If your washing machine is starting to smell, there’s an easy way to get rid of any bad odours.
Cleaning washing machines can be a real chore, especially as many of us rely on them to keep our laundry smelling fresh. If you notice your machine starting to pong, it may be time for a deep clean.
Appliance giant Beko suggested giving your washing machine a thorough clean every one to three months. The frequency of cleaning depends on how often you use your machine.
As reported by the Express, TikToker Lily – known as Clean with Lily – revealed her go-to product to remedy any unwanted smells, which is a highly praised natural ingredient you likely already have in your cupboard.
How to deep clean washing machines
The miracle ingredient for eliminating any unpleasant smells, grime, or dirt is baking soda. This versatile ingredient can be used in countless ways, but it’s its alkaline nature that will banish unwanted odours.
To spruce up your washing machine, Lily shared that she sprinkles the baking soda directly into the drum when she’s giving it a deep clean. Add roughly half a cup of baking soda into the drum and then run the machine on a short cycle.
Baking soda works wonders in getting rid of any unwanted smells by neutralising those which are acidic. As baking soda is an alkaline, when it comes into contact with acidic odours, it reacts to neutralise them.
The chemical reaction between the baking soda and the acid neutralises or produces a less smelly compound. Ultimately, altering the pH level helps to get rid of the bad smell.
Kathy Cohoon, the director of franchise operations at Two Maids, informed Martha Stewart that it could take up to 24 hours for a stubborn odour to be completely eradicated.
Baking soda not only helps to freshen up the washing machine drum, but it also acts as a cleaning agent for any accumulated dirt or grime.
Being a mild alkali and an abrasive, baking soda can assist in breaking down and dissolving dirt inside the washing machine drum.
Baking soda can also be utilised to eliminate hidden dirt that might not be immediately visible.
Hometalk experts also suggest adding an extra step by treating the washing machine’s rubber seal with baking soda and vinegar.
They pointed out: “Address the rubber seal by pouring bicarbonate of soda and adding [white] vinegar, creating a powerful fizzing reaction that tackles hidden dirt.”
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