The idea that a machine that is designed to be washed needs to be washed may seem ridiculous. However, the washing machine must be cleaned regularly to avoid mold and dirt. Bleach is great for washing your washing machine as it effectively removes all kinds of dirt, debris, mold and mildew. It can be used to clean the drum and other surfaces both inside and outside of the machine, but be very careful when handling the bleach to avoid accidentally staining other surfaces.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Wash your top-loading washing machine
Step 1. Pour the bleach into the bleach drawer
Most modern washing machines have a bleach drawer or dispenser. Fill it up to the top with bleach.
- Older washing machines may not have this compartment. If this is the case, simply pour half a glass (120–240 ml) of bleach directly into the drum.
- If the dispenser holds less than a quarter cup (60 ml) of bleach, use concentrated bleach. This will allow you to activate the dispenser and increase the cleaning performance.
Step 2. Turn on the hot water mode
Hot water will disinfect and clean the inside of the washing machine. Unlike cold water, it is much better at loosening oils and dirt that accumulate in the washing machine over time.
The hot water cycle will require more energy, but if you only wash your washing machine a few times a month, you won't notice much difference
Step 3. Start washing
Run either a normal long wash, or a Maintenance Cycle or Cleaning Cycle, if your washing machine has these modes. In both cases, the bleach will mix with hot water in the drum and on the activator, thoroughly cleaning them.
Make sure the washing machine is empty before starting a cycle. Any remaining clothing inside will be soaked in the bleach
Step 4. Stop washing when the drum is full of water
For the bleach to take effect, you must stop the washing machine and wait a while for the drum to get wet. Wait approximately 1 hour before turning the washing machine back on and completing the wash cycle.
To stop a wash cycle in most washing machines, simply open the door or turn the control knob
Step 5. Start a rinse cycle
If you are worried about traces of bleach remaining in the drum, start the hot wash cycle again, but this time without bleach. The idea is to remove any remaining traces of bleach. Alternatively, after washing the inside of the machine, start a wash cycle with white items. This will not only remove traces of bleach, but also wash whites.
Some people advise adding a little vinegar during the second rinse to make sure all of the bleach is washed out. It's worth noting that mixing bleach and vinegar can generate dangerous chlorine gas, so it's best not to do this
Method 2 of 3: Washing the front-loading washing machine
Step 1. Wipe the inside of the door with diluted bleach
On the inside of the door in a front-loading washing machine, it is very common for dirt and fungus to accumulate. Take a cloth, dip it in the bleach solution, and wipe any traces of dirt and mildew from the door.
- To prepare the bleach solution, mix half a cup (120 ml) of bleach with 3.8 L of water.
- Wipe down the inside of the door before starting the wash cycle to ensure that any remaining bleach is rinsed out.
Step 2. Add bleach to the washing machine
To clean the inside of the washing machine, the bleach must be poured into a special compartment. You will need about a glass (240 ml) of bleach, but the exact amount depends on the model of your washing machine. All modern front-loading washing machines have a bleach dispenser or drawer, so check your user manual if you can't find one.
Pour some bleach into the detergent dispenser if you like. Pour about half a glass (120 ml) of bleach into the detergent dispenser to clean the entire washing machine
Step 3. Set the required settings
Turn the knob to select a hot wash. It is recommended to use hot water to wash the washing machine, as this will remove grease and dirt that has adhered to the washing machine.
Turn on the Extra Rinse mode, if your washing machine has one. This will ensure that no bleach remains in the washing machine at the end of the wash cycle
Step 4. Start a wash cycle
If you haven't washed your washing machine for a long time (or have never done it at all), run a long wash cycle. If you wash your washing machine regularly, a regular wash cycle should be sufficient.
Some washing machines have a special "Maintenance Cycle" or "Cleaning Cycle" mode that you can use. They do a better job of cleaning the washing machine
Step 5. Clean your washing machine regularly
The washing machine should be cleaned and disinfected every few months. This will prevent dirt and detergents from accumulating inside the device.
Front-loading washing machines tend to collect more dirt and grease than top-loading washing machines. This is because they use less water and their design contributes to this. For this reason, a front-loading washing machine should be disinfected more often than a top-loading washing machine
Method 3 of 3: Cleaning other parts of the washing machine
Step 1. Wipe the dirty areas with bleach
If you frequently wash very dirty or colored items, the washing machine may become dirty. Mix half a glass (120 ml) of bleach with 3.8 L of water to clean these dirty areas. This solution will reduce or completely remove stains.
Step 2. Remember to wipe down the dispensers and compartments
Detergent dispensers and compartments can also be wiped clean with bleach. You can even clean the bleach dispenser. Dip a cloth in diluted bleach and use it to wipe all surfaces in the dishwasher dispensers and compartments.
Even though these compartments are often filled with detergents and bleach, they can still collect dirt and debris. This is especially true for the detergent drawer as it is more sticky
Step 3. Wash the bleach-wiped areas
To prevent your clothes from getting stained with bleach in the future, try to rinse any areas you wipe with bleach, or wipe them again with a cloth dampened in warm water.