Ah, laundry. One of the best ways to get your clothes clean … also pretty much the only way to get your clothes clean. But have you ever thought that maybe the machines that are cleaning your clothes need a good scrubbing now and again, too? It’s true! Using all of that detergent and fabric softener can really do some damage to your appliances if you haven’t cleaned them. That’s why Landmark Home Warranty is here to help you find the best way to get your washer and dryer clean. After all, cleaning your washer and dryer can make sure they last longer and save you money and energy.
CLEAN YOUR WASHER
1. PUT TWO CUPS OF BAKING SODA INTO THE WASHER
Make sure your washer is empty! The baking soda will scrub off any soap and fabric deposits.
2. RUN THE WASHER AT THE HOTTEST SETTING
Make sure to run it at the hottest and longest setting possible. Some washers have self-cleaning modes, which is a good choice.
3. ADD TWO CUPS OF VINEGAR
After the first baking soda load is finished, put two cups of vinegar into the barrel of your washer, and put it on the warmest setting with the longest run time.
4. CLEAN THE DETERGENT DISPENSERS
Take out the detergent dispensers from your machine and soak them in a water and vinegar solution.
5. CLEAN THE OUTSIDE OF THE WASHER
Using a brush, scrub the cracks and crannies of the outside of your washer. You can wipe the outside of the washer with an all-purpose cleaner.
Leave door open after washing a load of laundry. That will reduce the build-up of mold and mildew in your washer. Also, remove your laundry as quickly as possible after the cycle is over for the same reasons.
CLEAN YOUR DRYER
Cleaning your dryer is harder to do than cleaning your dryer, but comparably, it’s more important. When you clean your dryer, you’re mostly cleaning out lint, and cleaning out lint means you’ll have less of a fire-hazard on your hands. Yes, that’s right, we said a fire hazard. There are people who have dedicated entire blog articles about making dryer lint into the best fire-starter for camping trips, and you probably have a huge pile of it sitting in the middle of your dryer. Cleaning your dryer means cleaning out the dryer lint and limiting the chances of your dyer going up in flames. Now, it’s also important to remember that not every dryer is the same. While most of the washers that our readers have can be cleaned with baking soda and vinegar, not every reader’s dryer can be cleaned the same way. Use your manufactures’ recommendations for how to properly clean your dryer. You should be cleaning it out every year at least. Remember to unplug your dryer before doing any of this! Here are some tips:
1. REMOVE LINT FROM THE LINT TRAP
Remove all lint from the lint trap and throw it away. Then, vacuum the space where the lint trap resides. Clean the lint trap itself in the sink with some dish soap.
2. REMOVE YOUR CONNECTOR HOSE
On the backside of your dryer is a hose that takes out air from your dryer, to the outside of your home. Unclip the hose and vacuum it out.
3. REMOVE LINT FROM YOUR CONNECTOR HOSE
Unclip the hose and vacuum it out.
4. WIPE DOWN THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR DRYER
Lint can cling to the outside of your dryer. Use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down the side of your dryer. You can also use a brush to get into the cracks and crevices of your dryer, which can build up a lot of lint. As you can see in the animation below, this dryer looks like new after a good scrubbing!
Now, if you want to protect your washer and dryer (and your budget) from costly repairs and replacements, get a home warranty. A home warranty plan that covers washers and dryers can make sure that when those appliances fail from normal wear and tear, you only have to pay a $60 service call fee to repair or replace them. Learn more at www.LandmarkHW.com.