Keep your washing machine clean by periodically running an empty load with hot water and vinegar. Open the top of the machine and let it sit, all bleach-y and full, for an hour. At the end of the hour, shut the cover and let the machine run a complete cycle.
Fill the drum with a ½ cup of baking soda and a quart of vinegar and run a wash cycle containing just a couple of clean hand towels (many manufacturers don't recommend running the washer completely empty).
The results will be exactly the same, however white vinegar is most definitely the more environmentally option (and it's more affordable too). Just remember to never mix the both bleach and vinegar together or even use them at the same time, as this can cause a dangerous reaction and release chlorine gas.
When it comes to cleaning a washing machine, your cleaning solution depends on the issue at hand. “If you have mold or mildew, both vinegar and bleach are effective, but bleach is more effective,” Gazzo says. “For removing odors, I would say vinegar.”
Add two 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 1/2 a cup of baking soda to the drum. When the cycle is done, wipe inside drum of washer with a damp microfiber cloth.
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).
If you have the all clear, pour 2 cups of vinegar into your detergent dispenser and run your washer on the hot cycle. "When it is complete, add a half-cup of baking soda to the drum and run another hot cycle," she says.
Add four cups of bleach to a top-loading machine or two cups to a front-loader. Run a wash cycle at the highest temperature and let the tub fill. Pause the wash cycle once the bleach has mixed with the water. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes before finishing the cycle.
Ciufo recommends using a dishwasher cleaner, such as those from Affresh or Finish, to remove hard-water film, which will help your dishwasher last longer. Vinegar is ineffective at getting rid of water spots. The acid can eat away at the rubber parts in the appliance, according to Nyman.
If your washing machine is dirty, you may end up having to use a higher or longer wash cycle to get your clothes and other laundry items clean, which can make your energy bill higher each month. This is also true if you have to wash your laundry a second time because it comes out smelling bad or covered in mold stains.
Add two cups of white vinegar and let the cycle run. (If you have a front load washer, pour the vinegar into the detergent dispenser.) For an extra-clean washing machine, repeat the cycle with a half-cup of baking soda. You'll also need to hand-wash the top portion of the agitator and basin above the water line.
Often, there won't be any visible signs of dirt or mould inside your machine, but you might be able to smell something whiffy, which suggests that bacteria is present. Just add half a cup of bleach to your detergent drawer and run a normal wash cycle with hot water to kill germs and eliminate smells.
Mix half a cup of water and ¼ cup baking soda into a small bowl. Add the solution to the detergent container of the washing machine. Pour 2 cups of vinegar into the drum. Close the door and set the washing machine to a normal load at the hottest water setting.
How Often Should I Be Washing My Washer? 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.
Run Vinegar Through the Washing Machine
As the washing machine fills with water, add 4 cups of white vinegar and wait for it to finish filling. Once the machine is completely full, just as the load starts to run, pause the machine and let the water and vinegar sit for an hour.
probably at least a cup of the Oxy Clean and Biz, ½ - ¾ cup of Cascade and ⅓ cup of Dawn. if you are using a larger container, use more soap. then, mix it all up.
The Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner is a similar product to the OxiClean version. They have similar active ingredients (the Affresh cleaner users sodium carbonate, OxiClean uses sodium percarobonate), which both create an effervescent cleaning foam, except the Affresh cleaner comes in tab form.
Put 1 cup of baking soda into the washer and start a long, hot cycle. Let the agitator mix the baking soda into the water until it has dissolved (about 10 minutes). Pause the cycle and add 4 cups of vinegar to the hot water. Allow the mixture to sit for half an hour before resuming the cycle.
As a general rule, wherever you find rubber, keep the vinegar away. The vinegar's acid can eat away at rubber just as it does natural stone. Soap and water or a solution of soap and baking soda are the best grime busters for rubber parts.