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You drop a load of laundry into the washer once a week to clean your clothing, and what about the washer on its own? Despite the fact that washing machines and dishwashers are constantly filled with water and soap, they may not always tidy up themselves. Ignoring how to clean the front load washer gasket on such a frequent basis to keep your leads to machine problems over time.
The washing machine’s inside is moist and gloomy, making it great for the growth of fungus, molds, and mildew, especially around the gasket. While this machine appears to be self-cleaning, this isn’t always the case.
The soap residue, minerals, and chemicals build up in the tub and door seal, blocking the internal mechanisms and drain pump. This carelessness renders a front-loading machine ineffective and stinking up the laundry room. Discover how to clean the front load washer gasket in a few easy steps.
Contents
Eliminating molds
Make a solution
Put on the gloves and mix 3⁄4 cup of bleach with a gallon of water. When working with bleach, wear gloves to prevent skin irritation. Take away all of the clothing in the washing machine and ensure that it is not switched on. Then, fill the bucket with one gallon of water and 3⁄4 cup of bleach.
Once a month, properly clean the front load washer gasket to prevent mold and mildew from forming. Although bleach is quite good at removing molds and mildews, it can irritate the eyes and skin. Open up the window or turn on the fan for appropriate ventilation, and use safety goggles to protect your eyes.
Apply the solution
Using a towel soaked in the bleach solution, rub the gasket. Use an old cloth or material that you don’t mind getting bleached. Drench it in the bleach and squeeze off the majority of the moisture.
Then, before removing the gasket and washing the crevice, rub it on the gasket’s surface. Soak the rag in the bleach mixture whenever it seems soiled or feels dry.
Let it rest for 5 minutes
Set a timer to ensure that the bleach mixture rests in the gasket for 5 minutes. This gives the bleach ample time to kill the microorganisms that cause the odor of mold and mildew to thrive. Let the bleach sit for 10 minutes before you remove the gasket from the home if it is mildewed or moldy.
Wipe off the solution
Clean the front load washer gasket using a wet towel to remove the bleach solution. Allow a clean rag to soak in the water for a few minutes. Squeeze out part of the wetness and clean the surface and holes of the gasket to remove the bleach. Then, using another towel, dry the gasket completely. Maintain a half-open door to avoid moisture from gathering around the gasket.
Use baking soda and vinegar as alternatives
If you don’t want to use bleach, rub the gasket with vinegar and baking soda. Pour baking soda into the gasket’s crack for a more natural solution. Fill the spray bottle half full with vinegar and spritz the gasket’s exterior as well as the crevice.
Scrape the gasket with a scouring sponge to remove the mold. Clean the front load washer gasket with a moist towel or run an empty washing cycle to remove the vinegar and baking soda. Then, wipe the gasket dry with a clean cloth.
Maintenance
Examine the gasket
Examine the gasket for any objects that have become stuck and remove them. Every week, spend a few minutes looking for little objects that fall off of your garments and become stuck in the gasket. Gently remove the gasket and eliminate any stuck items such as hairpins, paper clips, hair, and coins.
Remove wet clothes immediately
As the washing cycle is already finished, take out any wet clothes inside the washing machine. It’s easy to lose track of when your laundry is finished, so set up your washing machine to buzz when it is already finished. When wet clothes are left in the washing machine, they start to smell like mildews, and the stored moisture causes germs to develop in the gasket.
If you’ve left clothing in the washing machine and they already smell like mildews, add one cup of vinegar or 1/2 cup of baking soda. Then, operate the hottest cycle that the clothes can withstand and quickly move the washed clothes to the dryer.
Dry the gasket
After each cycle, wipe off the gasket to dry with a cloth. After removing a load of laundry from the washing machine, use a soft, clean cloth to dry the gasket. Lift the gasket back carefully to allow moisture to escape the fissure. To avoid transferring germs or dampness from unclean fabric to the gasket, use a clean cloth.
Keep the door open
In between cycles, open the door or ajar. Closing the door after removing wet garments from the machine traps dampness near the gasket. Allow the machine door to remain completely open to allow the gasket to dry. If you are unable to do so, leave open at least a gap to allow some moisture to dissipate.
If you have little children, do not let the door open or even a gap if the children can reach the washing machine. Keep the door of the laundry room locked for added security so that little children can’t get through the machine.
Deep cleaning
You should deep-clean your washing machine every once of the month to keep microorganisms at bay. If the machine has a self-cleaning feature, use it at least once a month to destroy germs that have accumulated in the gasket and drum.
If your machine does not have a self-cleaning feature, use a hot water cycle and one cup of bleach with no clothes. After using bleach, run the hot-water cycle with no clothing in the washer to rinse it. This avoids residual bleach from causing damage to the next laundry.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to clean the front load washer gasket is essential for maintaining your washing machine in good working order. Regular cleaning prevents mold growth to your front load washing machine and helps to keep your laundry area smelling fresh.