Has anyone heard of cleaning a washer?

[betabee1]

Everytime I wash darks, I get white stuff all over the clothing. I use liquid detergent, so it's not undissolved powder or lint. A friend asked me if I've ever cleaned my washer. She told me to fill up the empty washer with hot water and bleach. I've had the washer for years and never heard of this. Is she right?

[gramsdale]

I know the new front loaders have to be cleaned every so often. I'm sure you can get the tide cleaner for it and use it in a top loader too. You can get it at wal mart. Hope this helps. Ginny

[JulieDB]

I know when I used a coin operated laundry, they cleaned those washers all the time.

I currently have a top loading HE washer and it says to clean it every so often. I don't remember the particulars. I just got it. But my friend has always cleaned her washers no matter what kind. I think she just runs plain hot water through them every once in a while.

I would say if you are getting white stuff there is something wrong with the washer, but I don't know what.

[chitownmelli]

Oh sure, you can clean a washer. Something that I do is to run vinegar instead of fabric softener, it does the same exact thing as softener only is gentler on the clothes, does not make towels non absorbent and also gives the washer a little cleaning. Our machines generally dont have any problems with build up or anything and I understand that the vinegar also helps to keep the hoses clean. HTH

[Mytwogirls]

Add a gallon of white vinegar (cheaper than bleach) to the washing machine and run a cycle. Works wonders!

[motherofmolly]

Add a gallon of white vinegar (cheaper than bleach) to the washing machine and run a cycle. Works wonders!

i concurr. the vinegar also helps take any funk out.

[cintinative]

need to try the vinegar! I have tried bleach and that did not take the smell out but perhaps I did not use enough.

I used the tide washing machine cleaner when they had a free promo on Facebook and I did not like it. For one, it did not work. My machine still smells like baby poo when I soak things in it (sorry to be gross!). For two, when I was using the washing machine cleaner it stunk up my whole laundry room and the attached kitchen and eat in area so bad I kept coughing. Very strong caustic smell. I did not like it at all.

[Rene S]

Yes, most newer HE washers have a "clean" cycle. Ours is a 60 minute cycle that uses hot water and bleach. You are supposed to run this once per month; we do it about every 6 weeks. Also, it helps if you leave the lid open so the inside can dry thoroughly.

[rosie211]

i was wondering the same thing ~ my washer is pretty new (only about 3-4 months) and it seems to be getting a buildup here and there ~ i think the vinegar sounds like a great & cheap way to clean it ~ thanks again :)

[sal987]

I guess the vinegar thing for cleaning a washing machine is the same principle as how it's used to clean a coffee maker every so often, if that makes sense.