How to Clean Your Washing Machine: A Complete Guide

Keeping your washing machine in pristine condition is essential for ensuring your clothes come out clean and fresh with every wash. Over time, washing machines can accumulate dirt, grime, and detergent residue, leading to unpleasant odors and less efficient operation. In this blog post, we'll walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to clean your laundry machine effectively, discuss common issues that arise from a dirty washing machine, and explore the benefits of using laundry machine cleaners.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Clean Your Laundry Machine

1. Prepare the Machine: Start by emptying the drum of your washing machine and removing any debris. Wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth.

2. Run a Hot Water Cycle: Fill the drum with hot water and add a laundry machine cleaner of your choice. For this guide, we recommend using MamaSuds Toilet Bombs or MamaSuds Automatic Dishwasher Powder for their effective and eco-friendly cleaning properties.

3. Clean the Detergent Dispenser: While the hot water cycle runs, take out the detergent dispenser and soak it in warm, soapy water. Use a small brush to remove residue.

4. Clean the Drum and Seals: After the cycle ends, wipe inside the drum and around the seals with a damp cloth. If necessary, use a soft brush to tackle any stubborn areas.

5. Rinse and Dry: Run one more rinse cycle to clear out any remaining cleaner. Once complete, dry the drum, seals, and exterior with a clean cloth.

6. Regular Maintenance: Incorporating a maintenance clean every few months will keep your machine smelling fresh and working efficiently.

Common Laundry Machine Problems

A lack of regular cleaning can lead to various issues, including:

• Musty Odors: Caused by the buildup of moisture, leading to mold and mildew.
• Mold and Mildew Growth: Especially around the rubber seals of the door, posing health risks and staining clothes.
• Poor Cleaning Results: Residue from detergents and fabric softeners can cling to your clothes, making them look dull and feel rough. We highly recommend using a residue-free laundry detergent/soap so that this doesn't happen in the future. You know what we are going to recommend, right?

Benefits of Using Laundry Machine Cleaners

Using specialized cleaners like MamaSuds products can offer several advantages:

• Remove Buildup: These cleaners effectively dissolve dirt, grime, and residues, improving your machine's performance.
• Eliminate Odors: They target the bacteria and fungus causing bad smells for a fresher appliance.
• Extend Appliance Lifespan: Regular use can prevent mechanical failures by keeping your machine clean and unobstructed.

Choosing the Right Laundry Machine Cleaner

There are various types of cleaners available, each formulated for different cleaning needs. Enzyme-based cleaners excel at breaking down organic residues while descaling agents are best for combating mineral deposits in hardwater areas. Oxygen bleach cleaners are great for all-around cleaning and brightening, and vinegar or citric acid-based solutions offer natural alternatives. All-in-one cleaners provide a comprehensive solution, combining multiple benefits into one product.

Importance of Cleaning Your Laundry Machine

Regularly cleaning your laundry machine is crucial for several reasons. It prevents the growth of mold and mildew, ensures your clothes are thoroughly cleaned and free from odors, and extends the lifespan of your machine. Remember, a clean washing machine equals clean, fresh-smelling clothes.

Incorporating these cleaning steps into your routine can help you maintain a clean and efficient laundry machine. By choosing the right products, like MamaSuds Toilet Bombs or MamaSuds Automatic Dishwasher Powder, you're not only ensuring a thorough cleaning but also supporting eco-friendly cleaning solutions. Keep your washing machine in top condition and enjoy the benefits of fresh, clean laundry every time.

DIY Laundry Machine Cleaner Recipes

If you prefer a more natural and budget-friendly approach, you can create your own laundry machine cleaner using common household ingredients. Here are two simple DIY recipes you can try:

1. Vinegar and Baking Soda Cleaner:

• Mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda.
• Pour the mixture into the detergent dispenser.
• Run a hot water cycle without any clothes.
• Wipe down the drum and seals with a damp cloth.

1. Lemon Juice and Citric Acid Cleaner:

• Squeeze the juice of 2 lemons.
• Dissolve 1/4 cup of citric acid in warm water.
• Pour the lemon juice and citric acid mixture into the detergent dispenser.
• Run a hot water cycle without any clothes.
• Wipe down the drum and seals with a damp cloth.

These DIY cleaners are effective at removing odors, stains, and mineral deposits. However, it's important to note that they may not provide the same level of deep cleaning as commercial laundry machine cleaners.

 

Did you know that many of the most common household cleaning products have toxic and dangerous ingredients that can be harmful to our health? Unfortunately, most people have never given much thought to what’s in their cleaning products. However, it turns out the components of conventional cleaning products often contain ingredients that are harmful to your health and the environment.

Natural cleaning products can be used anywhere, from home to work, on the go, and much more! Switching to natural cleaning products offers many advantages to protecting your health and environment. This overview will explore everything you need to know about the benefits of natural cleaning products and why they’re so important.

