A clean washing machine won’t have bad odors and buildups inside it. We all have experienced a bad odor coming out of a washing machine. A washing machine cleans all your clothes, so can they clean themselves?
Washing machines don’t clean themselves. The inside of a washing machine, dispenser trays, and filters of a washer need to be cleaned manually either using commercially available expensive products or some common products already available at home, like baking soda and vinegar.
In this article, I am going to discuss how you can keep your washing machine clean and odor-free effortlessly without buying expensive washer cleaning products. Also, I will discuss how often you should do it and explain how to clean different parts of any washer.
So, let’s get started, shall we?
How Do I Get My Washing Machine To Clean Itself?
Let’s face the truth; you can’t get your washing machine to get all clean by itself. But there is an easy way to clean the inside of your washing machine, which almost feels like the washing machine is cleaning itself, as the process is very easy.
Here’s a step-by-step process to get your washing machine clean and disinfect the inside by itself:
Step 1 – Collect a Few Products You Might Already At Home
Don’t buy commercially available washing machine cleaning products. You don’t need to spend ten bucks on this.
Instead, you might already have baking soda and vinegar present at your home. Bring them.
Step 2 – Sprinkle 2 Cups of Baking Soda:
Take 2 cups, fill them with baking soda, and pour them inside your washing machine directly. Baking soda is a powerful cleaning agent that can be used to clean several household products.
Don’t worry if your washer is front loading or top loading. This process will work for both types of washing machines.
Step 3 – Close Your Washing Machine & Run It
In this step, make sure you close your washing machine and start the washing cycle.
Check out the hottest and longest cycle that your washing machine is capable of and run the hottest and longest cycle possible.
Just sit aside, let the washer rip the dirt and odors, and clean the inside all by itself.
The baking soda will work as a scrubber and it will clean off mild buildups and bad odors that have accumulated over repeated use.
Step 4: Pour 2 Cups of White Vinegar & Few Drops of Lavender Oil Inside:
When the Cycle is complete open the washer and pour 2 cups of vinegar, and run the longest and hottest cycle that your washing machine is capable of again.
Pan The Organizer, a famous YouTuber and expert in cleaning and washing, suggests that you can add at least 5 drops of lavender essential oil in this step for better results.
This is not mandatory to add, but if you have it in your home, you should. Also, it’s okay if you don’t.
Running another cycle with vinegar is going to disinfect your washer and kill all the germs and also remove bad odor.
The inside of your washer can be cleaned effortlessly using the process. It’s like your machine just cleaned itself all you did is pour some ingredients and run the cycle twice. That’s how you make your washer clean itself.
How Often Should I Clean My Washing Machine?
You should clean the inside of your washing machine at least once every year. But clean the dispenser trays once every 3-4 months.
How Often To Clean The Washing Machine Filter?
A filmy layer of mildew can form on the filter over time. That’s why a washing machine filter needs to be cleaned every 6 months.
I have a few tips that will help you to keep the washing machine cleaner, and you will have to clean your washer less often.
Tip Number 1: Keep The Door Open:
Always keep the door of your washing machine open after you are done using it. It stays dry it will prevent moisture from staying inside, and germ buildups. This means less odor and a cleaner environment inside your washing machine.
Let me explain a little more. When you keep the door open after you are done with a load, a lot of moisture stays inside the washer.
If you keep the door shut, this moisture won’t escape and cause the problem of odor and bacteria buildup.
Now, when you keep the door open, all the moisture evaporates, and there is no moisture inside. In this way, this trick will help you to prevent bad odor and germ buildup.
Tip Number 2: Clean The Dispenser Trays:
All the washing machines that I have seen have dispenser trays located at the top. Clean them every 4 months. To do so, remove them first and use a toothbrush and liquid soap to clean and scrub the inner parts properly.
Run it with water to wash the trays and put them back. Using this trick, you can clean the dispenser trays very easily and effectively.
If you don’t follow these tips you might start to experience bad odor emitting from your washer more often. I am sure you don’t want that!
Related Questions:
Is Cleaning The Washing Machine Necessary?
Yes, cleaning the washing machine is really important. It prevents bad odor, build-up of molds, and dust as well.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Washing Machine?
If you don’t clean your washing machine from time to time, the following things will happen:
- After a few months, your washing machine will start smelling bad.
- You might start noticing a buildup of massive mold and mildews within a year.
- The Washer will be house to harmful bacteria and might start spreading diseases.
Are You Supposed To Clean Your Washing Machine Filter?
Yes, you need to clean your washing machine filter every 6 months. Gunks from on the filter over time and you will need to remove them manually.
How Often To Clean Washing Machine With Vinegar?
Experts suggest you should clean the inside of your machine with vinegar at least once every year. This will disinfect the washer and kill all the harmful bacteria.
Take 2 cups of white vinegar and run a complete cleaning cycle using the hottest temperature and longer time possible.
Final Thoughts:
There you have it! A washer will not completely clean all by itself. The inside of a washer can be cleaned almost effortlessly, all you have to do is pour baking soda and vinegar and run 2 complete washing cycles, and the washer will take care of the rest.
However, you have to clean the dispenser trays and filter your washer manually. If you love this article, don’t forget to share it with your close ones and leave a comment if you have any queries.
