It’s necessary to clean all of your appliances at least once a year, even those that use water to clean other things.
Your washing machine deals with the dirtiest of laundry: diapers, grass-stained denim, food stains and worse.
Your clothes emerge spotless, but they leave some of that gunk behind. Arizona’s “hard” water and laundry detergents can build up in the tub, pump and hoses. That build-up can make your washing machine less efficient and also can harm your clothes.
So clean it out. Here’s how:
- Fill your empty washing machine tub with hot water. Pour in three cups of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda and run it through a complete cycle.
- Remove the fabric softener receptacle and bleach dispenser and soak them in hot, soapy water. Nudge stubborn dirt and stains with a Q-tip.
- Sponge off the agitator and all the of tub’s surfaces.
- Use vinegar and a washcloth to wipe down the machine’s exterior surfaces.
- Check your washer’s hoses for weak spots or leaks. You may need to replace your hoses every five years or so.
