We’ve come to rely on the washing machine to keep us on top of those piles of never-ending laundry, but often people forget to clean the appliance itself, meaning their belongings actually stay dirty even after going through a cycle.

After many years of use, the washing machine can become filled with gunk which builds up in the little cracks and crevices around the lid and throughout the appliance.

That’s why it’s so important to give it a deep clean every now and then just like you would with other items in the house. These handy tips will make it feel like you’ve got a whole new washing machine and, as a plus, will have your clothes smelling fresh once again!

What you need:

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Toothbrush
• Microfibre cloth

Steps:

1. First, wipe away any dirt using the cloth, making sure to get into the smaller areas of the washing machine.
2. Next, put the cycle on the hottest setting then pour in a litre of vinegar, followed by a cup of baking soda. Let it fill up but don’t let it start washing (press the pause button before it gets to this point).
3. Take out any removable parts such as the softener container and the lint catcher.
4. Using a toothbrush, clean around the lid, the sides of the drum and other hard to reach areas.
5. After an hour, close the lid and let the machine clean itself. While waiting, wipe and scrub the lid and the keypad.
6. Give it one more hot wash with a litre of vinegar to clean away any residue loosened and left behind by the first cycle.

Cleaning the lint collector:

The lint collector is usually quite noticeable, it looks like a pocket within the drum of the machine. If you can’t see it there it could be around the top of the tub and needs to be pulled up. Or it could be in the agitator, attached to the drain hose, or on the front panel.

Once you’ve found it, pluck off or throw out as much as of the lint as you can This should be fairly easy. The hard part is getting all the little bits off. You may need to give it a soak in hot water for 15 minutes and then use a toothbrush to scrub off the remaining fluff.

Have you cleaned your washing machine lately? Do you have any tips on how to get it clean?