How To Clean A Washing Machine - Tips From A Home User
Have you ever had clothes that once cleaned have a funky smelling odor to them? Have you been plaque by unsightly rust on your laundry? Maybe you have both. Well, it may be time to learn how to clean a washing machine without the aide of a professional. Of course, there are some conditions that no amount of home remedies will cure such as rust holes in the washing machine drum. If you have actual damage to the drum, you may need to either purchase a new drum, or purchase a new washer. Both cases may be a cause for celebration, but first we will try a few home remedies at getting the funk out of your laundry.
Problems and Possible Solutions
1. Having a problem with rust? Well, you can run 2 cups of lime or lemon juice through a cycle of the washer with it on the hottest setting you have. You can actually let the lime or lemon juice sit over night if you feel that it will help. There has never been any evidence that the waiting over night has made much of a difference.
Another solution is to visit a hardware store and find a rust removal product. One such product is called Iron Out and is great for removing rust stains. You should follow the instructions in the kit you will purchase.
2. Have a problem with dye stains? Well, running a couple cups of bleach through a couple of cycles with the hottest settings you have will generally do the trick. This is cost effective and usually works with any model of washer.
3. Wow, that sure is a funky odor! Well, no one wants their clothes to be smelly after they have run through the washer. One solution is to run about 3 cups of vinegar and about 5 tablespoons of salt through a cycle on its hottest settings. This is more effective if you leave it sitting over night.
Warning!
Of course, there are a few tips that I feel necessary to mention.
A. Never run anything else with this load. In other words, never add chemicals or solutions such as these to a load of laundry. You should always run the washer on empty cycles.
B. Never, ever under any circumstances mix chemicals. Mixing chemicals can cause hazardous, toxic fumes to be emitted into your home. This can cause nerve damage and death to anyone including the young and household pets.
C. Always run an empty cycle of nothing but hot water after you run the cleaning cycles. This is to remove any residue of chemicals from the washer.
D. Always make sure your washing area is well ventilated.
A stinky smelling washer is horrible; a washer that rusts your laundry is just as bad - if not worse. Proper handling of laundry will prevent this from happening on a regular basis. I suggest you wash a couple empty loads about once a month with a few tablespoons of soda just to clean the washing machine itself. When you want to know how to clean a washing machines at home, this is by far not an exclusive guide, but it gives some good tips on where to start.
