It may sound like a contradiction, but washing machines also need to be washed and cleaned sometimes. If you are noticing stale, musty smells coming from your washer or mold in the washer, cleaning your Whirlpool washer should resolve the issue.
When you think about it, there is a lot of dirt, grease, and other debris, plus washing detergent that leaves residue behind, going through your washer every week. While it may not bother you at first, over time, the debris builds up, and aside from the mold and funky smells, it can also cause blockages and damage to the washer.
Whirlpool recommends cleaning the washer with Affresh washer cleaner tablets once a month. Some other manufacturers recommend cleaning the washer bi-weekly.
Whether you want to use a specially formulated washer cleaner, like Affresh, or white vinegar, baking soda, or bleach, we have got you covered. Read on to learn how to clean your Whirlpool washer.
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Store-bought washer cleaner, like the Whirlpool recommended Affresh, is specially formulated to clean dirt, grime, grease, lint, soap scum, fabric softener residue, water minerals, and bad odors. While bleach, baking soda, and distilled white vinegar are also effective in cleaning the washer, they won’t be as effective as a store-bought, specially formulated washer cleaner.
If you choose not to use a pre-made washer cleaner, running a cycle with vinegar and then one with bleach is the best alternative method to clean the washer. However, baking soda and vinegar or just bleach or vinegar can also be used.
White vinegar has a high concentration of acetic acid, which makes it an inexpensive but effective cleaning agent to kill germs and remove residue and odors. However, vinegar will not kill all germs, like bleach will. Bleach is the best product to kill germs and bacteria, but it may not remove all residues. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and good for breaking down stuck-on debris like detergent residue or mold.
Never mix vinegar and bleach together, as it can produce potentially lethal chlorine gas. Combining bleach with any other cleaning agent should also be avoided.
If you look around the internet at the various instructions for cleaning a washer, you will find some blog posts declaring white vinegar should never be used to clean your washer. The problem with vinegar is that it can melt rubber hoses and damage other rubber components – if used too frequently and in large amounts.
Therefore, as long as you only use white vinegar to clean the washer a few times per year, your washer should be fine. You might want to consider the condition or how old your washer is, as worn parts will be more likely to be affected by the vinegar. If “should be fine” does not inspire confidence, there are plenty of other products to choose from.
Choosing the right cleaning product to add to the washer is not enough to clean the washer. Parts of the washer will require some elbow grease to get the best results.
First, if you have a front-load washer, the door gasket needs to be wiped with a damp cloth or cleaning wipe, as this is the part of the washer that is most likely to develop mold and mildew. Some white vinegar can be used to clean off stubborn stains or mold.
Next, whether you have a top-load or front-load washer, the lid or door needs to be cleaned. A damp cloth, or a cleaning wipe, can again be used to clean the area. Some white vinegar can also be used if necessary.
The detergent dispenser should also be cleaned with soap and water. It is not recommended to clean it with any stronger chemicals or detergents.
Lastly, to finish the job, give the outside of the washer a clean. Only mild soaps or cleaners should be used to clean the outside of the washer.
Lint filters (if your washer has one) should also be removed (if possible) and cleaned with warm soapy water and a soft brush.
As mentioned above, pre-made washer cleaners are formulated especially for cleaning washers, removing residues and odors without damaging the washer. While Whirlpool recommends Affresh, other brands like Tide or OxiClean can also be used.
If you have followed these instructions, you should now have a clean Whirlpool washer.
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