Published On:2015/02/15
Posted by Unknown
How to Clean a Washing Machine
Failure to clean and maintain your washing machine can lead to bad odors, germs, bacteria and mold. I experienced this first hand when I began to see black bits all over my washing. At first I thought it was just the remains of a forgotten tissue hidden in a pocket. But it didn’t go away. I realized that the black stuff was coming from my washing machine, so I peeled back the rubber seal to look between the drums. I was horrified. It was covered in black mold and built up soap scum. I spent weeks trying different strategies to get rid of it. In this article I will share these with you and explain how they work.
Neglecting your machine can lead to expensive repairs and even the need to replace it. Bacteria and mould can pose a danger to our health, especially children and those with sensitivities and compromised immune systems. It is important to discover the root cause/s of this mold and build up to find the best solution and strategies for prevention.
The Washing Machine Drum
Surrounding the inner drum is an outer drum. It holds the water which washes in and out through the holes of the inner drum. In most models this outer drum is made of plastic, which could be contributing to the smell. Plastic is a porous material and the molded shape of the drum, with its many grooves, creates the perfect damp environment for mould to grow and scum to build up. The same problem can occur with the plastic centre agitator of top loading machines and the inner drum if it is made of porous porcelain enamel. A sign that this has become a problem can be both a foul odor and black flaky, leafy residue on your laundry.
Machines with stainless steel drums have fewer issues because steel has a smooth hard surface that is easily cleaned and sterilized and is inert (unlikely to react to other substances). However, this does not make it immune to limescale build up.
High Efficiency Washing Machines (HE)
HE washing machines are great for our water bills, but not so good at removing the soapy suds that occur during a wash cycle. When suds aren’t properly rinsed away, scum can build up between the inner and outer drums, clogging up your machine and its working parts such as the filters and pipes. This can produce a bad odor which is then transferred to your clothes each time you wash. Although manufacturers now produce specialized low suds detergents for HE machines, many people are not using them.
Front Load Washing Machine Gasket
The gasket (the rubber ring around the door that forms a seal) of your front loading machine traps a lot of water in it and is the perfect place for mold to grow. Peel back the lip to look inside the rubber folds. You may be shocked at what you’ll find.
Backfilling
If you notice that your machine is partially refilling with foul water between washes then it could be “backfilling”. This can occur when the machine has not been correctly installed and is consequently not draining properly. It causes the dirty water to flow back into your machine, creating a bad smell.
Washing with Cold Water
In an effort to reduce energy bills, many people wash with cold water. Unfortunately this leads to a number of potential issues for you and your machine. Our clothing and bedding contain lots of body oils and grease. Although your detergent might be good at removing these residues from your fabrics, unless you use hot water to rinse it away, this scum can settle on the inner drum of your machine.
Washing with low temperatures is also a problem when it comes to the germs and bacteria that build up in your machine. Unless you wash above 60ºC (140ºF), then the bacteria and germs will populate and spread to each load of washing that you do. This problem is further exacerbated when people do not separate their laundry i.e. wash their underwear with their tea towels (think fecal matter washed onto your tea towels which you then use to dry the plates you eat off!).
Laundry Products
In the UK, many people choose to use enzyme free (non-bio) detergents and this trend has begun progressing to other countries. This type of detergent must be used at higher temperatures, but many people use it at lower temperatures which results in residual scum.
Similarly, using liquid detergents, especially softener, can congeal and cause a soapy sludge to build up and stick to the inside of your machines drum. Also, liquid detergents don’t contain any bleach which usually helps to keep your machines drum clean. This problem is exacerbated by the tendency for people to use too much product and wash at lower temperatures.
Hard Water
Many of us live in areas with hard water. Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium and when it is heated, limescale forms. As a result, the heating element in your machine can become crusted with limescale that can cause it to fail over time. When hard water comes into contact with the laundry detergent it forms lime soap, also known as soap scum. Both limescale and soap scum build up on the surfaces they come in contact with, such as, the washing machine drums, pipes and hoses. It can shorten their lifespan and cause break downs. It can also promote microbial growth inside the machine.
How to Keep Your Washing Machine Clean and Smelling Fresh
Do at least one wash a month at a minimum of 60ºC (140ºF) (fortnightly if you are a heavy user) to sanitize your machine.
