What's Causing My Washing Machine to Get so Dirty and How Can I Prevent It?

 The gasket of your front loading machine (the rubber around the door that forms the seal)
traps a lot of water in it which promotes the growth of mold. Wipe the gasket dry after each
wash.
 Mold grows in damp places, so leave the washing machine door open at all times to help it
to dry out and don’t leave your wet washing in there.
 Washing with low temperatures is a problem when it comes to the germs and bacteria that
build up in your machine. Do at least one wash a month at a minimum of 60ºC (140ºF),
preferably 90ºC (194ºF) to sanitize your machine.
 Overuse of detergent can cause build up, so carefully measure out your dose according to
your load size and how soiled it is.
 For HE machines, reduce excess suds by using a specialized HE detergent.
 Using liquid detergents and fabric softener can cause a sticky waxy build up on the inside of
your washing machines drum. This problem is exacerbated when we wash at low
temperatures. Use powdered detergents instead of liquid and use half a cup of distilled
white vinegar in place of fabric softener.
 Those with hard water have to contend with both limescale and soap scum that builds up
on that surfaces that it comes in contact with like pipes and hoses. Add a water softening
product, such as Calgon Water Softener, to each wash and follow detergent dose
instructions for hard water.

How to Clean the Washing Machine Components

How to Clean a Front Loader Washing Machine Gasket

Pack the rubber folds and cavities of the gasket with paper towels soaked in hydrogen peroxide.
Leave it to soak for a few hours before wiping down clean and dry. You may need to use a soft
brush to gently scrub it.

To prevent it from getting moldy by using an old towel or paper towel to dry around the rubber
gasket/door seal after each wash. You could also add some vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to the
towel as you wipe it down to really scare away the mold.

How to Clean a Washing Machine Top Loader

Use a paper towel soaked in hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar to wipe around the opening of
the machine. Try to get between the tub rim and top edges, and all the areas that the water can’t
get to.

How to Clean a Washing Machine Dispenser

Remove the dispensers from the machine. Fill your tub up with hot water and half a cup of vinegar
and scrub away. Don’t forget to also clean inside the area where the dispenser sits as this can
become moldy too. If the dispenser can’t be removed (check your machines manual), then use a
pipe cleaner or an old toothbrush to get into the crevices.

5 Ways to Clean the Washing Machine Drum

1. How to Clean a Washing Machine with Oxygen Bleach and Enzyme Detergent

Choose powdered enzyme detergents over liquid ones. Look for a detergent that contains a range
of grease eating enzymes such as Amylase, Protease as well as Lipase or Mannanase (you may
need to check the manufacturer’s website for the list of ingredients). Regularly add powdered
oxygen bleach to your usual detergent. Seventh Generation detergents use these types of
enzymes and they also sell oxygen bleach. Be aware that enzyme detergents are not safe to use
on wool or silk.

The machine is designed to rise to this temperature as the wash progresses, so this should give
the enzymes enough time to do their work without being affected by the heat. If your machine has
manual load levels, then set it to its biggest load capacity.

Look for the word enzymes in the ingredients.

Instructions for Cleaning Your Washing Machine Using Oxygen Bleach and Enzyme Detergent

Quantities Front loader washing machine Top loading machine

Powdered enzyme Set water temperature to 90ºC Set water temperature to 90ºC
detergent and oxygen (194ºF). Add the detergent and (194ºF). Add the detergent and
bleach. Use dose as oxygen bleach to the detergent oxygen bleach to the detergent
directed on the label for dispenser and begin the wash dispenser and begin the wash
large loads. cycle. cycle.

2. How to Clean a Washing Machine with Baking Soda and Vinegar

You can clean a washing machine naturally using distilled white vinegar and baking soda. Vinegar
is acetic acid, but as it is only a mild form of acid and will not kill all of the mould, so I don't
recommended it for really dirty washing machines. To help with odour, use baking soda alongside
it to deoderize your machine. Both are safe to use and help to remove limescale.
Combine white vinegar and baking soda for maximum cleaning power

Instructions for Cleaning Your Washing Machine Using Vinegar and Baking Soda

Quantities Front loader washing machine Top loading machine

Set water temperature to 90ºC (194ºF). Add
Choose a long wash cycle and set
white vinegar to the detergent dispenser and
½ cup of baking water temperature to 90ºC (194ºF).
baking soda to the softener dispenser, and
soda and 1 Add the baking soda to the
begin the wash cycle. Let the machine agitate
quart (1 liter) of detergent dispenser. Pour the
for 1 min to combine then stop the cycle and
vinegar. vinegar into the drum of the
soak for one hour before letting the cycle
machine and begin the wash cycle.
finish..

