the lid again, allowing the baking soda, vinegar, and water to soak into the tub for an hour.
5. While this is happening, remove any parts of the machine you can and soak them. Use a toothbrush to clean any areas that are hard to reach.
6. Once an hour has passed, shut the lid, allowing the cycle to complete.
7. Repeat the process.
8. Wipe the bottom and the sides of the tub with a vinegar solution to get rid of any remaining residue.

So there you have it: easy instructions for cleaning your washing machine. Make sure you do this every month to keep your machine in tip-top condition.