Washing machine is one of the most neglected things that people always forget to maintain with all the housecleaning chores we do. The function of a washing machine is mainly to help us with our chores. It becomes a mechanical servant for us to make us to do other things at the same time. However, since we leave the cleaning to the washing machine alone, we seldom see it as something that is also in need to be cleaned although we never forget to scrub the bathtubs, showers and sinks. The washing machine deserves the same treatment and care because it will get soiled with the dirt left behind from the clothes washed in it. Logically, it will be the dirt, soap scum and grime that become culprits to your washing machine that eventually will need to be removed. This dirt will not only get your clothes dirty, they are also full of body oils and dead skin. It will be useless to wash your clothes in your dirty washing machine in that kind of situation. You can notice these things as most of the washing machine are dark and you simply drop the clothes in dirty and pull out when they are clean. Actually, you will be shocked to find what is trapped inside your washing machine once you step into it. Fear not, as the solution is to clean your machine properly and it\’s much easier than you might think. Here are some steps on how to make your washing machine clean.
Things that you need:
- white gloves
- damp towel
- new barrel (optional)
- 2 cups of bleach
- 2 cups of lemon juice
Steps:
- First, wear white gloves to your hands and run them along the bottom of the barrel when you decide it\’s time to clean your washing machine. The white gloves will give you a clear image of what your hand had run into and you might be shocked with the result. It is often and normal to find a thin layer of grit, and possibly the stray of socks you been searching for. Although there will be grits, there are other materials that could be problematic to your washing machine which are the deposits and detergent deposits. Rust can build up from the laundry detergent and hard water inside the barrel and hoses. This rust can affect badly the performance of your washing machine and also your clothes, making them to wear down.
- Next, damp a soft towel to wipe up the layer of grit or dirt at the bottom of the barrel as much as you can. Continue to wipe up and down the walls of the entire barrel. If there are any rusty spots found, you should avoid from sending them down. Exchange the extensive barrel with a new barrel if needed. Sometimes what you see as rust might not be as what it seems; it could rather be lime scale deposits. So, try washing it first to test whether it is lime scale deposits or not.
- Then, set your washing machine water temperature as hot as possible and set the water level on high. Let the barrel fill completely and then add 2 cups of bleach for the stains and 2 cups of lemon juice for the rust. You can do this separately if necessary. But remember not to mix chemicals or cleaning agents. If you are facing with difficult stains, get cleaning products that are specially designed for washing machines in any local hardware or discount store.
- Finally, rinse out any excess of lemon, bleach or cleaner with another cycle of hot water only after the cleaning cycle.
Additional Reading:
http://www.essortment.com/home/cleanwashingma_sokn.htm
Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/2473522040/
