Content

• Method 2 of 2: Front Loading
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

1 Set the washing machine to the longest wash time and the highest temperature. The drum must be completely filled with water. To do this, select the maximum load mode. If the machine does not have the ability to set the wash time, select the Long wash mode. Set the maximum temperature and start the wash. When water starts filling the drum, do not close the lid.

• If your machine has a drum cleaning function, use it.

SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

Ashley matuska

Cleaning professional Ashley Matuska is the owner and founder of Dashing Maids, a cleaning agency in Denver, Colorado with a focus on sustainability. Has been working in the cleaning industry for over five years.

Ashley matuska
Cleaning professional

How often you clean your washing machine depends on how often you use it. Cleaning specialist Ashley Matuska shares her experience: “I use the washing machine about 10 times a week and clean it about once a month. If you use your machine less often, you can clean it once every two months. To clean the machine, turn on the cleaning mode. If you have an old model of machine, select the maximum load mode or set the maximum wash time. Don't forget to set the temperature to the highest, too. "

2 Pour 4 cups (1 L) table vinegar into the drum. Use regular table vinegar for cleaning. Pour vinegar into the drum while it fills with water.

• Buy a few bottles of washing machine cleaning vinegar and store them in the bathroom. When it's time to clean your car, you don't have to go to the kitchen to get vinegar.

3 Add 1 cup (250 g) baking soda to the drum. While the drum is filling, add baking soda to the water to mix with the water and vinegar. The baking soda will react with the vinegar and begin to dissolve the precipitate.

• Store one or two packs of baking soda in the bathroom. You will always have a baking soda on hand to clean your car.

4 Stir the vinegar and baking soda in the water and let sit for 1 hour. Close the lid of the machine and run the wash for 1 minute to mix the baking soda, vinegar and water more thoroughly and distribute the solution throughout the drum. Open the lid after a minute to stop washing.

• In some washing machines, after the start of washing, the lid is closed with a lock. To unlock the lock, press the pause button.

5 Clean the bleach, detergent, and fabric softener compartments with a toothbrush or sponge. Take a stiff toothbrush, dip it into the water in the drum, and use it to scrub all compartments with it. First, use your toothbrush to scrub where mold has formed. Wash off any stubborn dirt with a clean cloth.

• If you are having trouble cleaning the mold compartments with a toothbrush, use a large hard brush or a sponge with an abrasive side.
• Place the removable parts in water and let them soak for 20 minutes, then clean them.
• Inspect the rubber seal around the edges of the cover.If it has stubborn dirt, scrub it off with a toothbrush.

6 Lower the lid and complete the wash. Close the washing machine and start the wash if it does not start on its own. Wait until the end of washing and draining.

• Wipe down the sides and top of the machine with a damp cloth while the wash continues to maximize your waiting time.

7 When the wash is over, wipe the wall and bottom of the drum with a cloth. Take a clean cloth and wipe off any residual residue from the drum surface. For more effective removal of dirt, make a 1: 3 solution of vinegar in water and dampen a rag with it.

• If too much residue remains on the drum, clean the drum again with 1 liter of vinegar.
• In the future, do not close the lid after washing to prevent mold and allow the drum to dry.
• Clean the machine every month to prevent the drum from becoming heavily clogged.

Method 2 of 2: Front Loading

1. 1 Use vinegar to remove mold from the rubber cuff. Pour vinegar into a bowl, dip a sponge in it, and use it to wipe the rubber sleeve around the machine's inlet and underneath. If the mold doesn't rub off, soak it in vinegar and let it soak for 20 minutes, then try rubbing it off again. After removing the mold, wipe the cuff with a dry towel.
   • For stubborn mold growth, use a stiff toothbrush.
2. 2 Pour 2 cups (500 ml) table vinegar into the drum. Pour vinegar directly into the bottom of the drum and close the door.
   • If you notice a lot of stubborn dirt, add another half cup (125 ml) of vinegar to soften the dirt more effectively.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Chris willatt

   
   
   Cleaning Professional Chris Willatt is the owner and founder of Alpine Maids, a Denver, Colorado-based cleaning service. Alpine Maids earned the Denver Best Cleaning Service Award in 2016 and has been rated A on the Angie’s List for more than five consecutive years. Chris received his BA from the University of Colorado in 2012.

   Chris willatt
   Cleaning professional

   Do not close the door of the washing machine after washing, so that an unpleasant smell does not appear in it. Tip from Cleaner Chris Willatt: “Vinegar is a good remedy for removing mold, but it's best not to let it grow at all. To prevent mold from forming, do not close the door after washing, leaving a small gap through which air will enter the drum and dry out the moisture. "

3. 3 Stir the baking soda in warm water and pour the solution into the washing machine. Pour ¼ cup (60 ml) of water into a small bowl and add ¼ cup of baking soda (55 g). After stirring the baking soda in the water, pour the solution into all compartments of the washing machine tray.
   • If you are using only detergent for washing, pour the solution directly into the detergent drawer.
4. 4 Set the normal wash cycle, set the temperature high and start the wash. Set the washing temperature as high as possible. Choose the normal wash cycle that you use most often, or the long wash cycle to allow the detergent to dissolve the residue on the drum longer.
   • A solution of vinegar and baking soda in warm water can soften and break down mold and grime on the drum.
5. 5 When the wash is over, wipe the drum with a cloth. Dampen a cloth with clean water and rinse the drum of any remaining dirt and mildew. If mold still remains on the walls of the drum after washing, scrub it off with a brush.
   • Clean every month to avoid heavy dirt on the washing machine.

Tips

• Clean your washing machine once a month to keep it in good condition and to prevent unpleasant odors.
• Add a few drops of essential oil to the drum while cleaning to keep the machine smelling fresh.

Warnings

• If you have sensitive skin, vinegar can irritate the skin.To avoid this, wear rubber gloves.

What do you need

• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Rags
• Toothbrush
• Rubber gloves (optional)