It’s been a while since I have done this – I usually aim for once each month, at month end… and since Dave was working to clean the garage today, his mom was helping me in the kitchen and……..I thought it was a great time :)
Making your own washing machine cleaner with vinegar is the simplest DIY idea you can do for the house, and your washing machine will thank you for this!
The dirt that is washed out of your clothes (and in my case, cloth diapers) will produce bacteria in the machine, even with a stainless steel drum – bacteria can accumulate in the hoses also, which also need to be taken off and cleaned regularly too. Cleaning your washer will lengthen the life of your machine… and save you money later on.
It’s as easy as grabbing a few cups of Vinegar from your pantry:
- Pour 2 C. Vinegar into the machine, add a drop or two of Tea Tree Oil as well (if you have some)
- Run it for 3 minutes on hot
- Then stop the machine – however you do that – I have to push the button in.
- Let it sit over night
- The next morning, pull out the knob, let it finish, and then run a rinse cycle on cold
By doing it at the same time every month, you will remember a little easier. End of month in our house reminds us to check the smoke detectors, clean the washer, and usually the burner pans on the stove as well. And other oddities around the house.
(You’re not required to use Tea Tree Oil – should you have it, you can.. if not, Vinegar works just fine by itself)
See also – Round Up of Inexpensive DIY Tips for Home, Garden, Beauty + More
What does the Tea Tree oil do?
serves as a disinfectant – but it is not required – just an added bonus ;)
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Do you fill the washer to the largest capacity load?
Nope :) Just a bit of vinegar that’s it!
I have a front load washer, It drains when I stop it mid-cycle. Any ideas how to make that work?