Washing machines are modern wonders: You toss your dirty clothes into the drum, and within an hour or two, the machine turns your dirty clothes into clean clothes. Many people wrongly assume that since the washing machine is swishing around all that soapy water, it must be sparkling clean on the inside, but in fact, washing machines are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, thanks to their dark interiors and perpetual moisture.
Cleaning your washing machine regularly can prolong the lifespan of your washer by removing detergent buildup, mineral residue, debris, and mildew that can cause problems over time. As an added bonus, removing all that gunk from your washer will also make your clothes feel cleaner and smell fresher.
How Often to Clean Top-Loading Washing Machines and Washer-Dryer Combos
Whirlpool recommends that you clean your top-loading washing machine at least once a month or after every 30 cycles. If you notice a sour odor emanating from your washer between cleanings, or if your laundry doesn’t smell clean after a full cycle, that’s a sign that you need to clean it more often.
If you opt for a washer-dryer combo that eliminates the chore of moving a load from the washer to the dryer, you might exert less effort on each load of laundry, but you still need to clean the machine at least once a month.
Clean Front-Loading Machines Twice a Month
Front-loading washers have a rubber seal around the door to ensure that water doesn’t leak all over your laundry room floor during a cycle. Those rubber seals are crucial to the machine’s operation, but the seals also tend to trap water, dirt, hair, and lint; then, bacteria will quickly start breeding. Once mildew or bacteria starts growing on your door seal, it can transfer to your clothes during the wash cycle and leave your favorite shirt smelling far from fresh.
How to Clean Your Washing Machine
If you’ve lived up until this moment without realizing that you should clean your washing machine at least 12 times a year, you are not alone. Now that you know how often you should clean it, let’s go through the basic steps for cleaning your washing machine:
- Check your machine’s manual for instructions about cleaning your specific machine. If your washer has a “cleaning” cycle, simply follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning and sanitizing.
- If your manual doesn’t provide clear instructions for cleaning the drum, pick up a box of Affresh® or similar cleaning tablets and follow the instructions on the package.
- Grab a few old towels and then remove the filter from the bottom of your washing machine to clean out any hair or random objects that might be blocking the filter. Be prepared to use those towels: Most washing machines will release some water when you unscrew and remove that filter.
- You can also use hot water and vinegar to disinfect your washing machine and remove detergent buildup from the reservoir and drum. Set your washer on the hottest possible setting, and then pour about two cups of vinegar into the laundry dispenser slot. Run an empty load and let the vinegar and hot water work their magic.
How to Keep Your Washing Machine Clean Between Cleanings
- Wipe down the washer drum after heavily soiled loads
- Remove excess dirt and debris and pre-treat stains before loading clothes in the machine
- Move clean, wet clothes out of the washing machine as soon as possible after the cycle finishes.
- Leave the lid (or door) open between loads so air can circulate within the machine, which will help dry out any lingering water.
If your washing machine has reached the end of its usable life, stop into the closest Garner Appliance & Mattress to check out our selection of washing machines and washer-dryer combos. Garner Appliance & Mattress has convenient Triangle locations, so stop by our Garner or Raleigh stores today!