I cleaned my entire washing machine using two household staples for under 50p

May 21, 2024

When it comes to regularly cleaning the appliance, I focus on three elements including the drawer, filter and the drum.

The washing machine drawer sees various types of liquids and powders pass through it on a daily basis.

The residue of liquids and fabric softeners is often gunky and thick, meaning it is sometimes difficult to rinse through the compartment fully.

I use detergent pods meaning my drawer doesn’t get too dirty, but it definitely needed a clean after a month of not touching it.

To clean the drawer, I took some white vinegar along with a toothbrush and scrubbed the dirty areas which came away very quickly.

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White vinegar is a powerful cleaning agent which can help to kill germs, odours and helps to clean the entire machine.

Like other filters, the washing machine filter collects the things you don’t want to collect in the washer such as dirt and hair.

It tends to be at the bottom of the appliance, but make sure to refer to your manufacturer’s instructions before attempting to remove and clean anything.

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After removing my filter from the washing machine, I ran it under hot water before scrubbing it again with white vinegar.

The drum of the appliance is arguably the most important area which needs to be cleaned because it is where the clothes are cleaned.

It can become caked in mould around the seal as well as limescale in the drum so it needs to be cleaned at least once a month.

I added around a cup of baking soda into the drum and added a small amount of white vinegar into the detergent drawer.

Baking soda can help to gently scrub the inside of the machine as well as combat the stale, mouldy odours which are often left behind via old soap and fabric softener deposits.

Next, I placed the machine on a super hot wash at 60C but it is recommended to set the machine as hot as it goes.

After the cycle had finished, I took a cloth around the seal and wiped the door down before leaving it ajar to dry.