My front loading washer is the culprit for eating things not my dryer. First, the washer ate husband’s iPod then it ate my socks, probably because it feels neglected (lies, we do a couple loads of laundry a week). Anyhoo, I found where the iPod and the socks were sucked into, the pit of despair, it’s under the rubber seal of the washer. So if you’re missing something, check there. Make it a habit to check the seal after every wash so items do not make their way down to the drain (which will be another post with a good story).
To clean your front loading washer, follow the pictures and do this every few months to keep your washer clean and running efficiently.
Step One: Remove and clean the soap dispenser drawer and cavity.
Much better, I was too busy getting rid of the nastiness to remember to take pictures.
Step Two: Wipe down the washer drum with your favorite cleaner.
Check the water hose for build up.
Gross, just gross.
After. The trick is to put straight vinegar in your soap dispenser.
Step Three: Clean the rubber seal. Pull the rubber seal back and remove any clothing/items and wipe like you’ve never wiped before to get rid of mold and mildew.
Some of the discoloration is a permanent stain from mold.
Step Four: Run the washer on hot with a cup of vinegar (or run a clean cycle if you have one).
Step Five: Wipe down the inside of your washer again and washer door.
Yay shiny! I used a Magic Eraser for some hard to clean spots.
Congratulations, you finished reading the instructions. Now go clean your washer for cleaner clothes and the satisfaction that you did it. Check out my post on F21 Error Code, Unclog the Washer Drain if you’re feeling adventurous or have that pesky code flashing at you.
Happy Cleaning!
Angela
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i think i need to wash mine.
my clothes don’t come out clean anymore :( xx
Sad day! I would definitely try cleaning it out then.
I actually already do this, so it’s a good article. That being said, I curse the day I ever bought a front loading washer and dryer and look forward to the happy day when they quit working so I can go back to normal large capacity washer & dryers. front loaders are awful!!
Thanks! I really like my front loader but comparing it to a top loader, I think the top loaders clean a little bit better. To me it’s not such a big deal because our kids are older and mostly out of the house which means we don’t have as many stains to get out.
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How do you clean a top load washer??
Hi Sue,
Fill up your washing machine with hot water and add a quart of vinegar to it. Let it sit for an hour or so and then add 1 cup of baking soda and run as usual. After the cycle is complete, wipe down the insides of the washer as needed. You can also take the softener cup out and wash that by hand.
I plan on doing a blog post on this soon so watch for it if you want a photo tutorial. :)