How to Clean your Washing Machine

[ken]

Just came across this Yahoo article. Havent even read it yet but thought Id post for what its worth.

http://shine.yahoo.com/at-home/laundry-101-clean-washing-machine-181200212.html

 

[kb0nes]

Funny my machine has never developed any "soap residues"...

The one thing they missed is that it would probably be more effective if they washed a full load of old towels or rags. Spinning out the water they hold would help rinse out the outer tub. This would especially hold true on a front load machine what would barely wet the top of the outer drum if the machine were empty.

 

[mrb627]

Top Of Drum

Most of them barely wet the bottom of the drum too.

Malcolm

 

[DirectDriveDave]

I just use warm wash and rinse all the time, and leave the lid open for a while after the last load. Done!

 

[rp2813]

Our Duet had a very effective "Clean Washer" cycle that left no portion of the outer drum untouched.  It was fun to watch.

 

Our current Affinity is another story entirely.  No dedicated cycle, and no way to achieve positive, thorough cleaning action with the touch of a button.

 

[yogitunes]

I have never had to 'clean' any one of my personal machines....have had all types of water, and used detergents, bleach, and softner as required....

never had ay type of build up, or scum left behind, and I am not one to leave the drawer or doors open after a load.....

of course my machines get run almost daily, if not every other day, and 99% of the time its a Hot or Warm wash.....and can be a warm or cold rinse.....

I have gotten in many machines that look absolutely awful, and smell worse...and wonder how they got that way!....it will forever puzzle me.....

 

[washman]

Never cleaned mine either

touch wood, no problems with the GE or, currently, the SQ

 

[whirlcool]

A few months after we switched to liquid detergents a few years ago our WP TL machine started to develop a musty odor to it. We cleaned it by washing it in hot water while empty using a cup of Cascade Complete powder and let it sit overnight.
Ran two rinses (warm) the next day and the smell hasn't returned. We also no longer use liquid detergents. Powders only.

 

[turboace]

My miele's clean machine cycle is a violent affair. It takes temperature up to 70C and uses quite a big of water and spins the ever loving crap out of the inner drum. Water violently splashes all different directions. Not a chance any scummy residue is left after that.

 

[sudsmaster]

The Neptune 7500 washer doesn't have a dedicated cleaning cycle, but it incorporates a fast tumble in a rinse to dislodge any debris at the top of the drum. It seems to work fine. No off-odors, and at the 3 year mark when the unit was disassembled for replacement of the spider, the inside of the drum looked fine.

Of course I run at least one hot cycle a week, and most loads get adequate amounts of STPP, which must help prevent calcium buildup in the washer.

 

[logixx]

Most European washers never had cleaning cycles. LG was probably among the first companies to sell washers with that feature over here. Now, even Miele dishwashers have cleaning cycles and a hidden routine that will activate a sani rinse, if low-temp cycles are used too often.

My Duet has no cleaning cycle.

 

[jerrod6]

I've had my washer since 2003 and have never cleaned the tub or insides.
It doesn't smell or anything so I don't bother.

I do wipe out the detergent dispenser compartment because the water is dispensed down from the top of it into the various cups holding detergents or fabric softener but other than that nothing else.

 

[sudsmaster]

I'm just a little concerned about the advice in that article, which recommends chasing a bleach dose to the washer with a vinegar dose, with no warning whatsoever about the toxic gas that can be released if the two substances are mixed directly.

The assumption is that the washer will rinse away the majority of the bleach before the vinegar is added - but I'd still like to see a caution added, because there could still be a release of chlorine and/or phosgene gas from residual chlorine. Also the procedure assumes the washer is operating properly and will rinse away the bleach. I'm not sure that's a safe assumption with modern top loaders that are so stingy with water.