 

Advantages of Using Natural Cleaning Products

There are endless reasons to switch to natural cleaning products! We’ve narrowed down some of the most important benefits of natural cleaning products below:

 

1. Great for the Environment:

 Every person can play a critical role in helping to protect our environment by switching to natural cleaning products. Conventional cleaning products often contain phosphorus or nitrates, which end up in our waterways and cause problems in our local ecosystems. Some cleaners also use sodium lauryl sulfate, which can be toxic to the environment.

Making the switch to natural cleaning products helps protect the earth by limiting the release of these dangerous chemicals in our environment.

 

2. Protecting Your Health

Not only do natural cleaning products protect the environment on a larger scale, but they also help protect your environment within your home, work, or other surfaces. Natural cleaning products are non-toxic, so you can safely clean your surfaces without exposure to harmful chemicals. The chemicals used in standard cleaning products often cause health conditions.

By avoiding breathing in or touching these chemicals, you’ll help protect yourself and your family from toxic chemical exposure. In addition, people who use conventional cleaning products may experience rashes, skin irritations, or other allergic reactions when exposed to certain ingredients in these products. Natural or “green” cleaning products offer a safe and easy alternative, especially for those with sensitive skin!

 

3. Safe for Small Children & Elderly: 

Is your home filled with little bundles of joy? If so, making the switch to natural cleaning products helps prevent dangerous situations for small children. Many standard cleaning products are toxic, posing a major problem for kids who don’t know better. Help protect your children and family by eliminating these products in your household.

Natural cleaning products help offer a safer home in the event your kids are exposed to cleaning products. Plus, children are sensitive and often susceptible to allergic reactions. Using natural ingredients helps limit these concerns.

 

Switch to Natural Cleaning Products Today!

Make the smart switch to natural cleaning products today, such as those offered by Mama Suds. We offer truly safe household cleaners for your family by using simple and safe, non-toxic ingredients.

• Castile Soap is a vegetable-based, non-toxic, natural and biodegradable product with many uses.
• It can be used to make DIY beauty products and household cleaning products.
• Castile Soap offers benefits like versatility, affordability, and gentle cleansing qualities.
• It can be used as a shampoo, body wash, laundry detergent, dish soap then followed up with an acid for stunning results.
• MamaSuds offers quality Castile soap-based products at an affordable price.

The same versatile, non-toxic cleaning products you've used on other projects in your house can be used for hard water stains as well. Follow these simple hints and watch those spots disappear. 

• Remove slime from clothes with vinegar and baking soda by pouring vinegar over the slime, scrubbing back and forth until it comes out, and rinsing with water.
• For dried slime, mix white vinegar, water, and baking soda to create a paste and cover the dried slime before letting it sit until dry.
• Castile soap can also be used to remove slime from both wet or dried slime on clothes.
• For carpet stains, mixture two parts of vinegar and one part warm water together before spraying onto the stain and using a soft brush to work it loose.
• An alternative is to add one teaspoon of castile soap to one cup of warm water before spraying onto the stain, scrubbing gently with a sponge and repeating as necessary.

• Castile soap is a highly versatile all-natural cleaning product used for household cleaning and making DIY hair and body care products.
• It provides cost-saving benefits, is safe to use around children and pets, biodegradable, vegan, and free from synthetic ingredients.
• Mixing vinegar with castile soap should be avoided as they cancel each other out; however, create various cleaning solutions by mixing it safely with other ingredients.
• To make a mopping solution, mix half a cup of castile soap with three gallons of hot water.
• Create an all-purpose cleaning spray by mixing one tablespoon of castile soap per cup of water and 10-15 drops of essential oils like lavender or tea tree.
• Cleaning with castile soap is cost-effective and non-toxic.

• Cleaning burnt cookware without chemicals is possible by using salt, baking soda, and lemon for stainless-steel, non-stick and other cookware.
• To clean a burnt pan with salt: cover the area with table salt; rub it into the burnt part; let it sit; rinse and clean with castile soap.
• To clean a burnt stainless-steel pan: cover the inside of the pan with baking soda; use a ball of aluminum foil as a scrubber to clean the burnt parts; rinse off with warm water; finish with mild dish soap.
• To clean a burnt non-stick pan: fill the pan with water and sliced lemons; bring to a low boil; turn off heat and allow to cool briefly; wipe away residual particles with gentle dish soap and warm water.

• Regularly cleaning your washing machine is essential for proper functioning and clean clothes.
• Vinegar is an effective, natural cleaning agent safe for all washers.
• For a top loader, vinegar and baking soda should be used separately to clean the rubber seal and lid.
• After each use, wipe down the washer with a dry towel to reduce mold and mildew build-up.
• Cleaning your washer will extend its life and improve the quality of your clothes.

• Green cleaning products create a healthy environment, free from harmful chemicals.
• Hydrogen peroxide, MamaSuds All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate, Castile soap and white vinegar can be used for non-toxic carpet and floor cleaning.
• Homemade all-purpose cleaners can be used to clean the bathroom non-toxically.
• Baking soda and vinegar solution is an effective way to remove hard water stains from the toilet and other surfaces.
• Castile soap with essential oils make a pleasant aromatic cleaner for bathrooms and other areas around the house.