How to Clean Washing Machine

Ever wondered how to clean a washing machine? It's like the riddle, "Who cuts the barber's hair?" Your washing machine works hard-learning how to clean a washing machine will let you give your laundry room stalwart a little love in return.

How To Clean A Washing Machine Inside And Out

Often ignored, the washing machine may be the most vital appliance in your home. After all, do you really want to go down to the stream and bang your wet clothes with rocks to get them clean? Luckily, it's easy to keep your washing machine clean, and the best part is the machine will do most of the work. Here's how to get your washing machine looking (and smelling) like new again:

• From the outside in. With a spray cleaner and paper towels, wipe down the top, front and side of your washing machine. Use a folded section of paper towel to get into any seams of crevices.
• Pop the top. Lift the lid and use your spray cleaner and paper towels to clean the inside of the lid and around (and under) the lip of your washing machine's opening. If you have a separate bleach port, now's the time to wipe out any lint or dust that accumulates in this area.
• Liquid success. It doesn't seem fair, but your washing machine will do most of the heavy lifting from here on out. First, fill your washing machine with hot water at the largest load setting. If the inside of your washing machine has rust stains, add two cups of lemon juice. If washing machine odors are your problem, add two cups of vinegar. If you have both of these issues, you'll need to run separate loads. Once you've added the cleaner, run the washing machine through a complete wash and rinse cycle.
• Deep cleaning. Next, load the washer with hot water again and add two cups of bleach. Run the washing machine through a full wash and rinse cycle. Load the washing machine a final time with hot water and run a complete cycle to rinse out any residue from your cleaning solutions.
• Accessories. If you have removable bleach and fabric softener dispensers, remove them and soak them in a bucket of warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove these accessories and wipe them down with spray cleaner and paper towels. Once they have dried, return the dispensers to their proper locations.
• -Round the outside. Vacuum around the base of your washing machine to remove any accumulated dust and lint. Pull the machine out and vacuum behind it, paying particular attention to the areas around the outlet and any cords.
• Screening issues. If you've noticed that your washing machine fills slowly, it's probably time to clean out the inlet screens. These small metal screens block debris from your washing machine that comes from the water source. To clean them, unhook the hot and cold water supply hoses from your washing machine. With a pair of needle nose pliers, gently grasp the screen in the inlet and remove it with a twisting, rocking motion. Clean the screen and reshape it with your fingers. Replace the screens and reattach the water supply hoses.