Clean Your Washing Machine (Please, Shannah, Do It!)

Since I (accidentally) showed you my disgusting washing machine yesterday:

I thought I'd better show you how to clean a washing machine.

First, fill the wash tub with hot water. Add 3-4 cups bleach. Allow the machine to agitate for 1 minute, then let it sit for an hour.

Those black specks in the photo? Let's
just say they aren't specks. Ick.

Restart the machine and run it on its longest cycle.

When the cycle ends, fill the wash tub once again with hot water. Add 3-4 cups white vinegar. Allow the machine to agitate for 1 minute, then let it sit for an hour.

Vinegar is your cheapest best cleaning friend.

While the vinegar water is sitting, dip a gentle scrub brush in the water and go to town! Make sure you scrub the lid, hinges, knobs, basket edge and so on.

Do the same with a rag. Use it to get up and under the rubber gaskets and inside the various dispensers.

If your dispensers aren't removable, microwave a cup of pure vinegar for 1 minute, then pour into the dispenser. Let it sit for a while - the vinegar will dissolve the soap scum, making for easier cleaning.

Restart the machine and allow it to complete its full cycle. Dry everything thoroughly and marvel at how sparkly clean your machine now is!

Vow to never let it get that dirty again. Seriously - you should deep clean your machine a couple of times a year...not a couple of times a decade.