Cleaning Your Washing Machine

It's Monday... Back to the daily grind and the chores that seem to always be calling us...

I am a little ashamed about this post. Again, this is another thing that I found Pinterest that looked intriguing. Maybe it’s because I was a young, naive wife, but who knew that you had to clean your washing machine!?! I didn’t. I’m not sure why I didn’t though, because I always say “you can’t clean dishes in a dirty sink”. So this should make sense.

I have cleaned my washing machine a few times since I first found a post about it. So, it’s probably every 6 months or so. And by 6 months, it NEEDS a good cleaning. Can you tell? Here is my before:

Yuck. Yes, I kept the pictures small for a reason.
 Here is what I did:

1. Set washing machine to largest load and fill with HOT water. Add 1 quart of bleach to water. Let machine agitate for a minute or two, then open the lid and let it sit for 30-60 minutes. Then drop lid and allow machine to go through a full cycle. 

2. As soon as cycle is done, again fill machine with HOT water. Add 1 quart of distilled vinegar to water. Let machine agitate, then open lid and let it sit 30-60 minutes.

3. While water is sitting, take a rag, sponge, scrubber, etc. and wipe and scrub down every nook and cranny on the machine. I use a sponge with a scrubber side. Dip sponge in machine water and scrub inside, outside, knobs, crevices, and the removable bleach tray. Yuck again. I usually also take the sponge to the doors, door handles, walls, light switches... whatever else needs a good wipe down!

4. Once everything is spotless, Drop lid and let the machine run through it’s cycle again. The bleach and vinegar will kill bacteria and help your machine to run better, smell good, and sparkle!

Now you’re ready to go! Easy right?

 Look at those beautifully clean machine! Have fun cleaning :)

Now go clean your washing machine. It needs it and wants it.

 I won't judge you if you don't judge me :)