It's generally recommended to clean your washing machine once a month, especially if you want to prevent musty odours from forming inside the drum and keep your clothes smelling great. Sometimes, however, you need to pay your machine a bit more attention, and it may be necessary to thoroughly clean the washer.
Your top load washing machine is an integral part of your household and cleaning routine and probably one of the appliances you use the most often. Using your washer frequently can eventually lead to the accumulation of dirt, grime, residue and buildup, which in turn can impact the quality of your washer's performance.
Neglecting to clean your washer isn't just a stink risk. It can damage your clothes. A dirty washer can build up a gross detergent residue in the filter and outside the drum known as scrud.
The Washer Has Odors of Mold or Mildew. The Machine Makes Strange Noises During the Wash Cycle. The Drum Doesn't Completely Fill With Water. The Drum Doesn't Drain Properly After Loads Are Finished.
To keep your washer tub clean, use the SELF CLEAN cycle at least once a month or every 20 cycles.
“For removing odors, I would say vinegar.” Some people, however, prefer white vinegar because it's not as harsh as bleach. Unless, of course, your washing machine has been completely neglected, and is now a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, and you want a power cleaner.
One of the best ways to clean the washing machine is using chlorine bleach and distilled white vinegar. Starting the washer on its hottest cycle, allow the drum to fill with water, then add one quart of chlorine bleach to the water before allowing the cycle to complete.
Affresh®1 washing machine cleaner is an effective solution that not only cleans the interior of the machine, but also helps remove grime and odor-causing residues. In this step-by-step guide, we'll discuss how to use affresh® washing machine cleaner to keep your washing machine clean load after load.
Running an empty wash cycle can be a good method for maintaining your washing machine, but timing is key! Consider initiating this practice for routine maintenance, particularly if you notice lingering odours or a need for a fresh start after washing heavily soiled loads.
Whilst we suggest you deeply clean your machine once every 1-3 months, the frequency of your cleaning should depend on how often your appliance is used. By regularly cleaning your machine, you can prevent the build of mould, bacteria, and odours, ensuring perfectly hygienic, fresh laundry every time.
You won't usually need to rewash laundry left in the washer overnight. However, under the right circumstances, mildew can begin forming on clothes quickly. If you detect an odor, simply rewashing clothes that were left overnight should be your first step.
Washing machines should be rinsed once a week by going through a “clean cycle” where the washing machine is completely empty and does not have clothes or detergent. It is recommended that every washing machine should be deep-cleaned at least once a month.
Use hot water and chlorine bleach to clean and flush away debris in a top-load washer. For additional cleaning to remove mineral residue from hard water, follow up with a vinegar and baking soda cycle.
High-efficiency top-load washers with an agitator in the bottom of the drum use much less water than those with a center agitator and should be cleaned every three months. If the machine has automatic dispensers that you use for every load, clean them monthly to prevent clogs.
Thirteen percent of all front-load washer owners reported mold or mildew buildup in their machines compared with only 3 percent of HE top-load washers and 1 percent of top-load agitators.
Step 3: Run a Clean Washer cycle
Place washing machine cleaner into your washer according to the package instructions, then select a Clean Washer cycle on the washer's control panel. Let the cycle run until it is complete. If you are out of affresh® washing machine cleaner, you can use liquid chlorine bleach.
Final Verdict. Our top pick for a washing machine cleaner is the Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner. These tablets are easy to use and compatible with all types of washing machines. If you're looking for a tablet to clean all the parts of your washing machine in one cycle, this is the one to try.
Dear Valued Customer: Thank you for your inquiry regarding using Affresh. You may use it any time needed, however we recommend once or twice a month as needed.
As an alternative to a formulated washer tub cleaning product like Affresh, you can use a DIY washing machine cleaner to clean and sanitize the inside of the tub with a combination of white vinegar and baking soda, or liquid chlorine bleach (be aware that vinegar and bleach should never be used together).
Professionals use a gas-powered pressure washer, a surface cleaner attachment, and a careful selection of specialized nozzle tips, surfactants, bleaches, degreasers, and oxalic acid for pressure washing.
Use a combination of white vinegar and baking soda to naturally clean your washing machine; pour half a cup of baking soda into the drum followed by two cups of vinegar in the detergent dispenser, then run a hot wash cycle. For stubborn grime and odors, consider commercial washing machine cleaners.
Running your washing machine empty can be particularly beneficial under certain conditions. For instance, if you're transitioning from washing heavy fabrics, like towels, to lighter items, an empty cycle can help prepare the machine and eliminate any residue.
"Vinegar softens clothes by breaking down excess detergent that makes clothes feel stiff," says Patric Richardson of The Laundry Evangelist. Never mix vinegar with bleach or chlorine bleach, as the combination is highly toxic.