Yes, you should take the same steps with a washer/dryer as it operates in a very similar way.
You’ll notice mold in areas like the rubber seal or even in your detergent drawer. If the patches are particularly stubborn, then you should consider using bleach as this will not only remove the mold but sanitise the area too.
Firstly, never apply bleach directly to the rubber seal. Instead, mix one part bleach with four parts water and apply the solution with a cloth. Set this sit for around 10 to 15 minutes, then wipe thoroughly with a clean, damp cloth.
It’s advisable to stay away from harsh chemicals, as this can lead to long-term damage for your machine over time. While some argue that just running a cycle on a high temperature is enough, others prefer to add some detergent to ensure a more thorough clean.
For a more natural and chemical-free clean, adding around 60g of baking soda to the drum and a one part vinegar and four part water solution to your detergent drawer can help neutralise odors and keep the machine clean.
If your machine has a dedicated clean cycle then running this is enough to clean its insides. If you don’t have a clean programme, then you should run a cycle on a high temperature to sanitise the machine. We’d suggest a 40°C cycle is sufficient to do this, and you can either run this on empty or add a small measure of detergent.
Also, as mentioned above, for a more natural cleaning method you can add baking soda or a vinegar/water solution to the machine which should help neutralise any odours.
It is safe to use vinegar and baking soda to clean your washing machine, as long as you’re careful with your proportions.
It’s recommended that a vinegar solution should be one part mixed with four parts water (so for example, 250ml should be paired with one litre of water), while around 60g of baking soda should be sufficient.
Yes, in fact this is exactly how you should clean your washing machine. If you load up your machine with laundry then it simply won’t clean itself as it’ll be cleaning the laundry load instead.
For everyday use, vinegar is better than bleach for general cleaning as it’s efficient yet not as harsh as bleach. However, for tougher stains such as stubborn mold patches, then bleach can be used as it sanitises and kills bacteria within the areas. Just ensure that bleach is used sparingly, as too much can damage your machine’s rubber seal.
Most importantly, you should never combine bleach and vinegar as this creates a harmful reaction and releases a chlorine gas.
If your washing machine is starting to smell then we’d recommend following the main steps above, with particular attention to cleaning the rubber seal on the inside and the filter. Following these steps, combined with keeping the door open after a wash and ensuring there’s no build up should help keep odours at bay.
