How To Clean Your Washer And Dryer

Doing the laundry feels like a real pain. But what’s more painful is cleaning the washer after every wash. Thinking of skipping the step? It might not be a good idea. The condition of your dryer and washer has a significant impact on the cleanliness of your laundry. If you don’t clean your washing machine and dryer regularly, they won’t be around for long to wash your laundry. 

Routine upkeep includes removing the lint after every wash, along with periodic cleaning. Here are effective tips to keep your washer and dryer clean. Also, find bonus tips on how to keep your washer in good condition for years!

Tips To Keep Your Washer Clean

• Clean with baking soda

Empty your washing machine and add about 2 cups of baking soda directly into the tub. Baking soda effectively scrubs the washer’s inside and prevents stale and moldy odors left behind after the wash. After adding soda, run a long hot water cycle and let it be. If your washer has a self-clean cycle, you can use it as well. 

• Add vinegar

After running the hot water cycle with baking soda, add 2 cups of white vinegar and 8 to 10 drops of essential oils like lavender oil or tea tree oil. Essential oils help remove mineral and mildew deposits and also act as a mild disinfectant. Next, run another longest cycle you can find in the settings with hot water. Vinegar gets rid of any odors and deposits left by detergents and fabric softeners. 

After running both cycles, you can wipe the drum with a microfiber cloth. If you still see any stains, use a paste made with baking soda and water and scrub the area with a non-scrubbing sponge. The paste should remove every smell and stain. 

• Sanitize your washer with chlorine bleach

Worried about the hygiene of your younger kids? You can ensure proper cleanliness by regularly sanitizing the washer. For this, you can use chlorine bleach. Follow these steps to sanitize your washer using chlorine bleach:

• Empty the washer and set the temperature to the hottest setting you can find. 
• Now add 1 cup of chlorine bleach to the empty washer drum and make sure there are no clothes left in it. 
• Set the washer to a complete cycle and allow it to run through the entire cycle. 
• After the cycle finishes, check the gaskets and rubber seals for any build-up. If you find any, make a mixture by adding 1/4 cup chlorine bleach and 1 quart of water. Now scrub the area with a soft brush. 
• Now set the washer to the spin/rinse cycle to thoroughly clean out the bleach.