I use dishwasher detergent powder and 1 cup bleach to clean my front loader

[superocd]

Affresh works, no doubt, but I found a much cheaper washer cleaner. It's just standard dishwasher detergent powder and about a cup of bleach.

Before I get started on the clean cycle, I use Awesome degreaser and swab the door seal. This aids in removing any grime.

I then start the cycle. Even though my machine has a clean cycle, I use Bulky/Bedding on steam as it uses a bit more water than the clean cycle. The dish detergent is added first, about three tablespoons worth. The dish detergent, of course, takes out any soap residue and grime. The bleach is not added to the wash portion of the cycle so it doesn't hinder the cleaning ability of the dish powder.

On the rinse cycle, let the washer fill and then add 1 cup of bleach. The bleach sanitizes the tub and rinses away the dissolved soap deposits. Because I leave my door wide open after use, I don't have a mildew problem, but this could also finish off attacking mold and mildew after the dish detergent.

After the second rinse cycle, the water should be crystal clear, which should mean the washer is clean.

 

[yogitunes]

dishwasher detergent already contains chlorine bleach.....but yeah, this should work as well.....

with proper laundry practices, you shouldn't have to run a 'clean washer' cycle...

bathroom spray cleaner with bleach or for mold/mildew...for areas like the dispenser if needed....

chlorine granules for pools is a great shock for heavily soiled machines....

 

[combo52]

Cleaning your front loading washer

It's usually best to use the manufactures cleaning cycle because that cycle the Washer actually spins while it has water in it to really clean the outer tub.

But keep in mind as Martin suggested, it should never be necessary to clean a front loading washer if it's used properly. If a washer is getting dirty as you use it your clothing is not getting clean, it's better to use proper washing practices and forget about having to clean it.

John L.

 

[mattl]

Exactly.  I've had my FL machines for 7 or so years, never had need to clean it.  No odor, no mold, no issues.  One has a cleaning cycle the other does not.  I've tried the cleaning cycle once or twice, while it's fun to watch the water action, before and after there is no difference in cleaning, it was fine before -or smell - there was none.

 

[superocd]

My washer doesn't seem to get dirty or start to smell. It's just something I do because I've heard that it is recommended to run a clean cycle once a month, regardless. I probably don't need to do this, but I do it anyways just in case. I do leave the door open after I am finished for the day, I never under- or overdose detergent, and have never used fabric softener.

 

[combo52]

Keeping your washer clean

Be sure to leave the dispenser drawer open as well between uses, and it's actually not possible to use too much detergent and cause a problem with the washer. So always air on the side up more than less.

 

[rolls_rapide]

"it's actually not possible to use too much detergen

Surely it is a problem if it creates excess foam and suds?

It won't exactly be helpful to the bearing seal, the pump will struggle to clear the suds, and the pressure vessel is likely to become blocked with foam which then causes the machine to think it still has water to clear.

 

[johnb300m]

Is it safe to use dishwasher detergent in washers?
I've seen what happens to aluminum in my dishwasher. It's not pretty.
And we all have aluminum spiders.
Is there a risk?

 

[combo52]

What is too much detergent?

I probably should've said you can't use too much detergent as long as you're not causing it immediate performance problem, such as the machine over sudsing and leaking or throwing error codes.
But as far as washing machine durability goes and clean clothing you're always better to air on the side of two much detergent rather than too little.

We have an employee that comes in and does his laundry and he'll make a 64 load bottle of detergent last for about a dozen loads, he's been doing it for years and I've never seen It cause a problem with either his laundry or any of the machines he's used.

As far as using dishwasher detergent in the washing machine with an aluminum spider I can't see where it would hurt it, a nice aggressive cleaning to the aluminum spider will only keep it from getting gunk buildup on it and corroding.

John L.

 

[askolover]

Not all dishwasher powders have chlorine in them now though....even the Cascade powder with the power of Clorox does NOT (to me that's misleading advertising).  All the powders available to us in my neck of the woods have enzymes.  If I want old fashioned chlorine based powders, I have to order fryer boil out or something from worldwide janitor or this premiere stuff I just found on ebay.  When I was a new nurse, we had to wear the white uniforms.  Nothing kept them whiter than a good wash in hot water with Cascade or Electrasol added (of course back then they all had bleach in them). 

Now back to the program already in progress...

 

[tomturbomatic]

Jeff told me about a customer who had a washer you could smell from the front door. Of course, she only washed in cold water and would not allow chlorine bleach to be brought into the house. It's beginning to sound like a house of microbial horrors, isn't it? So with no bleach, he only had Affresh and hot water. He put a double dose in with hot water. He said the water turned black from the shit coming off the outer tub so he drained that, put another two tablets in for another cleaning, got his pay and left.  She sounds like a dependable repeat customer. Some people should be forced to pound their laundry on a rock in a river. Men often just don't give a damn about laundry, but it's the women who have these radical ideas about chemicals and hot water. Maybe they should be forced to bathe in deep tap cold water.

 

[DADoES]

 
^^ Lotta that goes on.  Another discussion board I follow constantly has women popping in with contaminated work-out wear or bath towels, looking for an effective "green" detergent with no chemicals to fix the stench.

 

[gyrafoam]

People get suckered in to all the advertising hyperbole. It never occurs to them that bad advice and their washing habits have turned their washers into automatic cesspools.

 

[yogitunes]

if their washing machine looks/smells like that...

what does the rest of their home look like?...seriously, if you can't keep a washing machine clean with no-brainer proper washing techniques...

plus that filth and scum in the machine is transferring to your towels you dry off with, and the clothing you wear....

some people are appalled at the 'ICK' factor of using a wringer washer and re-using wash water....how about re-using mold/mildew that is being rubbed into your clothes every time their washed?

imagine the masterminds who don't realize the 'clean washer' cycle uses HOT water to clean itself from all the cold washes...just wasted energy running an empty machine.....if they only knew it can be self cleaning with every load....

 

[askolover]

You said it Martin!

 

[rolls_rapide]

"'clean washer' cycle uses HOT water"

Unfortunately not all of them do use hot.

A previous machine which I had (Panasonic), during its 'tub clean' programme, cleaned itself at an absolute temperature of 40°C. Though in its favour, the rinse portion consisted of moderately violent distribution-speed tumbles.

And this is what irritates me - some manufacturers have lily-livered temperatures, whereas others insist on maintenance wash temperatures of 60°C and above.

 

[mralex]

Yogitunes- The weird thing with my washer is... when I select tub clean it deep fills with only cold water! And agitates for over an hour.. it doesn’t really work when you add powdered machine cleaners.. I tend to select one of the ordinary programs and use deep fill with hot water only, that does the trick

[this post was last edited: 9/24/2017-09:06]