How to clean the washing machine from dirt and odor?

Modern washing machines have become a great helper for housewives. After washing various types of linen and clothes in automatic mode, they save us both time and energy. And many types of especially corrosive dirt cannot be washed off by hand at all. However, the automatic machine also needs timely cleaning and maintenance, because its parts are constantly in contact with water, contaminated things and detergents.

If your washing machine serves you for more than a month and you regularly use it, you can already see with the naked eye how plaque or dirt accumulates on some of its parts. What can we say about the faithful helpers who have been working for several years. Although the automatic machine helps to rid the laundry and clothes of stains and dirt, it itself is not at all insured against the settling and accumulation of various contaminants inside and outside.

The types of contaminants you may encounter when examining your washing machine are:

• Whitish smudges or yellowness on the body... Such traces are left by particles of detergents or soap suds on the machine. In many cases, the washing machine is in the bathroom, and its surface is constantly in contact with steam and moisture. These factors lead to the formation of traces of detergents on the case. In addition to the fact that the appearance of the machine itself is significantly deteriorated, such contaminants over time will strongly eat into the body, leading to yellowing of the plastic itself. In addition, areas affected by soap stains acquire an unpleasant odor and may become moldy.

• Scale marks on the drum... It forms and gradually accumulates on the inner surfaces of the washer due to the minerals and salts contained in the water. The higher the hardness of the tap water, the more actively mineral substances evaporate during washing at high temperatures, settling on the walls of the drum. If such plaque is not removed in time and is deposited on the drum in large quantities, it can even lead to damage to the washing machine, stalling the drum during operation.

• Detergent traces in the powder compartment. Laundry detergents do not always rinse well from the compartment. Depending on its shape and design, undissolved washing powder or gel can clog into the corners, forming a viscous mass there. With subsequent washings, such accumulations may increase. Unwashed powder can slowly eat away at the plastic parts of the compartment, moreover, in such places, mold takes root well over time.

• Rust marks. Rust can attack metal parts of the washing machine that come into contact with water. The drum surface is especially susceptible to this if the machine is not properly dried.
• Mold and mildew damage. These microorganisms love a humid and warm environment, so they feel great in the bathroom. Mold and mildew can form on both external surfaces and internal parts. In addition to their unpleasant appearance, these microorganisms can be harmful to health.

The problem of the outer surface of the washing machine is the formation of soap streaks and streaks, as well as mold or mildew. It is best to apply preventive measures. They consist in regularly wiping the machine body with a damp and dry cloth. Using a damp sponge or a piece of soft cloth, you can get rid of traces of powder on the case, as well as remove mold. Wipe the plastic with a dry cloth to remove moisture and water droplets.

If there are already yellowish stubborn stains, fungus or mold on the case, wiping with a weak vinegar solution will help:

• 1 tsp 6% apple cider vinegar dissolves in a liter of water. Use a sponge soaked in the solution to wipe the outer surfaces of the machine.
• Wait about five minutes, then wipe all surfaces with a damp sponge or cloth soaked in normal lukewarm water.
• Dry the case with a dry cloth.

Simple and affordable means will help to wash the washing machine inside, get rid of odor, dirt, scale and mold. These methods have been tested by time and the experience of housewives and have been successfully used to remove similar contaminants at home long before modern chemicals appeared. Surely it will not be difficult for you to find in the kitchen soda, vinegar, citric acid... These simple substances are good relievers of musty odors, accumulated dirt, mold and other troubles that hit the insides of the machine.

To do this, you need 50 g of acid powder, which can be poured directly into the drum or added to the washing powder tray. Next, you need to start any wash cycle, which will take about an hour and the water temperature in it will be 60-70 degrees. Also turn on the Extra Rinse mode to rinse the drum well.

Citric acid has weak whitening properties, freshens well, so the above procedure can be carried out with laundry in the drum. Naturally, things should be light or white.

You can clean the inside of the washer with vinegar and bleach. Pour 2 cups of apple cider vinegar into the liquid compartment. Start a wash program at 80 degrees.At the end of the program, pour bleach into the tray and restart any short program. The bleach will remove the sour smell of vinegar and wash away any dirt that has been dissolved by the vinegar. After that, you should put on a rinse cycle for the final cleaning of the drum.

The baking soda should be mixed with water to form a mixture similar in consistency to liquid sour cream. Soda in such a dissolved form will not scratch or damage plastic or metal surfaces. With a sponge dipped in the resulting soda gruel, wipe the surfaces of the machine. Rinse off the baking soda with a damp, clean sponge or run the rinse cycle.

The powder and detergent tray also needs to be rinsed, cleaned and dried regularly. As mentioned above, undissolved laundry powder is often clogged in various parts of this tray. Remove the powder tray and rinse thoroughly under running warm water. Using a brush or sponge, wipe the surfaces to remove adhering deposits. Use an old toothbrush to brush undissolved powder out of hard-to-reach areas.

In addition to regular and timely cleaning of the washing machine, it is very important to follow the rules of care and operation, which are essential will reduce the degree of contamination of its parts and surfaces:

• Wipe the interior and exterior of the clipper thoroughly. Do not leave water droplets or moisture.
• Try to regularly ventilate the room in which your automatic machine is located.
• Rinse the powder tray well after each wash. Wipe it clean and dry it.
• After washing, even if you have wiped clean the drum, do not close the door for a while. It is better to keep the door of the washing machine ajar in general, if it does not bother anyone in this position and there are no animals in the house that could get inside.

And now we recommend watching a video in which a housewife tells from personal experience how to properly monitor a washing machine.