Top 10 Easiest Ways to Clean Your Washing Machine

Aside from being a common cooking ingredient, vinegar also works wonders as a cleaning agent, effectively removing stains from clothes and household items. The acid in vinegar is not overly strong but provides excellent cleaning and deodorizing power. Vinegar is the perfect solution for cleaning your washing machine – it’s safe, effective, and budget-friendly. Here are the steps to clean your washing machine with vinegar:

• Step 1: Rinse the drum with warm water around 40°C (if your machine has a hot water cycle, it works even better).
• Step 2: Pour 2 full cups of vinegar into the drum. Then, close the lid and let it soak for about an hour (if using the regular wash mode). Ideally, use the soak mode or self-cleaning cycle (if available) for the best cleaning results.
• Step 3: After the wash is complete, use a sponge or soft cloth soaked in vinegar to thoroughly wipe the drum and other areas such as the top surface of the machine, the body, and the detergent compartment.

As you may know, the washing drum directly contacts your clothes, making it a breeding ground for bacteria and dirt left on clothing during the washing process. Therefore, it’s essential to clean the drum regularly to prevent bacteria from entering our bodies.

This cleaning method is quite simple, and here’s how to do it:

• Step 1: Fill the drum with hot water.
• Step 2: Add a 500ml bottle of white vinegar and some specialized washing machine cleaner, such as baking soda. This will help eliminate the bacteria and remove any stubborn grime from the drum.
• Step 3: Then, set the machine to the highest water level and run a regular wash cycle to flush out all the remaining dirt.

Using cleaning tablets is one of the most effective and widely used methods to quickly eliminate any residue or dirt inside your washing machine.

Here’s a simple and efficient way to clean your washing machine:

• Step 1: Start by gently wiping down the outer body of the machine with a soft, dry cloth.
• Step 2: Fill the drum with the hottest water available, then add the appropriate number of cleaning tablets based on the size of your machine, and let it soak for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Step 3: Run the machine on a wash cycle to remove the cleaning solution. Then, wipe the drum once again with a sponge or cloth to ensure all chemicals are completely cleaned off.

Disinfectant powders are essentially chemical cleaning agents designed to wash and remove dirt and grime. However, it is important not to use overly strong cleaning agents, as they could be harmful to health if any residue remains in the drum and transfers to your clothes.

How to clean your washing machine with disinfectant:

• Step 1: First, rinse the washing drum with clean water, then add the disinfectant powder.
• Step 2: Fill the drum with water, wear gloves, and use a stick or your hand to stir the disinfectant powder until it dissolves. Alternatively, you can start the machine for about 5 minutes, then stop it.
• Step 3: Leave the washing machine for 3 hours to let the disinfectant work its magic.
• Step 4: Run a full wash cycle to ensure the detergent residue is completely eliminated from the drum.

Borax is a mineral compound known for its ability to kill mold spores, acting as a natural cleaner that is relatively safe for users. If Borax is unavailable, you can replace it with a natural oxygen bleach.

How to clean your washing machine using a Borax and vinegar solution:

• Step 1: Carefully pour a gram of Borax into the bottom of the empty drum, spreading it out as you move the drum to prevent it from clumping or spilling out.
• Step 2: Pour a cup of white vinegar into the compartment where you usually add laundry detergent.
• Step 3: Run your washing machine on the hottest water setting and choose the longest wash cycle.
• Step 4: Once done, wipe down all surfaces, including the interior of the drum, seals, and door latch, with a cotton cloth.
• Note: Leave the door open to allow the machine to dry properly.

Essential oils possess antibacterial properties, although not all oils have this effect. For a potent mold-fighting essential oil, tea tree and eucalyptus oils are the best options.

Cleaning recipe for your washing machine:

• 2 cups of baking soda
• 1 cup of water
• 10 drops of purifying essential oil
• 10 drops of lemon essential oil
• Non-scratching cleaning tools like sponges and small grout brushes.