Separate your laundry loads according to type and, when you have the chance, dry washing out in the sun to kill harmful bacteria.
If you are washing items that may contain harmful bacteria like work uniforms, bedding and clothing of sick people or those that with a compromised immune system, then you must wash with water temperatures of at least 60ºC (140ºF). For those of you that can not do this then the only safe alternative is to use a hygienic wash like Persil Hygiene Disinfectant. It is added to the fabric softener dispenser and is designed to be used in water as cool as 15ºC (59ºF) and still effectively kill 99.99 percent of germs and bacteria.
Choose powdered enzyme detergents over liquid ones.
Regularly add oxygen bleach to your wash to clean and sanitize both your laundry and machine.
Avoid using fabric softener – try using a half a cup of white vinegar instead.
Use the correct dose of detergent according to water hardness and load size. Resist the urge to overuse!
Don’t leave wet clothes in the washing machine.
Always leave the door of the washing machine open to allow it to dry.
For front loading machines, use an old towel or paper towel to dry around the rubber gasket/door seal after each wash. You could also add some vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to the towel as you wipe it down to really scare away the mold.
For HE machines, choose a low suds detergent made specifically for it. If your machine is not thorough at rinsing suds, consider adding an additional rinse cycle to the end of your wash.
If you think that your machine is backfilling, check to ensure that it has been installed properly. Professional assistance may be required to rectify the problem.
Run regular service/maintenance washes through your machine.
Combat limescale by adding a water softening product such as Rain Drops with every wash. Add the amount of detergent required for hard water as directed on the packaging and once a month use a professional limescale remover such as Lemi Shine Machine Cleaner.
How to Clean a Washing Machine Gasket
Pack the rubber folds and cavities of the gasket with paper towels soaked in hydrogen peroxide. Leave it to soak for a few hours before wiping down clean and dry. You may need to use a soft brush to gently scrub it.
How to Clean a Washing Machine Top Loader
Use a paper towel soaked in hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar to wipe around the opening of the machine. Try and get between the tub rim and top edges, and all the areas that the water can’t get to.
How to Clean a Washing Machine Dispenser
Remove the dispensers from the machine. Fill your tub up with hot water and half a cup of vinegar and scrub away. If the dispenser can’t be removed (check your machines manual), then use a pipe cleaner or a toothbrush to get into the crevices.
How to Clean a Washing Machine with Oxygen Bleach and Enzyme Detergent
Choose powdered enzyme detergents over liquid ones. Look for a detergent that contains a range of grease eating enzymes such as Amylase, Protease as well as Lipase or Mannanase (you may need to check the manufacturer’s website for the list of ingredients). Regularly add powdered oxygen bleach to your usual detergent. Seventh Generation detergents use these types of enzymes and they also sell oxygen bleach. Be aware that enzyme detergents are not safe to use on wool or silk.
The machine is designed to rise to this temperature as the wash progresses, so this should give the enzymes enough time to do their work without being affected by the heat. If your machine has manual load levels, then set it to its biggest load capacity.
How to Clean a Washing Machine with Baking Soda and Vinegar
You can clean a washing machine naturally using distilled white vinegar and baking soda. Vinegar is acetic acid, but it's only a mild form of acid and will not kill all of the mould. Therefore it’s best to use it alongside baking soda to kill a wider range of mould species. Both are safe to use and help to remove limescale. Baking soda also deodorizes.
How to Clean a Washing Machine with Hydrogen Peroxide
Instead of chlorine bleach, try using hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is sold as a 3% diluted liquid solution and is an excellent all around cleaner. You may see it being sold in higher concentrations but these are used by commercial cleaners and diluted it to make large quantities of cleaning solution. I would not recommend that you do this because of the safety risks involved when handling solutions above 3% and because hydrogen peroxide must be must be used within a year of opening and stored in a dark place as it loses its effectiveness.
Hydrogen Peroxide removes limescale, kills mould and is anti-viral and anti-bacterial. It can also be used with hot water. It is safer to use than chlorine bleach because it doesn’t leave behind toxic fumes and residue and is safe for the environment as it breaks down into oxygen and water. The down side to hydrogen peroxide is that it takes longer to work, so you’ll need to leave it soaking in your machine for at least three hours. As this is not possible for front loaders, you may need to run it through twice.