How To Clean A Washing Machine With Soda Crystals

How to clean a washing machine with soda crystals and white vinegar and help keep it mould and mildew free.

If you've noticed your washing machine is smelly, then chances are your clothes are not going to come out of the washer smelling all that fresh either.

And nobody wants a smelly washing machine!

Most new washing machines now come with a "washing machine cleaning cycle" built into the programmes.

However if your's doesn't then it's super easy to clean the washing machine using simple, natural products rather than liquid chlorine bleach.

To clean inside of washing machine we use soda crystals, white vinegar and ordinary washing up liquid, all of which are readily available, cheaply at the supermarket.

You do have to make sure you store soda crystals out of sight and reach of children though as they are an irritant.

This method is great for regular cleaning and keeping the machine fresh, grime and odor free. And for getting rid of any musty smell.

However, because front load washing machine can be a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, I would always recommend a washing machine deep clean using an antibacterial washing machine cleaner at least once every 6 weeks.

Just to keep on top of bacteria, smells and limescale buildup inside the appliance.

For a clean and tidy home get our BEST cleaning tips here

What To Use To Clean A Washing Machine With Soda Crystals

Wondering what can I use to clean my washing machine? Well... Cleaning front-load washers with bicarbonate of soda and vinegar is really easy - for our homemade washing machine cleaner you'll just need...

• 1 cup of soda crystals - I use the Dri Pack soda crystals

• 2 cups of distilled white vinegar for cleaning

• big squirt of dish washing soap - I just use Ecover washing up liquid

• old toothbrush - it's handy to have some toothbrushes for cleaning, they're super useful for cleaning grout too.

• cleaning cloths

Get More How To Clean Tips Here

How To Clean A Washing Machine With Soda Crystals

As part of a deep clean washing machine routine here's the instructions for how to clean the washing machine using natural products.

• Turn off the electricity on the washing machine then remove the detergent drawer from the detergent compartment and give it a wash in warm soapy water. The detergent drawer can really get disgusting and filled detergent residue, soap scum and with mold and gunk in all the little nooks and crannies!

A dirty detergent drawer can often be the cause of a smelly washing machine!

• Scrub any crevices in the washing machine detergent drawer using an old toothbrush. This will remove any build up of black gunky soap that can hang around in there causing washing machine smells. If it's very dirty, then it would be a good idea to soak it in hot water prior to scrubbing the dirt.

• Clean inside the soap dispenser space in the washing machine, again use dish washing soap and a toothbrush to scrub any small tight areas.

• Finally wipe around with a damp cloth before returning the clean detergent drawer.

• Turn the washing machine electric supply back on - and add the soda crystals to the detergent drawer.

• Pour the cups of white vinegar directly into the washing machine drum

• Put the washing machine on the highest temperature wash cycle.

• Once it's finished use a soft cloth to wipe clean the inside of the glass door and the rubber seal on the door.

• Dry the rubber door seal and leave the door slightly ajar so air can circulate.

Get more green cleaning tips here

How To Clean The Outside Of The Washing Machine

As part of cleaning your washing machine and doing a proper of my deep clean washing machine routine, I also clean the exterior of the machine.

The outside of the washing machine can be cleaned with a microfibre cloth and warm soapy water.

Just wipe the machine down gently and then buff dry with a clean, dry cloth. You'd be surprised how dirty the outside of a washing machine can get! Especially in the UK where they're mainly kept in the kitchen!

How To Clean The Washing Machine Door Seal

The washing machine door seal is the one part of the washing machine that gets black mould on it the quickest.

Once the black mould is on the rubber door seal this can't really be removed, even using bleaching products, it rarely gets the mould off.

The only option is to change the seal. You can usually order door seals from the parts department of the manufacturer.

The best way to prevent the door seal getting black mould on it is to make sure you dry the seal after use and leave the washing machine door slightly ajar so air circulates.

Clean The Washing Machine Filter

Grab the instruction manual for your washing machine and follow the instructions for cleaning the filter. They all tend to be slightly different, so it's best to follow the manufacturer's advice with this.

The filter will need unscrewing, making sure to put something underneath to catch any water. (sometimes they may only be room for towels to put under) Then clean the any lint or debris from the filter, rinse it under some hot water and return.

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How Often Should You Clean The Washing Machine

To avoid a smelly washing machine or gunk building up in the soap dispenser drawer it's a good idea to clean the washing machine at least once a month and rinse the detergent drawer out once a week. It literally takes a few minutes if you do it every week and saves the build up of gunk and dirt and a longer cleaning job!

Cleaning the washing machine regularly is one of our top laundry tips!

Washing Machine Cleaner

Every couple of months and after any illness in the family I always use a washing machine cleaner to really deep clean and hygienically clean the inside of the washing machine.

My favourite washing cleaner is Dettol Washing Machine Cleaner - it's super easy to use and leaves the washing machine smelling really fresh and clean.

Love A Nice Clean House? Try These Top Natural Cleaning Tips

Get more housework routine ideas and checklists here

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• How to make your home smell good, naturally! - we'll show you brilliant ways to use natural products to make your home smell delicious without the chemicals.

• 20 ways to use baking soda at home - baking soda is such a useful cleaning products, we'll show you how to use it at home to clean and freshen.

• Dr Beckmann washing machine cleaner review (ad feature) check out what we discovered!

You can get more green cleaning tips and eco cleaning product reviews here.

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Hey - we hope you our cleaning tip is useful and when you clean it don't forget to tag us your before and after photos on Twitter @daisiesandpieUK or Instagram @daisiesandpie

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