How to Clean Your Washing Machine

It might sound funny that your washing machine, which cleans your clothes every week, also needs washing, but it does. Keep reading to learn how to clean your washing machine to keep all your garments and linens smelling fresh and clean and germ-free.

Depending on how often you do laundry, your machine could have a build-up of dirt, grime, and even bacteria which causes a mildew smell. You should clean your entire washing machine every few months to keep clothes and linens smelling fresh.

There are various ways you can clean a washing machine and all its intricate parts. Explore each one below and choose the method that works best for you. Some high-end washing machines have a cleaning cycle, but if yours does not, clean it with bleach or vinegar but be careful not to mix the two items, which can be dangerous.

Cleaning your washing machine with vinegar is a great way to get out stains, dirt, and mildew. Fill up your washer with hot water and add two cups of white vinegar to the drum. Run the washer through a normal cycle with the hot water and vinegar. After that, it will be sparkling clean.

Finally, run another normal cycle with hot water but no vinegar and no detergent. You can add a 1/2 cup of baking soda to the water to remove any stubborn debris. Once it finishes, you are done.

Additionally, you can clean a washing machine with bleach. Fill your washer with hot water, then add a quart of bleach. Run the machine on normal for one minute to mix the bleach into the water. Let it sit for one hour with the top open. Then, close the lid and run it through a full cycle.

After it completes, you can let it dry, then spray a mixture of water and vinegar on the drum and other parts to wipe them down.

Additionally, you can fill a bucket with a quart of hot water and add 1/4 of a cup of white vinegar. Then use a sponge to clean the inside and outsides of the washer. Be sure to clean detergent dispensers, the inside of the door, and around the door. You can soak any removable parts (like fabric softener compartments) in vinegar, then dry them and put them back.

A front loading washer may collect a lot of bacteria around the gasket or rubber seal on the door. Pay special attention to that area when you are cleaning.

You can also try running a cleaning “tablet” through your washer. Various detergent companies sell them. Regardless of how you clean the drum and internal parts, wipe down your washer frequently with a clean cloth and vinegar solution.

It’s not that hard to keep your washing machine clean and fresh by giving it a little TLC every now and again. But how do you keep it running well?

Each washer comes with a manufacturer’s warranty which is limited and usually only covers a short while (sometimes as little as one year). If you find any manufacturing defects after that or it breaks prematurely, you will be stuck paying for parts, labor, or replacements. Instead, you should always pair your appliances with an Upsie extended warranty to protect your washing machine and keep it running well for many years.

An Upsie warranty costs up to 70% less than other extended warranties. For example, a three-year warranty for a $700 Maytag washer costs just $79.99 and a five-year warranty costs just $129.99.

An Upsie warranty takes over where your initial warranty leaves off and covers:

Upsie’s claims department is open 24/7, and you can quickly and easily schedule an in-home repair. If they can’t fix it, Upsie will replace it on the first claim. You can also make unlimited claims up to the purchase price of the appliance. Additionally, if you give away or sell your washer later, the Upsie warranty is transferable and will go along with it.

If you want your washer and dryer to run well for many years, contact Upsie today to get your extended warranty.