I searched around and found about as many different approaches for cleaning a washing machine, but one tutorial, seemed easy, inexpensive and do-able. Regina Yunghans at Apartment Therapy wrote a great walkthrough to help you clean and disinfect your machine.

Adding vinegar and baking soda to an empty wash cycle will do a fine job of disinfecting the wash tub, but cleaning the fabric softener well or those gross crevices under the lid will require some old fashioned elbow grease and a toothbrush.




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What You Need

Materials

  • White Vinegar or Bleach (I used vinegar, as I try to avoid bleach in household cleaning)
  • Baking Soda


Tools

  • Toothbrush
  • Microfiber Cloth
Instructions
  • Fill the washer using the highest load size, hottest water setting, and longest wash, open the lid and as the washer tub fills, add a quart of white vinegar (or bleach), and add a cup of baking soda.
    Close the lid and allow the washer to agitate for about a minute. Open the lid again and allow the water, vinegar, and baking soda to soak in the washer tub for an hour.
  • Remove any parts you can and soak them and clean nooks and crannies under the lid.
    Using a toothbrush, clean the upper portion of the agitator and hard-to-reach areas under the lid and around the rim of the tub. You can also use this time to clean the front and sides of the machine, but don't close the lid yet!
  • After an hour, close the lid and allow the cycle to complete. 
    During this time, you can clean the top of the washing machine, the dials, and console with vinegar solution.
  • Repeat. 
    Run one more hot wash with a quart of vinegar in it to clean away any residue loosened and left behind by the first cycle.
  • Once the washer has drained, wipe the sides and bottom of the tub with vinegar solution to remove any last residue. 
    You can prolong the cleanliness of a fresh washing machine by leaving the lid open between uses. This allows the interior to dry out thoroughly and prevents mildew.
Whether you're looking to deep clean or just freshen up your contraption, try these vinegar tips and you definitely won't be disappointed.

If you are unsure as to whether the item you are cleaning is suitable for our instructions, take professional cleaning advice first.
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