How Do I Clean My Washing Machine After Using Bleach?
Bleach is an effective disinfectant that kills bacteria, viruses and mold while eliminating odors from laundry. Furthermore, bleach can clean the inside of your washing machine’s detergent drawer and dispenser wells as well as seals on door gaskets and seals – eliminating all potential for problems to arise!
Fill your washer with hot water, add 1 quart of non-chlorine bleach and allow it to agitate before leaving it alone for an hour.
Use a vinegar and baking soda solution
Bleach can be an effective and straightforward way to clean your washer, but over time it may leave unsightly stains and residue behind, damaging rubber seals and metal agitators in the process. Therefore, regular washing machine maintenance should be conducted to keep everything operating at optimal levels and minimize potential problems that might arise from continued exposure to bleach.
Cleaning your washing machine requires several different household cleaners; however, bleach is best avoided in case it contains stainless steel tubs or pipes as this could corrode them over time. Instead, hydrogen peroxide provides an effective alternative that’s also safe for most washers.
Before starting, fill the washer with hot water and mix in 1 quart of white vinegar. Allow this mixture to soak for one hour in order to eliminate mold and mildew growth before running a full cycle with hot water and wiping down its exterior as well as any built-in dispensers for fabric softener or bleach.
Baking soda added to your vinegar solution can help make it more thorough in its cleaning abilities and help remove soap scum or any other stubborn deposits from your washer. Baking soda’s alkaline properties allow it to cut through oily stains easily while dissolving odors for fresher-smelling results in your machine.
One way is to pour one cup of baking soda into your detergent tray and run an empty hot wash cycle to help eliminate any remnants of bleach and eliminate its unpleasant odor. Furthermore, clean out your detergent drawer and rinse aid dispenser as well as wiping down rubber seal of your washer with cloth soaked with warm water.
Front-loaders should add half a cup of bleach directly into their drum and half to their detergent dispenser, or follow your package’s instructions as to how much to add. With top-loaders, using this same method but pausing after water has filled and leaving for one hour will produce equally effective results.
Use a bleach solution
Bleach is one of the most effective disinfectants available, making it ideal for clearing away any remaining germs and mildew spores from your washing machine. A mixture of water and bleach may work, or there are specially-designed washer cleaners with detergent boosters, corrosion inhibitors and disinfectant agents specifically formulated to clean it effectively.
Before using any bleach solution in your washing machine, always double-check that its label indicates it will be colorfast and safe for the fabric. As an alternative solution, try tea tree oil which has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties; using natural alternatives can also help prevent odors or mold build-up in the machine.
After using bleach to remove stains and brighten whites from your washing machine, always run a rinse cycle afterwards to make sure all of the solution has been washed away. Regular detergent can also help eliminate any residue left by bleach.
To create a bleach solution, first fill your washing machine with hot water, adding four cups of distilled white vinegar gradually while it fills. Next, turn on and agitate for approximately an hour before shutting it down to let the mix soak into your machine for another hour before taking another action step.
Once your wash cycle is finished, run a rinse and spin cycle to make sure all of the bleach has been flushed from your machine. In addition, wipe down its interior to ensure any trace of residue or grime has been completely washed away.
Your washing machine should be regularly cleansed with a bleach solution to maintain fresh and clean results. If you frequently use it to wash colorful or patterned clothing, hot water might provide better sanitization than cold water would do in terms of fabric sanitation and disinfection. When handling bleach products, always wear protective gloves and work in an airy area, as breathing in chlorine gas could result in coughing fits, dizziness or pneumonia.
Use a vinegar and water solution
As with all household appliances, your washing machine requires regular maintenance to avoid build-up of dirt and odors. This is particularly essential since clothing comes into direct contact with our skin and any bacteria or germs found there can transfer directly onto it. Bleach may be effective at disinfecting, but its fumes may not be good for either you or your family’s health – to avoid this exposure safely you can opt for an eco-friendly vinegar and baking soda cleaner solution instead. This solution provides gentle care with minimal environmental impact.
Not only can this solution remove mold, mildew, and stains from your washing machine, it will also deodorize it! Not only that but it will leave clothing smelling fresher than before by dissolving soap scum deposits and hard water deposits – plus its more affordable than bleach!
Start by pouring 2 cups of white vinegar directly into your washing machine’s detergent tray or directly into its drum, and running a hot water wash cycle to eliminate remaining germs and dissolve mineral deposits. After the cycle has concluded, rinse and let your washer air dry afterwards.
Step two of washing machine maintenance includes wiping down its exterior, including its control panel and door gasket, with a cloth dampened with vinegar solution and thoroughly wrung out before wiping it down with another dampened cloth. Also remember to clean fabric softener and bleach dispensers!
Use a damp cloth to clean the rubber seals on the lid and door, which are notorious for harboring mold, mildew, and other nasty substances. Regular wiping with half-distilled water mixed with 1 cup of baking soda may be enough, or try mixing up your own scrub solution!
Clean your detergent drawers and powder and liquid fabric softener dispensers by filling them with two cups of vinegar for one hour and allowing it to set. Run a hot water cycle afterwards to eliminate any lingering odors and prevent mold, mildew or grime growth within your washer – be sure to read your washer’s label first before adding cleaning products!
Use a vinegar and lemon juice solution
If you want to clean your washing machine after using bleach, consider combining vinegar and lemon juice as an eco-friendly way of eliminating odors and fighting mold growth. A vinegar and lemon juice solution will remove odors while fighting mold growth – providing an effective yet safer option than bleach! Adding baking soda will also deodorize and clean your lint trap, which is crucial because lint can trap odors while hindering performance of your washer.
Start by clearing away debris in your detergent tray, which can accumulate lint and powder detergent over time. Make sure to also thoroughly cleanse your dispenser – using bleach can help clean this area as well as wiping down its rubber seal and exterior of your machine.
Step two is running a hot water wash cycle without any clothing in your washing machine to get rid of dirt and residue build-up. Newer machines may offer built-in washer cleaning cycles which automatically set temperature, water level, agitation rate and agitation speed; otherwise use Affresh or GH Seal star Tide Washing Machine Cleaner according to instructions on its label for an easier solution.
Mix three parts water, one part white vinegar and two parts baking soda in a bucket before pouring the solution directly into your washer. Let it soak for one hour before rinsing with hot water – this process will kill bacteria, eliminate odors and dissolve mineral deposits that form on surfaces such as soap scum or mineral deposits.
If you don’t have vinegar or baking soda solution available to you, a combination of bleach and water will do just as well to clean your washing machine. Simply mix one quart of bleach into one quart of hot water and let it soak for an hour – this will eliminate bacteria, mildew and odors while softening any soap scum or mineral deposits on hoses and pipes of the machine.
