Residue from dryer sheets and fabric softener not only clog your lint trap but can add a film to the inside of your machine. Once a month, use a spray of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water to mist the inside of the drum. Wipe it down with a microfiber cloth, and leave the dryer door open so it can air dry.
Fill a bucket with water. For every half gallon of water, add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar. Soak a towel in the solution, then ring it out. Pop the towel in the dryer. Dry the towel for 45 minutes on the high heat setting.
If your dryer is electric, rub the drum with a soft cloth dipped in warm water and dish soap. For a gas dryer, wipe down the inside with a liquid, nonflammable household cleaner. Then, for gas or electric, wipe out the drum with a wet sponge or towel and tumble a load of clean clothes or towels to dry the drum.
Soap/detergent doesn't kill bacteria, it lifts the bacteria and dirt and traps it, enabling it to be rinsed away. You can buy a non-chlorine, non-bleach laundry sanitizer and use as directed. Sunlight also kills bacteria. Heat from the dryer definitely kills it.
Spray or dip a cloth into a non-abrasive cleaning product or a solution of white vinegar and water. Wipe over the whole of the drum and the inside of the door. Leave the door open to let it dry. Use the same solution to wipe down the front, sides and back of the machine to keep everything looking tip-top.
Sanitize Cycle In Washer & Dryers
This feature is designed to eliminate bacteria and allergens from clothing, bed linens, and other washable items. The washing machine increases the water temperature during the wash and rinse cycles, effectively killing bacteria and ensuring a thorough cleaning process.
Taking care of your dryer requires more than just removing the lint after every load. To extend the life of this important appliance and ensure your bedding, towels, and clothing stay clean, you'll need to disinfect it properly with the right supplies and technique.
Apply hydrogen peroxide for disinfection
To sanitize your dryer with hydrogen peroxide, start by mixing equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle. Then, lightly mist the interior of the dryer drum and any other surfaces that may come into contact with your clothes.
NSF International (formerly the National Sanitation Foundation), certifies that the Anti Bacterial cycle reduces 99.9% of bacteria on laundry, and none of the bacteria will carry over onto the next laundry load.dryer which means it has been third-party tested to assure this level of germ killing.
Lysol® kills 99.9% of viruses & bacteria, including MRSA!
Vinegar has been proven to have some disinfectant properties, however it's not nearly as effective at killing harmful viruses and bacteria as commercial cleaners. And because it does not kill 99.999 percent of bacteria and viruses, it doesn't meet the criteria required to be considered a disinfectant.
Wiping down the drum with bleach-free Clorox wipes won't cause your dryer any harm, but it's extremely important to use caution with gas dryers. Wipes may be flammable, depending on the formulation.
Yes, vinegar can be flammable. To be safe, avoid using it when cleaning a gas dryer. Instead, opt for dish soap or any mild all-purpose cleaner .
Add 2 cups of white cleaning vinegar to detergent dispenser. Run the washer through a complete cycle. Run another cycle on the highest level and at the hottest water temperature, this time adding a 1/2 cup of baking soda to the drum. When the cycle is done, wipe inside drum of washer with a damp microfiber cloth.
Vinegar works just as well as a dryer sheet, but with no harm to your clothes.
Hot water washing at a temperature of at least 160°F is advisable. You can use a steam jet during this process.
To kill the germs in your laundry, wash your clothes on the hot cycle, then put everything in the dryer for 45 minutes. Wash whites with bleach, and use peroxide or color-safe bleach for colors. Do your laundry in water that's at least 140 F to kill any viruses or bacteria.
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is specially designed to sanitize your laundry and to kill 99.9% of bacteria*. It can be used on most washable fabrics including: Baby Clothes, Gym Clothes, Undergarments, Towels, Bedding, and Delicates.
Once a month, use a spray of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water to mist the inside of the drum. Wipe it down with a microfiber cloth, and leave the dryer door open so it can air dry.
For standard washers, add ⅔ cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach to wash water. Add clothes and start wash. Ensure contact with bleach solution for 10 minutes.
Crank your machine up to its hottest water setting and complete a rinse cycle with the bleach or vinegar. Wait for it to finish rinsing before opening it back up. Clean the rubber seal. For front-loading machines, check for mold and grime between the folds of the rubber seal that lines the door of your appliance.
If you opt for the vinegar solution, mix 1 part distilled white vinegar with 2 parts warm water. Lightly spray either the all-purpose cleaner or vinegar solution all over the dryer drum, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then use a microfiber cloth or rag to wipe it up. Feel free to repeat if necessary.
Sanitizing kills bacteria on surfaces using chemicals. It is not intended to kill viruses. Yes, EPA registers products that sanitize. Disinfecting kills viruses and bacteria on surfaces using chemicals.
Sanitize cycles on washing machines, dryers and dishwashers add another layer of germ protection by reducing 99% of bacteria commonly found on dishes and home laundry.