How to clean the washing machine: the definitive guide
It rarely happens that you think you need to wash your washing machine. Perhaps because we naturally think that, through your water cycles, you are a sort of self-cleaning appliance. As we will see below, however, there are many internal and external elements to be taken into consideration for a complete and deep cleaning and bleach is not essential!
If you are looking for useful tips for perfect laundry without bad smells, this is the article for you.
Why clean the washing machine
Germs and bacteria that stick to the laundry. We are not talking about a health emergency, don't worry, but if you are not used to cleaning the washing machine, you may have had the sensation of removing laundry items such as towels or jeans with bad smells and not completely clean from the drum. It is not the fault of the last detergent just bought, but because of the proliferation of limescale and mold.
Change washing machine? Tomorrow. A clean washing machine is synonymous with optimized consumption and a prolonged life cycle of the machine itself. In short, a small investment from time to time could save you a large investment of money ahead of schedule and support for the environment and the community!
Are you attentive to the green? Here are the appliances with an ECO heart.
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If we have convinced you and you are ready to start, gloves in hand and let's take action!
Soft cleaning of the appliance
If you don't have a lot of time, but you still want to do something useful for your washing machine, the first tip is to run a program that uses very hot water every now and then, for example when washing rugs, sheets or other fabrics. more difficult to ruin. In fact, if at 60 ° the germs and bacteria in the laundry are generally not saved at 90 ° they will certainly be more than defeated. Another important tip is to always keep the door open between one wash and the next because this will prevent the humidity inside the drum from favoring the proliferation of odors and molds. Finally, remember that there are things that shouldn't be put in the washing machine, such as caps with visors, delicate shoes or bras with underwire.
Complete cleaning: remove dirt residues from the door
To clean the door and the external parts of the washing machine, simply get a rag and a little spray detergent or water and vinegar (or water and baking soda), for a more natural solution. In the second case, you can mix the ingredients and pour them into a spray bottle, which will make the operation faster and more pleasant. If the outer surface of the washing machine is made of steel, you can add a few drops of lemon to make it brighter.
The drum of the washing machine
To clean the drum, simply add a glass of white vinegar to the detergent compartment together with a few tablespoons of hot water and start a classic washing cycle (strictly without laundry!). In this way, not inserting garments in the drum, and by pouring the mixture into the tray, you will ensure complete sanitation of the two of the most germ-catching components: the basket and the tray.
How to clean the washing machine filter
We have already arrived at the filter (you have seen, so far everything simple and not very tiring, right?), Perhaps the most complex element of all. In fact, in this case we will not be able to rely on any magical product, but on a semi-hard bristle toothbrush or a rag and a good jet of water. How to do? First of all, look in the famous drawer of instruction books, that of your trusty washing machine, then look for the section dedicated to the filter and follow the instructions to extract it correctly. Done? All right, now you can remove the dirt residue from the retina manually.
Important! The removal of the filter must be done with the washing machine at rest and after making sure that you have closed the water taps. As a precaution, always keep a basin at hand.
How to clean the seals
And after the filter, it's time for the gaskets (would you ever have thought of that?), So you're at a good point! For those wondering, the gasket we are talking about is the rubberized one that allows the hermetic closure of the basket. To do this you can continue to use vinegar or a neutral detergent and a microfibre cloth or a sponge for surfaces, soaked in it. Finally, perform a vacuum wash, using a little detergent.
This operation, as you can see very simple, should become part of your domestic routine: it is a minimum commitment, but very useful!
Conclusions: goodbye bad smells
If you are looking for an ecological and effective solution to copy and paste on your smartphone to act in some spare time at home, here is a recap of our tips.
Magic ingredients: vinegar, lemon and baking soda
- Remove the detergent compartment and wash it with a sponge soaked in vinegar. Then re-insert it.
- With the same "potion" clean the seal, even in the most internal and hidden parts.
- Mix the juice of a lemon with the water and with the help of a sprayer, spray it inside the washing machine drum.
- Put a glass of vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda in the detergent compartment: they are excellent anti-limescale.
- Start a 90 ° vacuum wash. Avoid spinning, let the water drain, so that the filter and the various pipes are cleaned well. Bye bye bad smells!
In summary: regularly cleaning your washing machine from the filter to the gaskets is a great way to avoid the spread of germs and bacteria in your "clean" laundry, to keep the appliance running longer and, why not, to optimize consumption for the the planet and the wallet.As we have seen, all without the help of ammonia or specific products, but homemade with the use of very simple natural, cheap and non-toxic products.
Now that you know how to sanitize the appliance, remember to do it often. The results will not be long in coming.
And remember, a panacea against the limescale of the filter is vinegar, which in addition to having a disinfectant action, has the power to dissolve limescale.
Have you followed all the steps step by step but your washing machine still does not give you the laundry you dream of? Maybe he really can't stand it anymore: maybe it's time to plan the purchase of one smart washing machine.
