HOW TO CLEAN YOUR TOP LOAD WASHER
Clean your Washer? Sounds kind of unnecessary doesn't it? Yes, it SOUNDS that way…but when you think about all the dirt and grime that cycles through ......your washer on a day-to-day basis…it actually makes perfect sense! Washers need washing too!
Fill the washer with HOT water. Add 1 quart of chlorine bleach - no detergent – and let the machine agitate for a minute, then let it sit for one hour.
After one hour, allow the washer to run through its longest wash and spin cycle. Immediately fill the washer with HOT water again and add 1 quart distilled white vinegar. Let agitate for a minute, and again, let it sit for one hour.
Using the bleach and vinegar will clean away bacteria, soap scum and mineral deposits from the wash basket and hoses. This is especially important if you live in a hard water area and should be done every three months.
Every washer should be cleaned at least twice per year. While it is soaking, dip a scrubber sponge in the vinegar water and detail all the nooks and crannies of your washer, including the knobs, the lid and the exterior. If your machine has built-in dispensers, clean those too. I was fairly shocked at how grimy mine were! The fabric softener dispenser was all slimy feeling…and the bleach dispenser was just plain icky!
If your dispensers aren’t removable, warm 1 cup of white vinegar in the microwave or in a small saucepan. Pour it into the dispenser and allow it to sit for a few minutes to loosen any build up. After an hour, run the longest wash and spin cycle again. Your trusty washing machine should now be shiny clean and ready for more abuse.