Every washing machine needs to do a great job at keeping our clothes, towels and linen-fresh and clean. So, it's important not to take your hard-working appliance for granted by making sure you give it some TLC and get a professional repair when needed. This can be done through regularly deep cleaning it, to get the best results out of each and every wash.

Here is our guide to keeping your washing machine spinning.

Run a regular maintenance wash

Ensuring that you run a regular maintenance wash means that you will be sure to regularly get great results from your laundry cycles.

A maintenance wash is a deep-cleaning cycle for your machine, and this helps get rid of any bacteria, stains, sludge or even mould that may have built upon the insides of your washing machine. It also clears out any cold water that could be leftover in the drum.

You should aim to run a maintenance wash at least once a month particularly if you are noticing little black spots or sludge build up inside the door seal.

How to run a maintenance wash
  1. Start by making sure your washing machine is empty
  2. Add some washing machine cleaning solution. You should refer to the leaflet of the product for guidance on how much you need to use
  3. Select the ‘cotton’ cycle on your machine
  4. Press the temperature control until it reaches the hottest setting
  5. Start the cycle
  6. Once the cycle has completed, open the door, pull back the seal to wipe away any debris or leftover water
  7. Leave the door open until everything inside dries out

A little tip from us, if you happen to run out of cleaning solutions you can make your own. All you need is these three things:

  1. Use two cups of white vinegar
  2. Half a cup of water
  3. A quarter cup of bicarbonate soda

Make sure that you mix these well before use.

How to clean your washing machine detergent drawer

Taking care of your washing machine does not just stop at a maintenance cycle. You should also, clean your detergent drawer and filter.

Our step-by-step cleaning guide
  1. Start by removing the drawer from the machine. You should open the drawer and pull this out as far as it can go. Make sure you keep an eye out for a catch, this will allow you to remove the drawer completely. In most washing machines, the catch is in the middle but if you're unsure, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for guidance.
  2. Ensure that you have an empty sink before filling it with warm soapy water.
  3. Disperse your drawer into the soapy water, removing any smaller compartments so that no corner is missed.
  4. Rinse the drawer and leave to dry and once dry, reassemble the drawer.
  5. Before popping back into the washing machine, be sure to wipe down the slot first.

How to clean your washing machines filter

Our final washing machine maintenance tip is to clean your filter. This should be done every 4-6 weeks.

The filter can be found at the bottom of your machine, and you may need to remove a small cover to gain access to it.

When removing the cover, some water will leak out. We suggest lying down some towels to help protect your floor and to stop spillage. Unscrew the filter to allow the water to flow out.

Next, you should aim to remove the filter and run this under hot water. Once clean, leave to dry before screwing the filter back on. Make sure it is screwed tightly to avoid any leaking mishaps, pop the cover back on and that is your filter all clean.

As part of our spring-cleaning guides, we're here to provide you with some top tips on how to get your home ready for spring. Why not check out our blog on eco-friendly washing detergents.

About the author

Chloe Taylor

Chloe is our Marketing Executive at Domestic & General and joined in January 2022. A woman of many interests, she's the go-to person for TV recommendations, anything from Reality TV such as Married at First Sight (Australian version of course!) to crime drama programmes such as Ted Bundy and The Staircase.

Chloe is a regular contributor, so expect to see blogs ranging from her love of food and all things sweet, content on family and home life, and all things animals.

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