Good Laundry - starts by cleaning the washing machine.
We all run regular cleaning programmes on the dishwasher making sure internal filters are kept clean and smelling fresh, but most of us forget about the washing machine until there is a problem. It smells noticeably fusty, or worse, clothes leaving the machine have a rancid odour to them.
So to prevent this occurring it’s a great idea to set a calendar reminder every other month, to do these simple 10 minute cleaning tasks. Watch our easy to follow videos:
How to Clean the washing machine dosing drawer.
Next step: Cleaning the inside of the rubber drum seal and the door
It’s so easy, just grab your favourite scouring cleaning product, and using a cloth, scrub the window area of the door that has attracted limescale deposits. You can use the same cloth to wipe the rubber seal on the washing machine. If the rubber seal looks brown or black? there are traces of mould, so pay particular attention to the topside of the rubber and any nooks and crannies.
This is the only time I would advise you use a specific mould removing product. A quick spray of a product that tackles mould and then wipe does leave the rubber looking like new again and I always figure if I wash hot straight away afterwards any residues that could damage the rubber will be washed away.
If you have neglected your washing machine and the dosing drawer has black mould areas then a few sprays of a mould removing cleaning product will do wonders. If you don’t have anything to hand all local chemists sell household strength hydrogen peroxide liquid which is perfect for sanitising your washing machine. Just make sure you do the hottest wash you can afterwards to clean it all away.
The ingredients in mould removers do damage plastic and fabric if they are in contact for a length of time, whereas hydrogen peroxide simply reverts to oxygen and water.
Cleaning the HE filter usually at the bottom right hand corner of the washing machine.
This is the most overlooked part of the washing machine and some people are shocked when they first clean it. You need to place an old oven tray and towel on the floor in front of your machine and then carefully open the compartment, removing the hose end cap and hold the piping down towards the old cooking tray. Over a few minutes this will pour dirty, stale water, and limescale particles out onto the tray. It will smell a little, this water has been sitting stagnant.
Once the excess water is drained you can unscrew the filter by turning it anti clockwise. Expect this to be covered in limescale and trapped dirt and fluff. You might be lucky and find some loose change too. You need to scrub the filter clean and clear all the limescale. If limescale has really set on the filter, soak in a vinegar solution for an hour to loosen the calcified deposits. Using your old toothbrush scrub the inside of the area the filter fits in, and wipe out with a cloth until it’s as clean as you can get it. Re screw the filter in tightly and replace the hose end cap carefully tucking it away where you removed it from at the beginning.
Ta Dahh – you now have a wonderfully clean machine that will launder your clothes so much better than before!
For other laundry questions email Distinctive Customer Care info@distinctivewash.co.uk
Want to read more. Go to our About page.