How to Clean Your Washing Machine

These tips on how to clean your washing machine is beneficial for all models.

Here's how to clean your washing machine:

- Unplug the power cord and turn off both the water supply valves behind your washing machine.

- Lift the lid and remove any objects from the washer tub.

- Wipe down the inside of the lid with a clean, damp cloth or sponge.

- Inspect and clean the water inlet valve screens (located where cold and hot water enter the washer) by removing them and soaking in vinegar or bleach for 10 minutes. Rinse well with water before replacing.

- Run a wash cycle with hot water (no laundry) to flush-dew deposits can form on the rubber door gasket on front load washers and in the detergent dispensers if water is allowed to puddle there.

If you're set on using vinegar, the Cleaning Lab recommends this method: Wipe out any visible residue from the drum with a damp towel. Then, once a month, fill the empty washer with hot water and pour in 1 cup of distilled white vinegar (not regular vinegar, which is too acidic). Let it agitate for a minute before stopping the cycle and letting it soak for an hour. After that, finish the cycle. If your washing machine doesn't have a clean cycle, run it through a regular cycle twice.

Bleach is by far the best way to clean a washing machine. To clean your washing machine with bleach, simply add 1/2 cup of bleach to the detergent compartment andIs bleach or vinegar better to clean a washing machine??

For these reasons alone, you should deep clean your washing machine once a month and take these simple steps after each load to help keep it fresh and clean.

This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.