Experts have shared the ‘best’ way to clean your washing machine - and the great thing is it doesn’t take too much effort. The method also uses natural cleaners that are probably already in your cupboards - or if not, they are easy to locate in most stores.
These natural ingredients are “non-toxic, biodegradable, and safer for waterways, pets, and people” too, experts say, as well as being inexpensive. Perhaps you’ve noticed mould in the washing machine drawer or that your clothes are not coming out as clean as you’d like. Well, a couple of natural cleaners could be key to getting your washing machine back to operating as good as new.
Vinegar and baking soda are the two things you’ll need - these will ensure a super clean outcome - with no scrubbing.
Southern Living magazine recently shared the tips on their website, detailing how this method can “breathe new life” into your washing machine.
After trying “every cleaning method out there”, the poster - sharing personal experience - got in touch with two experts who shared tips on how to clean a washing machine with vinegar and baking soda.
Maverick Davis, a Frontdoor virtual appliance expert, told the magazine: “Ingredients like vinegar and baking soda are less harmful to your health, are more eco-friendly, and are more cost-effective.”
Glenn Lewis, president of Mr. Appliance, also explained the cleaning process to Southern Living magazine. He detailed that you must use the baking soda first, with hot water, followed by the vinegar, as this “allows the baking soda to dissolve and soften to eradicate any grease or buildup”.
Distilled white vinegar
Baking soda
Microfibre cloth
Empty your washing machine - make sure nothing is inside the drum before you start
Pour two cups of the distilled white vinegar into the drum of the washing machine. Do not add anything else - just the vinegar.
Select the hottest and longest available wash cycle on your settings - preferably 90C. This lets the vinegar run through the entire machine, breaking down mould, residue and scum - even in the drawer area.
Once the cycle with vinegar is completed, sprinkle a half cup of baking soda directly into the drum. Then run another hot wash cycle, without anything else in the machine
When this second cycle is finished, use a clean microfibre cloth to wipe down inside the drum, door and the watching machine drawer. Leave the washing machine door open to help it air out - this is a good habit to adopt after any wash cycle has completed going forward.
Experts recommend using this method every month to remove residue and prevent a build up of mould. There are a few “safety precautions” to follow, Mr Lewis explained to Southern Living magazine.
He advised to "check your machine’s manual for any warnings", and never to mix the vinegar and baking soda in the same cycle to "avoid clogs or residue buildup".
Lewis also advised that if you use bleach in the laundry you’ll need to “run an empty cycle first to flush the washer out before adding vinegar”.
