Out of all your home appliances, there's a good chance that your washing machine and clothes dryer get the least amount of love and care. Tucked away in a separate room, the basement, or maybe even the garage, laundry appliances are often out of sight, out of mind for most homeowners.
Though they may be easy to forget about, the truth is that your washing machine and clothes dryer need routine care and maintenance. Giving your laundry appliances some regular TLC is the key to maximizing their performance and longevity. Not to mention, minimizing costly repairs.
If you've already chosen a washer and dryer for your home, the next step is to learn how to keep the pair in tip-top shape. Follow these care and maintenance tips to keep both appliances running optimally.
Washing Machine Care and MaintenanceWhile many modern washing machines come with self-clean cycles, don't be fooled into thinking that simply pressing a button is all you need to do to keep it clean. On top of running a self-clean cycle, you'll need to give your washer a deep clean at least twice a year.
Additionally, keep in mind that front-load washers may need different care and maintenance than their top-load siblings. Here, we'll explain how to care for both types:
- First, add two cups of vinegar to the detergent dispenser and turn your washer on to the hottest cycle. Once the wash cycle is complete, repeat the process, except use one cup of baking soda instead of vinegar.
- Wipe away any remaining residue with a paper towel.
- Clean the rubber gasket (the rubber ring that seals the door) by taking a microfiber cloth dipped in white vinegar and scrubbing the seal.
- First, unplug your top-loading washing machine from the wall.
- Remove the fabric softener dispenser (usually located at the top of the agitator). Use a socket wrench to remove the agitator and lift it out of the machine.
- Clean the agitator and fabric softener dispenser using a scrub brush and a mixture of baking soda, white vinegar, and water.
- Put the parts back into the machine and plug your top-load washing machine back into the outlet.
- Set your washing machine to the highest temperature cycle, pause the machine and add four cups of white vinegar to the water. Allow the washer to agitate before adding a ½ cup of baking soda.
- Turn on the machine for a minute to allow the mixture to blend, pause again, and let it sit for an hour.
- While your washing machine is soaking in the vinegar, wipe down the front of the appliance with a microfiber cloth.
- Resume the wash cycle and run one more cycle with one cup of baking soda.
- Wipe down the machine to remove excess water and residue.
Bonus Tip: Prevent mildew and mold from growing in your washing machine by leaving the washer door open to air dry after you're finished with a wash cycle.
Proper maintenance of your clothes dryer is important, not only because it maintains your dryer's efficiency but also for safety reasons. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failing to clean the dryer is the primary cause of clothes dryer fires.
If you regularly clean out the lint from the filter in your clothes dryer, you're on the right track. However, there is a lot more that needs to be done to keep your clothes dryer in fine working condition.
- Clean your filter after each use. Remove lint from your filter each time you use your clothes dryer. If the filter is dirty, clean it with warm, soapy water and a cleaning brush.
- Remove lint from the dryer vent periodically. Unplug the dryer and vacuum the inside of the vent system to remove stubborn lint. Do this about four times a year to maximize your dryer's efficiency.
- Wipe down the dryer drum once a month. Every month or so, unplug your machine and wipe down the dryer drum with a cloth dipped in a mild detergent. Use a new cloth with just water to remove any soap residue. Wipe the appliance dry and plug the machine back into the power source.
Whether you've recently invested in a washer and dryer set or you're finally giving your old set some much needed TLC, learning how to care for and maintain your laundry appliances is essential. With a little elbow grease and some cleaning agents, you can keep your washer and dryer humming along and minimize costly repairs.
