What is the best way to clean the inside of your washing machine?

My first thought was vinegar, and here’s a how-to that uses vinegar, then bleach.

I have never cleaned it in my life. But I do use 20 Mule Team Borax in the wash often.

Thank you Seelix, I will try that.

Thank you Aster… not on the top of my “must do” list either but according to the site Seelix just posted it does indeed pay to clean the washing machine every so often. I think the Borax is probably doing it for you though as you suggest. I found this Answers post that says Borax acts as a bleach. http://chemistry.about.com/od/howthingsworkfaqs/a/howboraxworks.htm

Thanks for the responses.

Liz

thanks, Liz ! My reputation for Housekeeper of the Year is now secure. what a joke.

My top loader has instructions to run my washer once a month with no clothes and a cup of bleach. I’ve done this for 5 years now and have no residue issues.

There are a number of washing machine cleaners on the market. Clorox and Tide each make one, but there are others as well. I bought two of them over the internet but neither of them worked for me. Then I got the bright idea of using vinegar, and it worked (my problem was a bad smell that ruined my clothes). That’s not to say that the products I bought were bad (they were recommended by my plumber), but for whatever reason they did not fix MY problem.

In your case you may have to try a number of products, but I’m guessing the vinegar then bleach program might work for you. It might also help to keep in mind that the build up will likely occur at the top of the water where the suds and scum would collect. In that case, in order to clean it properly, your water level needs to rise above the top of the highest scum line. Can you fill your washer up to the highest level, and then pour in additional gallons of water before running it? It would also help to use hot water rather than cool.

I have cleaned mine with viniger and I have cleaned it with 1 cup of bleach using cold water, i am happy both ways!