A well-equipped laundry room calls for more than a stylish folding table and shelving for organization. You need a washer that's operating at peak performance—and that means you need to know how to clean your washing machine and do it regularly. Yes, a washing machine cleans your clothes and seems to always be filled with soap, but that doesn't mean it's clean. On average, families do seven to eight loads of laundry a week. That takes a lot of detergent, and any traces that don't rinse out can leave sticky buildup behind. That buildup stinks—literally; it's what allows mold and mildew to grow. And that's not all, says Patric Richardson, aka HGTV's Laundry Guy: It can keep your washer from working as efficiently as possible.
"The sensors in your machine can get kind of gummed up with detergent, and then it doesn't work as well," says Richardson. "So cleaning every so often also cleans those sensors."
Periodically cleaning your washing machine also ensures "it's not trapping in any dirt," says Richardson. Left unchecked, a dirty washer can trap grime and odors that eventually get rereleased onto your clothes and linens. That can lead to bigger problems, like laundry that never looks or smells clean, which kind of defeats the point of having a washing machine in the first place. Nobody wants that!
Cleaning your washer is an essential part of doing laundry whether you run a load every day or not, so we've laid out a step-by-step guide to clean your washing machine in no time. Read on, then check out our laundry symbols guide. It'll help you decode the label instructions and wash and dry your clothes correctly.
How to Clean Your Washing Machine
To avoid a smelly washer, try to do this routine once a week.
What You'll Need
- 1 gallon distilled white vinegar, plus more for diluting
- 1 pound Borax
- Spray bottle
Step One: Empty It
Remove any clothes, debris (like lint or soggy bits of paper), or in some cases, Legos. Pour the vinegar and Borax into the washer's drum.
Step Two: Start It Up
Start a normal cycle. Let the washing machine run for one minute to combine the vinegar and Borax. When you mix borax and vinegar, they create a solution that helps remove any mold or mildew that may be developing. Borax is also a natural deodorizer.
Step Three: Let It Soak
Let the vinegar and Borax sit in the washing machine for one hour. Now's the perfect time to take a break—or, you know, fold the clothes you just took out of the dryer.
Step Four: Run a Heavy-Duty Cycle
Select the longest, hardest-working wash cycle. (Usually this is the Heavy Duty cycle.) This setting runs longer than the Normal setting and has higher agitation, if your washer has an agitator. It also typically includes a fast spin cycle to remove as much moisture as possible.
Step Five: Wipe It Down
Fill the spray bottle halfway with vinegar, then top it up with water. When the cycle is complete, spray the entire drum, the gasket around the door, the handle, and the detergent compartment or drawer with the diluted vinegar, and let it sit for a few minutes.
Wipe the machine down inside and out. If you have a front-loading washing machine, leave the door and detergent drawer open to air-dry.
Cleaning your washing machine is a smart addition to your regular cleaning routine. Doing it weekly will help keep your washing machine looking and functioning its best.
