If you’re long overdue a washing machine clean, there may be signs that you’re blissfully overlooking, including a certain stench – but cleaning it is easier than you think
Truthfully, when was the last time you deep cleaned your washing machine?
It cleans your clothes and makes them smell and look fresh again, but did you know that if you don’t take care of the appliance that’s doing all this hard work, it could end up seriously grim? According to Good Housekeeping, every three to six months, you should be treating your washer to a good clean, as otherwise, your clothes could end up smelling damp.
Not just that, the appliance could be riddled with grime, mould, mildew or old soap, and as a result, it could let off a disgusting rotten egg smell – which is enough to make even the most strong-stomached among us feel nauseous.
So, what’s the best way to make sure your washing machine is as good as new? Thankfully, newer machines will have a self-clean function that requires way less effort than scrubbing it until it sparkles, which is good news for those who bought their appliance recently.
If you need a more traditional cleaning method, however, because your appliance is older, or you just want to ensure it’s totally spick and span, cleanfluencer Ann Russell recommended that you “a mug full of ordinary bleach [in the machine], run it on a hot cycle, and when it’s finished, leave it open. Never close your washing machine up while you’re not using it, always leave the door open”.
Appliance experts Hotpoint also shared how often things should be cleaned in a handy guide, writing:
- After each use – clean the rubber door seal.
- Every 5 washes – clean the detergent drawer.
- Every month – descale your washing machine.
- Every 1 – 3 months – clean the filter and do a deep clean to remove residue.
They also recommended using the auto-clean function once a month if you have it for “optimal performance”. Hotpoint experts shared that there’s another way to deep clean the machine by “flushing” it out, “helping to keep stains away”.
They said that normally, they recommend washing on a low temperature, as it’s more environmentally friendly. But if you want to deep clean it, empty the drum and add a cleaning agent to the detergent drawer. Then, “run a cotton cycle at 70°C or above”. You should then dry the drum and ensure the door is left open so it can air out.
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