Moms’ Tip of the Day

One day when I stuck my head down into the washer to retrieve a tiny sock, I realized it had a not-so-fresh smell. It’s baffling, really. How can the inside of the washer get WASHED every time I turn it on, but still smell bad?

Well, as an article in Rural Arkansas pointed out recently, your washing machine deals with the dirtiest of the dirty laundry. The clothes come out clean, but they leave disgusting junk behind. Ugh.

The piece offered some good advice on how to clean a washer that we wanted to share with you. Not only can cleaning the machine’s tub make it smell better, there’s also a problem with laundry detergents building up in the tub, pump and hoses. The build-up can make your washing machine less efficient and can harm clothes.

So here’s how to clean it out:

• Fill your empty washing machine tub with hot water. Pour in three cups of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda.
• Remove the fabric softener receptacle and bleach dispenser and soak them in hot soapy water. Use a Q-tip to get the corners and stains.
• Sponge off the agitator and all of the tub’s surfaces.
• Use vinegar and a washcloth to wipe down the machine’s exterior surfaces.
• Check your washer’s hoses for weak spots or leaks. You may need to replace your hoses every five years or so.