Steps to clean your washing machine with essential oils:

• Step 1: Create a paste by mixing baking soda, water, and essential oils (Purification and Lemon, or you may substitute with Thieves or Tea Tree). This blend purifies and neutralizes odors, while lemon cleans and removes stains.
• Step 2: Use a sponge or cloth to gently scrub the rubber gasket and remove visible dirt. Pay special attention to the seams and hard-to-reach areas, where buildup may occur (a small brush with a plastic head works wonders for cleaning tight spaces and crevices). Wipe the interior drum with the baking soda paste and leave it undisturbed.
• Step 3: Set the washing machine to a regular cycle at the highest temperature. Pause the machine before the rinse cycle and let the water sit for 30-60 minutes.
• Step 4: After the soak, remove the detergent tray and clean it with warm soapy water. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe away lint or residue from the detergent dispenser.
• Step 5: Replace the tray and add 1 cup of vinegar to the detergent compartment. Run another hot cycle for about 15 minutes.
• Step 6: Once the wash cycle finishes, clean both the inside and outside of the washing machine door.

Borax, dish soap, vinegar, and essential oils create a powerful yet safe natural cleaning solution. Using this method, you can prepare homemade cleaning agents along with a clean cloth to sanitize the inside of your washing machine. Begin by wiping the drum clean. Any areas with accumulated dirt that are within reach should be thoroughly cleaned.

Preparation steps:

• Use 2 tablespoons of Borax (or natural oxygen bleach)
• Use 2 tablespoons of dish soap
• Use 2 cups of white vinegar
• Use 20 drops of your choice of tea tree or other essential oil.

Steps to clean your front load washing machine:

• Step 1: First, remove all soap trays, filter bags, and fabric softener trays from the machine. Soak them in hot soapy water, and use an old toothbrush to scrub them clean before reinserting them back into the machine. If the tray can't be removed, use a cloth soaked in vinegar to scrub it clean.
• Step 2: Add Borax into the drum and run the machine on the longest wash cycle with the maximum water setting. If your front load washer has a cleaning cycle, you can use that setting.
• Step 3: Once the first cycle ends, add the vinegar and essential oils into the drum or the detergent tray. Run another wash cycle to complete the cleaning process.
• Step 4: Wipe down the drum with a soft, dry cloth. Continue by wiping the outer surface of the washer and the seals using the vinegar solution.

Using bleach to clean your washing machine is an effective and budget-friendly method for regular maintenance. Many professional laundromats also prefer this technique. A bottle of bleach typically costs around 15,000 VND. However, bleach is a hazardous substance that can be harmful when inhaled or if there are children or elderly individuals in the home, so caution is advised.

• Step 1: Remove any clothes from the machine if present, then set the washer to its highest water level, adding approximately 300 ml of white vinegar to the drum. Turn off the machine and let it soak for 1-2 hours.
• Step 2: Once the stains have softened, use a soft brush to scrub the dirty corners inside the washing machine, the drum edges, and the drainage holes.
• Step 3: Drain the water, then pour bleach into the drum. Let it soak for 1 hour, then run a wash cycle to ensure the washing machine is thoroughly cleaned.

The second method we recommend is using specialized cleaning powder. This method is for periodic maintenance of your washing machine and is quite simple to perform. A packet of specialized cleaning powder costs around 36,000 VND and is available at most supermarkets. The ideal time for cleaning the washing machine is approximately every 3-6 months.

• Step 1: Activate the hot water rinse setting with the highest water level.
• Step 2: Then, add one packet of the specialized cleaning powder into the drum and soak for 1-2 hours. You can purchase this powder at supermarkets or chemical supply stores.
• Step 3: Turn on the machine to run a regular washing cycle to ensure the machine is thoroughly cleaned of all stains.

If you're cautious, you can wipe the drum again with a soft cloth to ensure it’s sparkling clean.

The method of using baking soda and lemon should only be applied to smaller washing machines that have not been cleaned for a long time and have built-up dirt. This process can be a bit labor-intensive since it requires manual scrubbing, but the results are quick and powerful. After just half an hour, your washing machine will be as clean as new.

• Step 1: Take 100g of baking soda and place it in a bowl. Then, take 3 large lemons, squeeze out their juice into the bowl of baking soda. As soon as the mixture starts to bubble, stir it well with a spoon. Afterward, add about half a bowl of water to make a very safe and effective cleaning solution.
• Step 2: Use a paintbrush to dip into the baking soda and lemon mixture, then apply it to the inside of the washing drum, covering all the areas with dirt. Leave it to sit for 20-30 minutes.
• Step 3: Use a long-handled brush to scrub the drum thoroughly, loosening all the stubborn dirt. Then, run a normal wash cycle on the machine to rinse away all the grime.