How to Clean a Washing Machine?

Here’s a guide for how to clean your washing machine to keep your laundry fresh and sparkling every single time!

From cleaning the filter up to soaking your washing machine with hot water, this guide will tell you thoroughly!

Household appliances need to be kept clean, including washing machines as these appliances are so important to ease your daily life.

A dirty washing machine can harm us in many different ways, from making our laundry smell bad, to being a perfect spot for bacterias and mold to grow.

Especially if the washing machine has never been cleaned before. Various dirt, mold, detergent residue, and mineral deposits can accumulate, causing dull laundry or even leaving stains.

Generally, washing machines should be cleaned at least twice a year or once every three months to maintain their hygiene and cleanliness.

However, if you live in a hot area and the clothes you wash are very dirty, you should wash the washing machine every four to six weeks.

So, how to clean a washing machine? Find the answer only at dimulti!

A Guide on How to Clean a Washing Machine!

1. Remove and Clean the Filter

Most if not all washing machines are equipped with a filter, these filters are a crucial part to ensure a clean laundry every time.

But overtime, these filters can build up dirt from the clothes you cleaned, and to ensure that your washing machine is in top hygiene, cleaning these filters is necessary.

Clean the filter using warm water and scrub with a small brush. Then check the filter and drain and remove any foreign objects that clog them such as fabric fibers or small objects that can cause excessive vibration and long cycle times.

2. Spray Hot Water to Gaskets and Washing Machine’s Door

Soap residue and water trapped in the gasket of the washing machine door, especially when combined with the hot environment inside the machine, create ideal conditions for mold growth and unpleasant odors. 

Moisture and detergent residues can cause a buildup of dirt that not only interferes with the performance of the machine, but can also leave an unpleasant scent on clothes. 

Therefore, keeping the door gasket clean is essential to ensure the washing machine functions optimally and prevent health problems caused by mold.

You simply can spray a mixture of hot water and soap on the door gasket. Make sure to gently pull on the folds of the gasket so that the soap can reach all contaminated areas. 

Afterward, use a clean cloth to wipe the surface of the gasket, including the inside of the door which is often overlooked.

3. Fill the Washer With Hot Water

After cleaning the pump filter, gaskets, and washer door, the next step is to clean the tube section to ensure thorough cleanliness.

Start by filling the washer drum with hot water. If your machine is equipped with a special setting for hot water, select the hottest temperature available.

You can also add chlorine bleach to further clean the drum of your washer thoroughly.

4. Run a Complete Wash and Spin Cycle

After loading the hot water and bleach, run the wash and spin cycle. Allow the washing machine to complete the longest wash and spin cycle to ensure that the rinsing and draining process is complete. 

Ensure that any residual bleach is completely removed before proceeding to the next step.

Also Read: “Front Load Washing Machine Maintenance Guide“

5. Fill it Again With Hot Water

Use the washing machine setting to fill the drum with hot water, but stop the process before the machine starts agitating. 

This will allow the hot water to fully fill without triggering the wash, making the subsequent cleaning process easier.

6. Add Vinegar and Run It

Add one liter of distilled white vinegar to the washing machine drum, then run the longest wash and spin cycle. 

Allow the washing machine to complete this process to ensure all dirt and residue is well rinsed away. Once complete, the machine will rinse and dry, leaving a clean and fresh drum.

So there you have it! A guide on how to clean a washing machine hassle free!

But, other than that, choosing the right washing machine for your everyday use is also not something that you can overlook.

Choosing the washing machine with the SNI certification, as these machines are already tested by the SNI certification.

The SNI certification itself is a type of product approval applied in Indonesia to ensure that every product and or services sold and provided in Indonesia is within the safety and quality standard of Indonesia.

For the regulation and standard about washing machines, it is clearly stated in SNI IEC 60335-1:2009 and SNI IEC 6033-2-24-2009.