Do you routinely clean the inside of your washing machine?
I must confess, until recently, I did not!
Our youngest daughter and her family are currently living beside us while their home is being built. Between us, we are doing huge amounts of laundry. Noticing some grease spots and stains remaining on our clothes after being washed, I attributed it to the less expensive laundry detergent to which we had recently switched.
However, after giving it some thought, I realized this was not a first-time event. Grease spots and stains had mysteriously appeared on clothes previously.
In a light bulb moment, it occurred to me that the washing machine itself might be the culprit.
Isn’t a washing machine basically self-cleaning?
Fill the washer with laundry, detergent, and water; agitate until clean and rinse. Dirt and grime wash down the drain. Repeat for the next load.
Now, replace the washing machine with a bathtub in that scenario.
The soap and water might wash down the drain but there is usually a soapy residue left behind.
After a very short amount of time, the tub or shower is noticeably disgusting.
Unfortunately, that’s very similar to what happens inside a washing machine. It’s just not as noticeable until clothes just don’t seem to be getting clean.
Even worse, the residue has the ability to leave funky smells and, over time, destroy the inner workings of a washing machine.
Don’t make the mistake of assuming the washing machine is self-cleaning.
What is the best way to clean the inside of a washing machine?
Knowing that cleaning the inside of a washing machine is not really optional, the next logical question is, what is the best way to clean the inside of a washing machine?
There are many good commercial options.
The two with which I am familiar are, Glisten, which is a liquid and Affresh, which is a tablet.
Both products are formulated specifically to deep clean the inside of a washing machine.
Instructions for use are included on the packaging and both recommend cleaning your washing machine once per month.
A do-it-yourself option for cleaning the inside of a washing machine is white vinegar.
Add two cups of white vinegar to an empty washing machine and run a normal cycle once a month.
My choice is to use a commercial product monthly and use white vinegar occasionally in between.
I prefer the assurance that the crud that builds up is completely washed away after use.
After the cleaning cycle is complete, use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe out the inside of the tub.
Microfiber cloths have great pick-up properties and will pick up any gunk and residue that might be left behind.
Be sure and wipe the rubber seal of the door as well.
Don’t forget the outside of the washer.
Cleaning the outside of the washer has absolutely zero effect on laundry.
It simply makes your washer look better. And if the washer looks better, in theory, you’ll feel better about doing laundry.
Do you need to clean the inside of your washing machine?
The answer is a definite yes!
But the good news is that cleaning the inside of the washer is one of the easiest cleaning tasks with which you will ever be faced.
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This is a great reminder ! I even have the product to do it but forgot ! 😀