3. How to Clean a Washing Machine with Citric Acid

Citric acid is derived from citrus fruits and is a natural and powerful way to remove limescale, soap
scum and buildup. It is a much stronger acid than vinegar so works a treat for machines with lots
of buildup. Citric acid can also be used alongside baking soda to help remove odors.
Citric acid is an excellent natural product to remove limescale, soap scum and detergent buildup. |
Source

Instructions for Cleaning Your Washing Machine Using Citric Acid

Quantities Front loader washing machine Top loading machine

Set water temperature to 90ºC (194ºF). Wait
Choose a long wash cycle and
1 cup of citric until the machine has filled with water then
set water temperature to 90ºC
acid and ½ cup add the citric acid and baking soda. Let the
(194ºF). Add the citric acid and
of baking soda machine agitate for 1 min to combine then
baking soda into the drum of the
(optional) stop the cycle and soak for one hour before
machine and begin the cycle.
letting the cycle finish.

4. How to Clean a Washing Machine with Hydrogen Peroxide

Instead of chlorine bleach, try using hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is sold as a 3% diluted
liquid solution and is an excellent all around cleaner. You may see it being sold in higher
concentrations but these are used by commercial cleaners and diluted it to make large quantities
of cleaning solution. I would not recommend that you do this because of the safety risks involved
when handling solutions above 3% and because hydrogen peroxide must be must be used within
a year of opening and stored in a dark place as it loses its effectiveness.

Hydrogen Peroxide removes limescale, kills mould and is antiviral and antibacterial. It can also be
used with hot water. It is safer to use than chlorine bleach because it doesn’t leave behind toxic
fumes and residue and is safe for the environment as it breaks down into oxygen and water. The
down side to hydrogen peroxide is that it takes longer to work, so you’ll need to leave it soaking in
your machine for at least three hours. As this is not possible for front loaders, you may need to run
it through twice.

Instructions for Cleaning Your Washing Machine Using Hydrogen Peroxide

Quantities Front loader washing machine Top loading machine

1 quart (1 Choose a long wash cycle and set Set water temperature to 90ºC (194ºF). Wait
Quantities Front loader washing machine Top loading machine
until the machine has filled with water then
water temperature to 90ºC (194ºF).
add the hydrogen peroxide. Let the machine
Pour the hydrogen peroxide into the
liter) of agitate for 1 min to combine then stop the
drum of the machine and begin the
hydrogen cycle and soak for at least three hours before
cycle. Add an additional rinse cycle
peroxide. finishing the cycle. Add an additional rinse
to ensure all traces of peroxide are
cycle to ensure all traces of peroxide are
removed.
removed.

5. How to Clean a Washing Machine with Chlorine Bleach

Chlorine bleach must only be used with warm or cold water, as it loses it effectiveness at high
temperatures. Many people like to use chlorine bleach, but I prefer not to because of its toxicity
and the fact that it can’t be mixed with other products. Also, it does not remove limescale and
although it’s great at removing mould from smooth services like tiles and glass, it can’t penetrate
porous surfaces such as the plastic inner drum or porcelain inner drum of your washing machine.
You may think that you have killed the mould because you can no longer see it, but the roots of
the mould are still alive and well and will happily re-grow in a short amount of time.

Instructions for Cleaning Your Washing Machine Using Chlorine Bleach

Quantities Front loader washing machine Top loading machine

Set maximum water temperature to 40ºC
Set maximum water temperature
(104ºF). Wait until the machine has filled with
1 quart (1 to 40ºC (104ºF). Pour the bleach
water then add the bleach. Let the machine
liter) of into the drum of the machine and
agitate for 1 min to combine then stop the cycle
chlorine begin the cycle. Add an additional
and soak for one hour before finishing the cycle.
bleach. rinse cycle to ensure all traces of
Add an additional rinse cycle to ensure all traces
bleach are removed.
of bleach are removed.

Persistent Problems

Unfortunately, if the situation is bad, don't expect the problem to be resolved the first time. You
may need to continue to clean it up to 6 times before you see an improvement. If you prefer, you
can purchase a commercial product such as Lemi Shine Machine Cleaner that is specially
designed to remove tough limescale and detergent build up.

Remember: The only way to avoid your machine from getting built up with limescale, soap scum,
mold and bacteria, is to do regular maintenance cleans!