Help!! How to Clean My Washing Machine!

Updated on March 07, 2011
L.C. asks from San Lorenzo, CA
8 answers

My husband decided to wash his greasy, really dirty rags ...the ones that he uses to fix and clean his car....now my washing machine is filthy...Any suggestions on how to clean it before adding any loads? HELP!

THANKS SO MUCH!

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C.K.

answers from San Antonio on

Run the washing machine empty with detergent and bleach in it. If there is grease in it, add some Simple Green (about 1 cup). That is what I did when my husband worked in the oilfield and I had to wash his filthy clothes.

Simple Green works wonders. Add it to the wash next time his rags need to be cleaned and the grease washes out and doesn't stick to the washing machine. I always washed in cold water and the Simple Green still got the clothes clean.

3 moms found this helpful

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A.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Hello. Go to walmart or target in the dishwashing section & grab yourself a bottle of "lemi shine". It is wonderful!! I would be very surprised if this doesn't help you. I use it in the dish washer & clean my shower doors. Hope it helps you.
Blessings,
A.
san jose, ca

2 moms found this helpful

A.H.

answers from Tulsa on

Run it without clothes, add hot water, soap, and bleach. Repeat as needed.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi L.~
Get some Oxi-Clean and just run a couple of loads with that only in the washer. Or try Hydrogen Peroxide. Just empty the bottle into the washer and run in hot water. (I use it to soak my son's socks and they always come out white). Good luck.
Lucy B.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.D.

answers from Modesto on

Wipe the walls, center agitator (if you have one) etc. with vinegar and a cloth. It will take some elbow grease (lots of hard wiping) but the oil scum will come off. Run a load of sheets or towels in hot water/detergent after that, before doing clothes again to remove any remaining residue you can't see. Nice thing is, vinegar won't hurt anything. People actually add this to their wash to help clean clothes and reduce static!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Puting in a cup of Ammonia might work (but don't combine with bleach whatever you do!). Also, you can buy a product for the high efficiency machines that is a washing machine cleaner that you put in and run through a cycle. I think it should work in a regular machine. Tide makes one type.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would try dawn or another degreaser and just wash it down then run an empty load.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.B.

answers from San Francisco on

In the detergent isle, they actually have washing machine cleaners. I noticed my front loader always had build up and mildew in the detergent drawer. I bought the Tide washing machine cleaner and it is all clean. (Who would've thought you would need to by cleaning products to keep your washing machine clean!) I never had a problem with my very used and hand me down washing machine (over 50 years old). Now I that I have an energy efficient washer, I feel I went backwards somewhere along the line.

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