Time to clean the washing machine? Find out how to do this using vinegar

A washing machine takes care of removing the dirt from all the fabrics we need to routinely wash - from our clothes to the bed linen - and in order to do it in the best way possible, the machine must be properly maintained. This is a major, expensive appliance and it must be regularly cleaned so that there is no risk of mold formation or the accumulation of limescale which will impact on the proper functioning of the machine and the success (or failure) of the wash itself.

To ensure proper hygiene and banish unpleasant odors, it is possible to carry out a periodic cleaning routine, usually once a month is recommended, and simply by using white vinegar and baking soda.

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What you will need:

• white vinegar
• sodium bicarbonate
• a spray bottle
• a microfiber cloth
• an old toothbrush

How to proceed

• Pour the vinegar into the spray bottle, and carefully spray it inside the washing machine drum, then spreading the liquid with the help of the microfiber cloth. You can also skip using the spray bottle and soak the cloth directly in the vinegar, but without overdoing the amount of vinegar used (ie. the cloth should not be dripping).
• Then attend to the rubber door seals: using vinegar too often on the seals can ruin them in the long run, so sprinkle a little vinegar on a cloth and then wipe it in all the cracks and crevices, while collecting all the dirt that you can. Be sure to rub any dark spots more vigourously: dark spots are usually will mold that was forming and that must be removed with care and diligence.
• With the help of the toothbrush dipped in vinegar, clean all the gaps, nooks and crannies of the detergent compartment.
• Pour half a liter of vinegar into the detergent compartment.
• Run an empty wash cycle, which has the highest possible temperature, and a lenghty wash cycle time. In any case, do not use a cycle which is below 60°C in temperature (140°F).
• You can also do a second wash cycle that is the same as the first, but instead of vinegar, you should sprinkle 130 grams of baking soda into the drum.
• You can also clean the outer surfaces of the washing machine with the alcohol-moistened cloth.
• Finally, leave the door open until the washing machine is completely dry. And you can speed up the process by wiping the inside of the machine with a dry cloth.

These instructions work with a front loading washing machine. If, on the other hand, yours has a top loader, fill it with one liter of white vinegar, set the long washing cycle and on a high temperature and let the program begin. However, when the washing machine is full with water, (shortly after the start of the program), stop the washing cycle and let the water and the vinegar act for an hour. During this time, you can take care of the outside of the appliance. Then restart the program and run it until it ends normally. And in this case, you can also do a second wash after filling the drum with 250 grams of sodium bicarbonate.