The washing machine isn’t the most obvious choice of things to clean — it washes itself right? Wrong! If you don’t clean your washing machine regularly it can result in a build up of soap scum and grease and potentially limescale, mold and mildew. That’s why, over time, you might notice your clothes start coming out smelly from a fresh wash, or the drum itself might smell. If this goes untreated, it can damage even the best washing machines over time and lead to costly repairs. Even if you can’t smell anything, if you live in a hard water area, it will take its toll on the washing machine, so it’s still good practice to clean it regularly.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to clean your washing machine, what you’ll need to clean your washing machine, and how often you should clean your washing machine.
When is it time to clean your washing machine?
Aim to clean your washing machine about once a month to keep if functioning well and getting your clothes as clean as possible. Clean it more often (every 2 weeks) if you live in a hot or humid climate where it’s easy for mildew to build up, if you have hard water which can leave behind mineral deposits, or if you are frequently laundering extra dirty clothes like cloth baby diapers or outdoor work clothes.
If you notice detergent spots on your clothes after you do a load of laundry, any bad smells on your clean clothes or coming from the machine, immediately give the washing machine a clean.
How to clean a washing machine in 4 easy steps
1. Clean the washing machine drawer
The detergent drawer sees all sorts of cleaning solutions and softeners poured into it – deposits of old detergents mixing together and clinging to the drawer can lead to pretty unreliable laundry results, as well as potentially blocking your machine entirely.
So it’s as important to know how to clean out washing machine products as it is to know how to clean the washing machine itself. Here’s how:
Give the drawer a good scrub with washing up liquid and hot water. Use an old toothbrush to get into all the nooks and crannies.
If you’re able to remove the drawer (your machine’s manual should have details for how to do this), try soaking it in hot, soapy water for 15 minute before placing it in the detergent drawer of your dishwasher and running a hot wash.
If there’s mould growing, use a specific mould and mildew product first, which can be applied to the problem area and wiped off easily.
2. Unclog the filter
Most washing machines will have a filter to catch any fluff, coins, hair grips or whatever else is lurking in the forgotten depths of your pockets. It can normally be found on the front of the washing machine behind a small hatch.
By keeping your filter free from blockages, you can prevent a build up of water, which is often to blame for leaks and water damage to both your machine and kitchen floor.
To clean the filter, simply unscrew the filter cap and pull out anything that’s clogging it. You can also try soaking the filter in hot water if you find the blockage difficult to budge.
3. Clean the rubber seals
Like the detergent drawer, these seals can often get gunked up and become a haven for dirt, mildew, detergent residue and the odd coin or hair clip.
Start by cleaning the area with hot water and detergent, paying particular attention to the inside of rubber seals and surrounds. Then, simply wipe with a clean dry cloth and make sure there’s no residue left before your next wash.
If it’s been a while since you cleaned the rubber seal (or this is your first time), you may need to check out our guide to deep cleaning washing machine seals.
4. Run an empty hot wash
Once you’ve cleaned your washing machine’s heavily trafficked areas, it’s important to then run an empty cycle to rinse the drum clean of detergent before using it to wash clothes and other items.
The hot water should be enough to get things clean and ready to go again, but if there are strong smells or you fancy a deeper clean, you might want to add vinegar or soda crystals (see our tips below for more).
How to clean a washing machine with vinegar
Is there anything vinegar can’t do? White vinegar is a powerful natural cleaner that’s great at removing odours and grease so is a brilliant way of deep cleaning a machine that gets a lot of use or hasn’t had a maintenance wash in a while, as it will handily blast through residue build up.
Simply add two cups of white cleaning vinegar to the detergent dispenser and run the machine on empty on its hottest wash.
Once it’s worked its magic your machine should look all new and shiny again.
Impressed? You’ll want to check out these other clever ways of cleaning with white vinegar around the home.
How to clean a washing machine with baking soda
Is the inside of your washing machine drum looking a bit worse for wear? Make a simple paste using baking soda (also known as bicarbonate of soda)and water and apply it to the inside of the machine using a sponge or cloth to get it sparkling again.
This is also a handy way of removing anything that has become stuck to the inside of your machine (here’s looking at you, chewing gum).
You can also combine baking soda with vinegar for the ultimate washing machine deep clean:
Start by adding two cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser.
Set your machine to run a hot cycle, making sure it’s completely empty.
Allow the machine to run for a minute or two, then add 1/2 cup of baking soda before letting the machine run again.
After another minute or so has passed and water has started filling the drum, stop the cycle and allow the water to sit in the machine for 30 minutes, before restarting the cycle and completing the wash.
Run another hot cycle to rinse the machine thoroughly.
This isn’t the only way bicarb can come in handy come laundry time either – you can also use baking soda to make a natural DIY fabric softener.
Tried a deep clean and your clothes still aren’t coming out right? You might want to explore other reasons why your washing machine isn’t working properly.
