Cleaning your washing machine

We recommend that you clean your washing machine once a month. Monthly maintenance clean Regularly cleaning your washing machine prevents…

| (updated )

We recommend that you clean your washing machine once a month.

Monthly maintenance clean

Regularly cleaning your washing machine prevents a buildup of scrud and keeps the machine smelling clean and fresh.

  • wipe down the rims and seals
    • if you have a top loader with a removable agitator, take it out to clean
  • open and clean the filter
  • empty the drain hose
  • clean the drum

It helps to read your machine manual or search YouTube for videos on how to clean your specific model.

Cleaning the drum

Use chlorine bleach/heat to clean the drum thoroughly.

  • Run an empty 90°C drum clean cycle without detergent (chlorine bleach is optional), or
  • Run a 90°C cycle with detergent and load with towels/ tea towels/ nappy inserts, or
  • Select a long cold cycle with no detergent and chlorine bleach*

Use a commercial descaler if you live in a hard water area and have flakes in your laundry.

Note: chlorine bleach is effective while the water is heating. Even in hot water, the degradation speed is not significant enough to render it immediately ineffective. 

*Use approximately 1/2 cup of 4.2% bleach or 2 cups of 1% bleach.

Deep cleaning a washing machine

Group members occasionally encounter mouldy washing machines when staying at holiday homes or Airbnbs. With our help you can clean the machine with minimal effort and cost.

This machine was coated in mould and pink sludge. This buildup occurred after washing in cold water and using large amounts of fabric softener. 

To deep clean a machine we recommend using a combination of chlorine bleach, elbow grease and the machine’s 90/95ºC sanitise cycle.

Example deep cleaning process

  • remove physical buildup (either by scraping or wiping). 
  • soak cleaning cloths in Domestos (thick chlorine bleach)
  • pack cloths tightly around the gasket 
  • leave them for 30-60 minutes and add to drum 
  • use a clean, damp cloth to wipe down the gasket
  • clean out the filter
  • add remaining cloths to the drum and run a long 90°C wash. 

I now had a spotless, clean machine to wash my nappies and clothes in 😊 and all it cost was the price of a bottle of thick bleach, approximately $4! 

~Eloise, Clean Cloth Nappies admin

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Why are there sometimes bubbles during a drum clean cycle if no detergent is used?

This is completely typical of a drum clean. Some of that is agitation bubbles, some of it will be detergent that’s been stuck somewhere and is being cleaned out by the cleaning cycle. It’s not something you need to be concerned about.

Do I need to run a drum clean cycle if I regulary wash towels at 90/95°C?

No need to run an additional drum clean cycle. Remember to wipe down the rims and seal as well as checking your filter.