Washing machines are known for cleaning clothes, but homeowners often forget about cleaning the actual machine. Over time, it can get quite dirty just with all the times you’re running the machine and more. Cleaning your washing machine can also make your laundry smell cleaner and extend the life of your appliance, so you’re not breaking the bank on getting a new one. Busy Bee Cleaning is here to walk you through multiple ways to clean your washing machine and what you can do to get the best performance in your home. Read on for more!
Why Does Your Washing Machine Need Cleaning?
Before we dive into the how, we should start with the why. Why does the washing machine how to clean need cleaning, to begin with? Detergent and water buildup can create bacteria and mildew over time. Also, having things like lint stuck in small crevices can lead to reduced efficiency by affecting the draining or spinning issues. Also, These residues can create stains on your already-washed laundry. Nobody wants that. Repairs on washing machines can be quite pricey, so it’s important to check your machine regularly to prevent any of these issues mentioned.
How to Do a Quick Clean of Your Washing Machine
If you feel like cleaning your washing machine is overwhelming, don’t worry. Here are some quick tips to clean your washing machine. Try using baking soda, white vinegar, and bleach if you have it. Then, spray it around the inside area of the machine with microfiber clothes or an old toothbrush to make sure every area is brushed down. Then, use a rinse and drain option on the machine to clean out the leftover soap combination. This is also a great way to clean other appliances in your home, like how to clean dishwasher.
Other Helpful Washing Machine Cleaning Methods
Having other options is always best. If you feel the quick clean method above didn’t do the trick, there are other alternatives. Read below on what we recommend.
Using Vinegar & Baking Soda (All Natural)
This is a budget-friendly, natural solution perfect for tackling odor and residue.
- Start with an empty, dry washer.
- Select the hottest, most extended washing cycle (or a cleaning cycle if your washer has one).
- As it fills with water, pour 3–4 cups of white vinegar.
- Allow the washer to agitate for a few minutes, then pause the cycle.
- Add ½ cup of baking soda and resume agitation for 1–2 minutes. Pause and soak for at least 30 minutes (or up to an hour).
- Complete the cycle to finish rinsing.
- Repeat if needed for a deep clean.
Tip: Never mix vinegar and bleach—this creates harmful fumes.
Washing Machine Cleaning Tablets
If you’re in a hurry or convenience is key, cleaning tablets do the heavy lifting for you.
- Place a cleaning tablet in the drum of your washer.
- Run the clean cycle or use a standard cycle with the hottest water setting.
- Wipe the drum with a microfiber cloth once the cycle is complete.
Try Hydrogen Peroxide
A safe alternative to bleach, hydrogen peroxide eliminates bacteria and stains without discoloring surfaces.
- Start with an empty washer.
- Set the machine to the hottest, largest load setting.
- Add 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide directly to the drum.
- Run a complete wash cycle.
For a Deeper Clean, Use Bleach for Deep Sanitizing
If strong odors or bacteria are your main issue, bleach is a powerful solution.
- Add ½ cup of bleach to the detergent dispenser with an empty, dry washer, and fill the bleach compartment fully.
- Run a normal cycle with warm water.
Borax & Washing Soda
For a hybrid natural/chemical clean, try this dynamic duo.
- Add ½ cup each of borax and washing soda to the drum for top-load machines. For front-loaders, use two tablespoons of each.
- Run the washer on its clean cycle or hottest setting.
- After the cycle, add vinegar to the liquid dispenser (2 cups for front loaders, 1 quart for top loaders) and run another hot cycle.
Pro Tip: After any cleaning cycle, leave the machine door open to air dry entirely and prevent mold. If any of these methods seem too confusing, call house cleaners to come and do them. Busy Bee Cleaning is more than happy to help outin any way they can in keeping your home fresh.
Don’t Forget About the Tough-to-Reach Areas
Like cleaning an oven, washing machines have tons of small spaces and hard-to-reach corners that can get dirty fairly quickly. There are things like door seals, detergent trays, filters, and more to consider when cleaning your washing machine.
Cleaning Detergent Tray & Dispensers
How to clean a detergent tray or dispenser is quite easy. All you have to do is remove the dispenser or tray if it can come apart, then soak them in hot, soapy water. After an hour or two, scrub the tray with a soft brush to remove any build-up. After that, just let it dry out and reattach it to the machine. It’s as good as new!
Cleaning Door Seals (Front-Load Washers)
Most of the time, front-load washers are the most common machines with door seals. The other ones don’t always have a door seal, so please look over your machine next time you wash clothes and see what type it is. Then, if it does have a door seal, wipe the rubber gasket around the door with a cloth and soapy water, or use vinegar for mildew.
Cleaning Out an Agitator & Filter (Top-Load Machines)
If your washing machine isn’t a front-load machine, it’s more than likely a top-load machine; in that case, it may not have a door seal. If it doesn’t, it likely has an agitator or filter. You can confirm by checking the manual to see where it would be. Then, once found, remove it and clean it with hot, soapy water. Sit out to dry for a bit, then reassemble.
Don’t Forget About the Common Issues in Washing Machines
Don’t forget about your washing machine. Just because its primary purpose is to clean, it can still break down and get dirty. Look into fixing common problems your washing machine may have sooner rather than later before they turn into costly repairs. The most common issues washing machines have are leaks, residue buildup, noisy mechanical parts, drainage issues, and foul odors. Always check on your machine with these issues in mind.
Best Tips for Long-Term Performance
If you want your appliance to last as long as possible, you have to take care of it. The ways to do that are to keep it dry, choose quality or reliable detergent, inspect the small parts annually, and keep everything clean, including the interior and exterior.
Choose Busy Bee Cleaning
Suppose you feel like these maintenance tips and tricks may be too much for you, fret not! Call in professionals like Busy Bee Cleaning to take over. We’ve dealt with our fair share of dirty washing machines and are more than ready to take on yours. We can also do the rest of your house so you’re able to stay fresh all the time! Contact us today for professional cleaning services.