Did you ever think that something that cleans your clothes would need cleaning, too? Here are some great tips on keeping your washing machine clean, why you should clean it, and how often.
A few months ago we had to buy a new washing machine after our old one finally gave out. Luckily with everyone in my family being home right now I don’t have a lot of laundry to do every day.
Washing the laundry on that first day in the new machine was amazing. My clothes had never smelled and felt more clean!
However, after a few months of doing laundry, I started to notice that my clothes weren’t smelling or feeling so clean any more. They were starting to smell dingy, like maybe I was forgetting to put in the detergent.
Has that ever happened to you?
Light bulb moment: I realized after a while that it was actually my washing machine that was making my clothes smell and feel unclean!
Keeping your washing machine clean is super important. Read on to find out why you need to keep the machine clean, how to clean it, and how often you should clean it.
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Just like everything else, washing machines get dirty, too. Over time, they develop build-up from grime, detergents, hard water deposits, mold, and mildew. This can cause your laundry to appear dingy and just plain unclean. Washing machines also collect fingerprints and stains, so it’s important to clean inside and out.
Exterior: Wipe down the entire exterior of your washing machine, including the knobs. You can use your favorite all-purpose cleaner, vinegar, or lemon juice for this. Vinegar works great at removing fingerprints and detergent build-up, and lemon juice will work just as good. Just pour some vinegar or lemon juice into a clean spray bottle and spray the area; wipe clean with the rag. Or you can soak the rag with vinegar or lemon juice and wipe down the machine.
Lid or door: With the vinegar, scrub around the edge of the lid or door to remove any detergent build-up, dust, and/or mildew. Using an old toothbrush will get into all those tight spots and grooves. If you have a front-loading washing machine, pull the top of the rubber door seal back gently to check for mold. If there is any, use the vinegar on an old toothbrush to remove it. (Click here to see what else you can use an old toothbrush for!)
Fabric softener/bleach dispensers: Remove the dispensers from the washing machine and scrub them in the sink. While they are out, scrub around the opening with the toothbrush and vinegar. Dry the dispensers completely and place them back in the washing machine.
Tub: Pour two cups of vinegar or lemon juice into the tub of the washing machine and run it through a complete cycle. Use the hottest and longest setting possible to remove stains, detergent build-up, and odors. The acid in the vinegar and lemon juice will also remove any mineral deposits from hard water.
If you have a top-loading washing machine, it should be cleaned every six months. However, if you have hard water, cleaning the machine every three months will prevent mineral deposit build-up.
Front-load and high-efficiency top-load washing machines need to be cleaned at least once a month because they use less water than standard machines.
Your washer should be cleaned more often if you live in a hot, humid area because mold can be more of a problem. Also, your washing machine should be cleaned more often if you have a lot of heavily soiled clothing.
What about you? Do you clean your washing machine often?
Are you looking for more cleaning tips? I recommend these:
Pretreating Stains with Baking Soda
Is Your Bedroom Making You Sick?
11 Things You’re Forgetting to Clean in Your Bedroom
How to Clean Up Fast For Company
Natural Ways to Make Your Bedroom Smell Clean and Amazing
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Hmmm...this may be my problem. Our whites are not coming clean. I've actually never (insert shame) ever cleaned the washing machine. I think I should after reading this.
I never even thought about it before because I was always assuming it was cleaning itself. But cleaning it really helped! For whites, try adding a 1/2 cup of baking soda to your wash along with your regular laundry detergent. :)
Thanks Michelle! Baking soda AND bleach? Or just baking soda?
I would just do one or the other alone. I can't use bleach, so I use baking soda and that really helps. :)
Michelle, such a great post. I never thought of using lemon and vinegar for cleaning machine. Always used to buy such costly stuff. Thank you so much.
I used to do that, too, but since becoming a stay-at-home mom I look for every way to save money. Thank you for reading! :)
Oh yes this is a must! I run a bleach cleaner through my top loader faithfully once a month. Excellent post Michelle!
Thank you! I can't handle bleach, but that's great that you do that! Nothing beats good smelling and clean clothes. :D
Thanks for this great post Michelle, I never thought that a washing machine needed to be cleaned like that. Now I know why my clothes are not smelling clean anymore. Time to wash the washer! Also didn't know I could add baking soda in with the regular detergent, might try that one too. I'm going to switch to vinegar for my regular cleaning from now on too, those chemical cleaners are starting to bother me. Great tips Michelle,thanks again!
I would have never thought that I would need to wash my washing machine, either. I always assumed it was cleaning itself! :D I also shared a recipe in another post for homemade laundry detergent that might be better for you if the chemical cleaners are bothering you. That might help as well. :) Thank you for your comment and for reading! Have a wonderful weekend!
Yes, I saw the homemade laundry detergent but I have never seen the Borax laundry booster, or the Arm and Hammer washing soda around here. Possible they have it in a larger city, but not here anyway. Small town joys! I have been enjoying all these posts on cleaning, etc, thanks for sharing so many great tips!??
Oh bummer. :( Hopefully you can find something that helps! :) I'm glad you're enjoying the tips!
We frequently clean our top-loading machine, which seems a wh3ole lot easier than our former front-loading model.
I've heard they were harder to clean which is why I stay away from them. :D
You can buy washing machine cleaner, but it's so much better and healthier the way you posted. I've always cleaned my washing machine. Great information in this post. Thank you!
Thank you! That's great that you clean your machine. It's never really something I thought was necessary before. :)
Thanks for these great tips. We usually give it a round of 90c washing with vinegar and soda to get rid of limescale ?♀️?
That's a great idea! Thanks for sharing. :)
CONGRATS! Your post is FEATURED at #AThemedLinkup 20 for All Things American (red, white, and blue), from my previous linkup for Cleaning and Organizing, open June 27 to July 25. All entries shared if social media buttons are installed.
Thank you so much!!!
Oh, I definitely slack on this one! Do you use vinegar full strength for wiping, or do you dilute it with water?
Either way works, but I dilute mine so the smell won't be too overpowering. :)