Your washing machine works overtime keeping your clothes and linens clean, but when was the last time you showed it some love?

With all the dirt, grime, and leftover detergent that can build up in your washer, it’s no surprise that this oft-forgotten appliance can become a breeding ground for mould and mildew. A dirty washing machine can leave an icky residue on clothing or give your items a funky mildew smell. 

It’s best practice to give your washer a good cleaning twice a year, or once every six months. If you have hard water, you’ll want to clean it more often to prevent mineral deposits.

Luckily, washers are easy to clean using bleach, white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or a washing machine cleaner. Learn the different methods for cleaning a front-loading and top-loading washer. 

How to clean a front-loading washing machine 

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1. Add ½ cup of liquid bleach to the detergent compartment and fill the bleach compartment to the top. Run a complete wash cycle.

2. Next, run another cycle with white vinegar. Fill the detergent and softener compartments with distilled white vinegar to the fill line. For extra deodorizing, add ½ cup of baking soda into the washer drum. 

3. When the cycle is complete, use a soft cloth to wipe around the door and gasket. You can also use a toothbrush to gently scrub any built-up grime that’s settled in the edges of the door opening. 

Keep the washer open to let it air dry. 

How to clean a top-loading washing machine 

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1. Fill the washer with hot water. Before it starts spinning, add two cups of distilled white vinegar or just under a litre of liquid bleach. Run a complete wash cycle.

You can also choose to run a consecutive cycle with bleach then another with vinegar for an extra cleaning boost. 

2. Similar to a front-loading washer, wipe down the door and gasket with a microfibre cloth. Use a toothbrush to gently scrub away built-up grime.