How you can easily clean your front-load washing machine

Unfortunately, just because washing machines are designed to clean our clothes, it doesn’t mean that they can clean themselves too.

Due to the design of front loaders, you’ll have to regularly clean them as they are more susceptible to mold and mildew.

The rubber gasket which lines the door to prevent leakage, can collect gunk which could make your clothes stink and don’t forget detergent residue which can also build up.

Here’s how you can clean your front loading washing machine.

1. Before you start, put on some gloves and keep doors and windows open for ventilation.

2. Make a 50/50 bleach and water mixture in a pail and wet a white rag with the solution.

3. Start wiping down the entire rubber gasket while making sure you pull it back to stretch it out so you can clean the inside as well.

4. If the mould is not budging, leave a towel which had been soaked with the bleach mixture in the gasket for 30 minutes. After soaking, remove the towel and scrub the gasket gently with an old toothbrush.

5. Once done, wipe down the rubber gaskets with a clean dry cloth and place all of the dirty rags into your washing machine and run them through a complete wash and rinse cycle on the hottest setting.

6. Finish by running the machine through a second complete cycle at the hottest setting and add two cups of vinegar plus a couple of small, clean bath towels too. Remember, do not combine bleach and vinegar in a washing, ever.

While you’re at it, clean your detergent dispenser with 50/50 mixture of vinegar.

Now that your washing machine is all shiny and clean, just make sure you give the rubber gasket a wipe after each load. You can also leave the door open after every wash to allow air circulation.

Do you have any other tips on cleaning the washing machine?