How To Clean Washing Machine

Fresh, great-smelling, clean clothes make us feel refreshed, right?

Be it a new bright day. An important meeting. Or a comfy chill night at home, what complements them all are those lovely, newly washed-soft clothes.

Believe it or not, a washing machine sitting at the corner of your house plays a big part in your daily happiness. A little hint? It is that machine that works all week-round to keep your clothes clean and your smile bright. Well, you guessed it. It is your washing machine. But, over the months, due to the soap scum build-up, your washer might get dirty. Finally, you are left with half-washed smelly clothes. And I am sure you do not want that.

So, here are the steps to clean your washing machine properly so that it gets deep cleaned.

How To Keep Your Washing Machine Clean

 If you’re thinking about how your “washing machine gets cleaned every time you wash your clothes”, you might want to reconsider. Be it your front-loading machine or your top-loading, even your fancy automatic washing machine, I mean – it needs some care of its own, right? But how can you do it? Here is the answer.

 All you need are the following things to get equipped. (Get ready commander!)

1. Descaling powder provided by your brand
2. Vinegar
3. Toothbrush
4. An old rag
5. Baking soda
6. Hydrogen peroxide ( use it if you have mold. This also means you need to URGENTLY clean your washing machine. Might as well do it after reading the process written below)

Do not worry, the process would not take much of your time as it has to be repeated only after 3-6 months to keep your washing machine efficient and ready.

How To Clean Front Load Washing Machine

You might have the Samsung, LG, Bosch, IFB front load washing machines .let see how to clean these washing machines.

STEP-1: Firstly, use the cloth and vinegar to clean the cracks and outer portion of the drum. You could play your favorite playlist to keep you entertained. Take out all the removable parts of the machine and let them sit in a 2:1 vinegar-water solution for some time.

STEP-2: Now comes the real deal. Take up a toothbrush and vinegar and start cleaning the rubber gaskets (the seals around the door). This is where the dirt usually sits and often goes unnoticed. So, go ahead and clean out all that dirt guys. There might also be chances of mold or mildew here, under the layers. So, use that Hydrogen peroxide I mentioned earlier and REALLY CLEAN IT ALL UP!

STEP-3: After this, head towards the detergent dispenser and the lint filter. Use the toothbrush and vinegar to thoroughly clean it as well.

STEP-4: Good work until now, you all! But it has not ended yet. Now comes the inner part. Once you are done with the above steps, head to the main drum. Pour the descaling powder as per the quantity mentioned in the instruction manual in the detergent dispenser (You can use the descaling powder provided by your brand or products like IFB Essentials Descal, Bosch Siemens Quick Descaler, LG ScalGo)

Let the washer roll at the longest cycle with the hottest water setting. You could also choose the sanitization option, if available.

Give this process a quick repeat to evenly clean out all residual from the drum.

(Pro tip: if you cannot find the descaling powder, chill down and worry not. You can pour in 2 cups of your white vinegar in the detergent dispenser for the same output)

STEP-5: After the cycle is complete, move on to the next step. Put in ½ or ⅓ cup of baking powder directly in the washing machine tub and run it on the same settings. This will get rid of the stinky smell that your machine has accumulated. After all, we need amazing smelling clothes, right?

STEP-6: Good news folks, we’re almost done. After the cycle has ended, leave the main drum door open for it to air dry. Finally, use the cloth rag and vinegar to clean the entire front of the machine to make it spotless. Don’t forget the buttons, the control panel, and the coin trap. And, there you have it! Your front load washing machine is all clean and ready to be used again

How To Clean Top Load Washing Machine

 Luckily, you need the same equipment as the front-loaders to get your washing machine all cleaned up. So, let’s get started.

STEP-1: Make a quick check to see there’s no laundry left in the washer. Begin with cleaning the detergent dispenser tray and lint filter with a toothbrush and white vinegar.

STEP-2: Now, start the longest washing cycle with the hottest water settings and add your descaling powder before the water fills the drum/tub to the brim.

(Worry not guys, You can also use 2 cups of vinegar or bleach to start the process if you do not have the descaling powder.) All you have to do now is sit back and relax.

STEP-3: Good going until now. Once the first part of the wash cycle is over and the water is drained, begin the second part with the same settings. For this, add baking soda to the water, once ⅓ parts of the drum are filled. The alkali in the baking powder will help in removing any residue of the descaling powder and will also remove that weird smell you have been wondering about.

STEP-4: After the second washing cycle has completely ended and all the water has drained, begin a final wash cycle.This one, only with water. We are almost there guys, let’s keep going. Once, the final cycle is complete, voila- you have a fully cleansed washing machine tub. You can use a clean cotton cloth to give a last cleansing rub to the inside of your drum.

STEP-5: We are on the last step guys. Go ahead and use that cloth and vinegar to get a squeaky-clean exterior as well. Wash the outer panels and the entire front of the washing machine to finally complete the process. 

That’s it, guys! You have successfully cleaned your top-loading washing machine from every part.

Thus, you can successfully use these processes to keep your front-loading and top-loading washing machines clean and dirtless. Now, let’s get familiar with some quick tips to well-maintain your delicate machine.

Tips To Make Your Washing Machine Last Longer And Smell Good

1. Remember to keep the washing machine’s door open often for it to air-fry. This reduces the chances of mold and mildew formation
2. Perform the deep cleaning every 3-6 months and clean your detergent dispenser, lint filter, drain pipe, and coin trap every month.
3. Keep an eye on the hoses of the machine for a clear inward and outward flow of water and its well-maintenance.
4. Transfer clean laundry to the dryer as soon as done. This protects your machine from mold and mildew and also prevents it from smelling.
5. You can also choose to add essential oils after every cleanup to make your clothes and machine smell great.

Keep in mind the self-clean cycle modes that come with new washing machine models and use them effectively.