Clean a Washer and Dryer
Even though you constantly remove cleaned clothes from your washer and dryer, both of these appliances have to be periodically cleaned as well. After many loads of laundry, the inside of your washing machine can get built up residues of dirt and detergent, and the inside of the drum can become contaminated with fecal bacteria. The inside of your dryer can also get a buildup of lint, dust and dirt, so a thorough cleaning of your washer and dryer every few months will mean that your clothes will get cleaner.
Contents
Steps
Clean Your Washer
- Clean the top of the lid and underneath the lid of the washer with a damp sponge.
- Pull out the lint trap (if your machine has one) and rinse it under running water.
- Clean out the soap, bleach and fabric softener dispensers. If these cups are removable, take them out and rinse them under running water. Otherwise, use a pipe cleaner or some cotton swabs to remove the residue. (If you do this after each load, they won’t get an accumulated build-up of gunk and grime).
- Get rid of mold and mildew odors, as well as a built up of soap and fabric residue by running the machine empty with hot water and about 2 cups of white vinegar. (You can use 1 cup of bleach instead of vinegar, but bleach can damage the rubber gaskets).
- Run a cycle of hot water and {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of white vinegar if you have hard water once a month or every 10 loads. The vinegar will help to dissolve the mineral deposits caused by hard water or well water.
Clean Your Dryer
- Clean the lint filter thoroughly. Use the narrow wand attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove as much lint as possible that has built up underneath the filer itself. If you don’t have a vacuum, insert a duster into the filter well and wipe up the lint.
- Vacuum or wipe down the interior of the dryer, including the door seal.
- Detach the dryer lint duct and clean it out, or vacuum it out.
- Check the outside vent. Lift the flap and make sure there isn’t any debris or lint blocking the vent, preventing air from escaping freely.
- Wash down the top and the exterior of the dryer. Use warm, sudsy water and then rinse the soap residue off.
- Remove melted crayon, ink or dyes by applying an all-purpose spray cleaner on the drum and wipe it up with a damp cloth or paper towel.
- For extra measure, toss a few old towels into the dryer and run it on the high setting for about 20 minutes—any color residue not removed with the spray cleaner will transfer to your old towels.
Tips
- If possible, keep the lid to your washing machine in an open position when you aren’t using it. If you have a front loading machine, try to keep the door open between washings. Keeping the lid or door open between washings will help prevent mold and mildew from forming on the inside of your washer.
- After washing a particularly dirty or grimy load of clothes, be sure to wipe the inside of the washer immediately after removing the clothes so that the residue doesn’t dry on the inside of your machine.
- If your washer empties into a large sink, make sure you have a strainer in the drain to catch any debris that might be on the clothing you wash. It will help keep your pipes from getting clogged.
Warnings
- Clean the lint filter from your dryer before you dry every load. Lint build up can cause a fire.
- Change the hoses connecting your washer to the hot and cold water faucets every 3 to 5 years, or as soon as they start to show wear. The hoses can split if they get old or brittle, causing a serious flood.
Related Articles
- Clean a Clothes Dryer
- Buy a Washer and Dryer
- Clean a Traditional Top Load Washing Machine
- Clean a Dryer Lint Filter
