A Guide to Cleaning Your Washing Machine & Dryer 

  A Guide to Cleaning Your Washing Machine & Dryer

The condition and cleanliness of your washer and dryer will significantly impact the cleanliness of your laundry. They both work tirelessly to launder and dry nearly everything in your home, but are you giving them the proper upkeep they deserve in return? As with any appliance, if your washer and dryer are not properly maintained, you may find their life expectancy reduced dramatically. Cleaning your laundry room workhorses doesn’t have to be an expensive or laborious addition to your regular cleaning routine. in fact, it shouldn’t add much time or money at all—but the payoff will be great for both your home and your wallet.

The Washing Machine

Most people assume that the soap in the detergents commonly used keep your washing machine squeaky clean, but that’s not really the case. Your washer gets constantly bombarded with bits of food, fibers, and other organic matter that can get caught in your washer’s nooks and crannies. Throw in a wet, warm environment inside the machine and you’ve got the ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew, especially in those hard-to-reach areas that almost never completely dry. 

Additionally, soap residue and hard water can build up over time. Not only can this residue eventually clog up the inner workings of your machine, but it can impact how the machine functions and dull your clothes. The buildup of contaminants, residual detergent, and fabric softener can trap bacteria and other debris in your washer, which can then contaminate your laundry, causing odor and potentially spreading disease. You can get rid of it with chlorine bleach first and then vinegar – of course, not at the same time. Mixing bleach and vinegar together creates potentially lethal chlorine gas.

Cleaning & Sanitizing Your Washing Machine 

• Start by filling your empty washer with hot water, as if you’re doing a large load of laundry.
• Next, add a quart of bleach and let the full machine run for one minute to mix up the bleach with the water.
• Open the top of the machine and let it sit with the bleach for one full hour. 
• Afterward, close the lid of the machine and let it run a complete cycle. The water will drain out all the bleach. 
• When it’s finished, start again. This time, when you fill the machine with hot water, add a quart of white vinegar to the water and down the bleach channel.
• Allow the washer to run for a minute to agitate the water and vinegar. 
• Now, open the lid of the machine and again, let the hot water sit in the basin for an hour before letting the cycle complete.
• After cleaning the basin, spray gaskets, dispensers, and exterior of the machine with equal parts vinegar and water, then wipe everything down with a clean microfiber cloth.

Keeping Your Washer Clean

A few simple steps after each wash will help prevent the growth of bacteria and keep your washing machine and clothes clean and fresh:

• Don’t let your wet laundry sit in the washer for hours before moving it to the dryer. It happens, but this can cause mildew and bacteria to get on your clothes from sitting in such a humid environment. If you forget a load for too long, you may want to run a second cycle.
• After removing wet clothes from the washer to the dryer, leave the door or lid of the washer open. This will allow the inside of the basin to dry and prevent bacteria, mold, and mildew from growing.
• Don’t overfill your machine with extra-large loads of laundry, which can cause it to overwork. 
• Wipe your machine’s seals a little more often and clear the filters and drain around the seal, as well, so less of that debris gets swept down into the main drain filter inside your machine. 
•  A machine that’s used regularly, every day or every other day, doesn’t give bacteria a chance to grow and create unpleasant odors 

When you are done cleaning your washer, it’s time to move on to the dryer.  

The Dryer

If you have an odor emanating from your dryer, it’s usually due to lint that has accumulated in the lint trap. Dirty lint can smell absolutely horrible. The lint from the trap should be removed after every load as well as checking and cleaning dryer vents every couple of months. Make it a habit of also looking at the trap cavity. If it’s filled with dust, aka dust bunnies, the vent can get blocked or clogged, preventing the air from reaching full temperature. The dryer drum also collects lint which can leave fuzzy stuff behind on your clean clothing and affect the efficiency of the dryer over time. To beat the fuzz, wipe down the inside of the dryer regularly with a microfiber cloth. 

Some situations require more extensive cleaning to ensure that your laundry appliances are sanitary and safe to use, such as after washing the clothes of someone who’s been sick (some pathogens can survive normal washings), or after washing items contaminated with bodily fluids such as poison oak, poison ivy, pesticides, or petroleum chemicals. If contaminated laundry gets placed in the dryer on low heat or the air-only cycle, there’s the possibility of cross-contamination with the next load of laundry.  

Cleaning & Sanitizing Your Dryer 

• Start by removing any lint from the lint screen, and safely dispose of it. 
• Use a vent cleaning brush to remove any dust, lint, or other debris from the vent itself, the hose attachment, and the inside of the vent opening. 
• Next, mix a solution of 1/4 cup of bleach and 1 quart of water. 
• Dip a microfiber cloth or soft-bristled scrub brush into your cleaning solution. Then, wipe the entire surface of the dryer drum, the rubber seals and gaskets, and the interior of the dryer door.
• Now, rinse all surfaces with a clean cloth dipped in plain water. Then, toss in a few old towels or rags, set the dryer to high, and allow it to run for 10 minutes to remove any residual cleaning solution.
• Finally, wipe down the outside of the dryer with your cleaning solution, and rinse well with a microfiber cloth dipped in clean water. 

Take some time to familiarize yourself with your washer and your dryer, give them a good clean, and then commit to keeping them in tip-top condition for as long as you own them.  

Professional House Cleaning Services

We all know that house cleaning can be a challenge. If you have a busy, hectic schedule with little time leftover for tasks like cleaning the house, you may want to consider hiring a professional cleaning service like Clean Nation Company. Let our trained cleaning PROs do the cleaning for you. Our weekly, biweekly, and monthly recurring house cleaning services will help keep your home spic and span and looking amazing

Clean Nation Company is a full-service cleaning company with over 50 years (three generations) of experience in the cleaning and janitorial industry. We offer recurring house cleanings, one-time deep cleans, move-in/move-out cleanings, Airbnb cleaning services, post-construction/renovation cleanings, and more. Our high standards, attention to detail, and ongoing employee training are what set us apart from other cleaning companies.

We provide quality house cleaning services you can count on. If you are not completely satisfied with any area in your home we have cleaned, just give us a call within 24 hours and we will re-clean it for free—no questions asked! You can be assured that all of our cleaners are bonded, insured and background checked before they are hired. At Clean Nation Company, we are committed to providing the best cleaning services available!

• Woman-owned and operated full-service cleaning company
• Over 50 years (three generations) of experience in the cleaning industry
• 24/7 cleaning options & support
• Emergency one-time cleanings
• Professionally-trained cleaning specialists
• Healthy home electrostatic spray disinfection
• Commitment to the highest level of clean
• Licensed, bonded, and insured
• Customized cleaning solutions
• Quick response times
• 100% satisfaction guarantee
• OSHA, HIPAA, EPA, CDC, compliant
• BBB Rating: A+

For more information about our comprehensive house cleaning services in Liberty Lake, Post Falls, Spokane, and Spokane Valley, or to schedule a cleaning, please give Clean Nation Company a call today at (509) 217-4729. Request a free online cleaning quote now!