We all know the warning signs that our washer is in need of a clean. There is nothing worse than having a load of clean laundry come out of the machine smelling worse than it did when it went in. However, with large appliances like this it can be hard to know where to begin the cleaning process. Here are the most important things you need to know.

Clean The Lid

First things first, it is important to remember that a lot of dust and other material can build up on the outside of your washer. You do not need to use any strong chemicals for this part. Warm water or a light cleaning fluid will do.

Clean The Drum

Of course, the inside of your top load washer is where most of the damage can be done. You should start by opening the drum and taking a close look inside. If you clean your washer regularly, then you should not notice anything too bad. However, if it has been a long time since you cleaned it, or if you have never done it, then you could be looking at a serious situation. There are a lot of things that can build up in the drum over time. These include hair, dust, dirt, and any detergent or conditioner that has not been properly washed away.

If you need to do a deep clean of your top load washer, then you will need to do a couple of cycles. Set your washer to a warm wash and add a cup of bleach. This will help to kill any harmful bacteria that may have built up in the drum. Your washer may also have a self-cleaning cycle, but a hot or warm water cycle should work fine if not. For serious situations, you can follow this by repeating the hot water cycle with a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda if you need to.

Clean The Seal

Once these cycles are complete, it is time to clean the rubber seal of your washer. This is where a lot of dirt and grime can build up. You should be cleaning or at least wiping the seal on a regular basis. For this, you can use warm water, or you can use a little cleaning fluid if there is a lot of residue.

Clean The Detergent And Fabric Softener Dispensers

After the seal has been cleaned, you should turn your attention to the detergent and fabric softener dispensers. The layout may depend on the type of washer that you have, but the principle is the same. If you can remove them, take them out and soak them in hot water and white vinegar. Remember that using white vinegar is a great way to cut down on your use of chemicals. If the dispensers are not removable, pour in the same mixture and leave it to soak in the machine.

Run The Final Cycle

Once you have cleaned everything, then you can run a final cycle of hot water through the machine to get rid of any remnants of cleaning fluids in the machine. The more often you clean your top load washer, the less intensive the process needs to be.