How to clean a washing machine

9honey Living’s The Wash Up: Your 30-day spring cleaning guide is a month-long series aimed at making your annual house clean easier with hacks and expert advice.
If your clothes are coming out of the washing machine smelling bad or with stains they didn’t have when they went in, it’s time to clean it.
And if you don’t have those problems but it’s been more than a month since you last cleaned the machine then now is the time to do it.
Cleaning the washing machine will also prevent those little brown bits of detergent residue known as soap scrud from appearing all over your garments and linens.
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The process is quite simple and generally not a lot of elbow grease is needed, especially for the main step.
For the most part the method is the same for both top and front loaders but there are a few differences.
Before cleaning, check your washing machine manual for the recommended method for your specific machine, including whether particular cleaning agents are not advised.
Cleaning the washing machine typically requires the hot water to be attached to the machine but if you only have cold water you can still do the cleaning cycle, you just might need to do it twice if you’re still having odour or discolouration issues.
1. Remove mould and residue from the rubber door seal using a cloth dampened with a mix of equal parts water and vinegar or soapy water. Wipe around the seal until all the gunk is removed. If the mould is particularly bad and stubborn spray with the vinegar and water mix and leave for a few minutes before rinsing off.
2. Clean the filter by locating what looks like a little flap on the front of the machine. After opening place a small container underneath before unscrewing the rubber outlet. Let this drain before removing the filter and rinsing in the sink or washing in warm soapy water. You might need to soak it for 10 minutes or scrub gently with a toothbrush if it’s particularly dirty.
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3. Remove or pull out the detergent dispenser drawer as far as it will go and scrub with either warm soapy water or vinegar and water to remove residue and mould. Clean the compartment by scrubbing with a toothbrush and rinse the drawer before putting it back in.
4. Close the flap before adding a cleaning agent into the washing machine drum. You can use vinegar (one to two cups), baking soda (one to two cups), oxygen bleach (one cup) or a store bought washing machine cleaner. Put the machine on the hottest, longest cycle or the drum clean cycle if your appliance has one.
5. Once the cleaning cycle has finished wipe out the drum and door seal, leave the door open so that the machine can fully dry out.
1. Remove the lint filters and scrub with a toothbrush under warm soapy water.
2. Pull out the detergent drawer and scrub with warm soapy water or a vinegar and water mix. Use the toothbrush or another gentle tool like a dishwand to scrub inside the compartment where the detergent drawer sits.
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3. Put all the parts back in before adding a cleaning agent to the drum. You can use vinegar (one to two cups), baking soda (one to two cups), oxygen bleach (one cup) or a store bought washing machine cleaner. Then run either the machine’s own cleaning cycle or the hottest longest cycle.
4. Once the cleaning cycle is finished open up the machine and wipe out the drum and inside of the lid. Check the filters in case they have collected any lingering lint or soap scrud and empty those.
5. Leave the door open so the machine can dry. Also set the detergent drawer and filters aside so they can completely dry too.
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A thorough clean like the process above is ideal to do once a month. Laundry expert Nicole Gibson from Soka Australia recommends cleaning your machine on the first weekend of the month as it’s an easy reminder to keep on top of the task.
After each use leave the washing machine door open so that any remaining water inside the drum can dry to prevent odours and mould.
It also helps to remove the detergent drawer and let that fully dry too as a good deal of water can sit around the drawer, and if the machine is closed up it creates the perfect environment for mould to grow.
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For front loaders, it also helps to wipe around the rubber door seal to remove any water from there to help stop mould.
Those with a top loader should remove the filters from inside the drum and empty them out. Give them a rinse if needed and consider setting aside on the laundry bench so they can dry fully too.
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