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To keep your washing machine tip-top good condition, it’s a good idea to clean it regularly. Washing machines can easily build up with detergent residue and limescale if you live in a hard water area. They can also start to smell or grow mould on the seals. There are lots of expensive products on the market to help you clean your machine, but you can achieve the same result with household ingredients, with the added bonus you save money and use fewer harmful chemicals!
The thrifty way to clean your washing machine.
- Remove the drawer and soak in hot water to loosen any mould or detergent build up. Use an old toothbrush to scrub away the mould. For particularly bad build ups you can mix bicarbonate of soda into a paste with a little water. This will act as an abrasive and help remove the buildup. Allow to dry afterwards.
- Empty the washing machines filter, clean and replace
- Run a hot wash (60 degrees or above) with 1/2 cup of bicarbonate of soda and 1/2 cup of white vinegar. (We use these a LOT and buy in bulk for better value, reduce the quantities if you don’t need quite as much!) If you live in a hard water area, you could swap out the bicarbonate of soda for soda crystals (also known as sodium carbonate). Soda crystals are stronger than also act as a water softener and a stain remover, but are much less likely to be found in your store cupboard. Keep an eye on your machine as it washes as you may find it suds up due to a build-up of soap residue!
- Wipe all the seals with a mixture of equal parts hot water and white vinegar to keep them clean and prevent odours.
- Leave the washing machine door open when not in use so that air can circulate, this will help the machine dry out and prevent mouldy seals.