Keep your appliance clean with this easy appliance cleaning schedule!
Getting Started
Washing machines are great for cleaning clothes but they can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Plus, if you have hard water or limescale buildup it can make your washing machine look dirty.
My washing machine (a top loader) had started to get a nice soap scummy look to it. Soap scummy is a word, right? 🙂
Although it is easy to clean the washing machine, it does take some time while the cycles are running. I like to run two long cycles, so this is great to do on those days that you are home for a while.
Disinfecting The Washing Machine
We will start by disinfecting the washing machine. Set the washing machine on its longest cycle.
If you have an extra rinse cycle I recommend using that too.
Add 1 bleach tablet or 1 cup of bleach to the water and let the machine run through the cycle. The bleach helps get rid of any bacteria that may be in your washer.
Bleach will not only help disinfect the bacteria in the washing machine, but it can also kill off any mold or mildew that may be growing in your machine.
By cleaning the machine with bleach you will help sanitize it.
Get Rid Of Hard Water In The Washing Machine
Once your washer is done going through the first complete cycle with the bleach you will want to clean it again.
This time we will be using vinegar to help get rid of soap scum and hard water in the washing machine.
Start the washing machine up again. I recommend using the longest cycle and an extra rinse cycle if you have it.
This time add 3 cups of vinegar to the machine. The vinegar will help with any soap scum, hard water, and gets rid of smells.
I recommend stopping the cycle as soon as the machine fills up and letting it sit for about 15 minutes with the vinegar. Then turn it back on and wait for it to finish.
This will really give the vinegar an opportunity to get rid of all the hard water build-up on your washing machine tub.
FYI: If you have really bad hard water you may want to use citric acid. Instead of adding the vinegar just add 1 cup of citric acid to the machine.
When the machine is finished with the second cycle, open it up and wipe it down using a microfiber cloth.
The washing machine will be clean and rid of any dust and grime.
Wipe Down The Outside
Once the inside of the washing machine is cleaned take a few minutes to wipe down the outside.
Use a clean microfiber cloth and an all-purpose spray to clean down the outside of the machine removing any dust or dirt.
It looks and smells so much better now that I have cleaned the washing machine.
Even though it takes a while for the washing machine to run through the cycles, it doesn’t take a lot of my time to clean the washing machine.
I have found that by regularly cleaning the appliances I can keep them running longer and working better.
