Cleaning Hacks

I've seen a lot of "you're doing it wrong!" articles about laundry that focus on 1) not sorting your clothes by color and/or weight, 2) using too much detergent, 3) overloading the machine, and 4) scrubbing stains rather than dabbing them (because scrubbing spreads out the stain).

I've never in my life washed my washer, though! Suggestions here on keeping your washing machine from smelling up your clothes include cleaning it once a month (!) with various methods and cleaning the filter (...they have filters?).

Here's the vinegar/baking soda method:

Top load washing machines: Set your machine on its hottest cycle (or a minimum of 140ºF/60ºC) and pour one cup (230ml) of white vinegar directly into the drum. Cleaning with vinegar is the perfect solution to help to purify your machine – it's an excellent, natural way to kill bacteria, and the smell will disappear during the rinse cycle. When the cycle is over, add a 1/2 cup of baking soda (approx 60g) to the drum and start the hottest cycle again. Baking soda is a great way of getting rid of odors, so using bicarb to clean is a surefire way to counter a smelly washing machine and other household smells. Clean the door seals and exterior once done and ensure the inside is totally dry by wiping it down and then leaving the door open.

Front load washing machines: Pour two cups of white vinegar (475ml) into the detergent drawer, and run the washer through its hottest cycle. Once complete, run the hottest cycle again, adding 1/2 cup baking soda (60g) to the drum directly. Then wipe the inside of the washer drum down with a microfiber cloth and clean the exterior and door seals also.

I'm going to have to find my washing machine manual re: the filter. Hmm.