Ever since I had children my washing machine has been running at 110%. Well that's seriously what it feels like anyway! With each child we've had the washing load has increased and now there's a puppy in the mix, the poor washing machine doesn't get an hour off let alone a day!
Our washing machine is essential to our family life, I'd be totally lost without it so I like to make sure that we look after it. We have an insurance policy in place in case it breaks but even still, in that 24 - 36 hours before the repairman gets there the washing can really build up! On a call out once the repairman gave me lots of advice on how to look after my washing machine and tumble dryer and I must say, since I have taken the advice on board our machines are running really smoothly! (Touch wood!)
The key piece of advice he gave me about my washing machine was to clean it regularly with a special washing machine cleaner. I've been using Dr. Beckmann Service-It washing machine cleaner and I think it's really helping to make a difference. It has RRP of £2.99 and you can pick it up in most supermarkets along with your weekly shop.
Our machine is running a lot so there can be a big build up of soap and fabric conditioner residue which doesn't help the washing to come out clean and can also build up over time and damage your machine. If you live in a hard water area you could very quickly get a build up of limescale too which would damage your machine. Dr. Beckmann's Service-It could help you to get rid of all of this limescale, dirt and residue and it's really easy to use. It has active carbon which acts as a magnet to attract the dirt and odours and leaves your washing machine clean and smelling fresh.
The bottle contains enough for one treatment and will clean your whole machine. You start off by using a little on a cloth to clean the rubber seal around the door before rising off with a damp cloth. This made a huge difference - I didn't know how dirty that rubber seal could get!
You then remove your detergent drawer and soak it in the sink with 50ml of the liquid, diluted with water and leave for 30 minutes. Oh my - the detergent drawer in my machine was filthy and black in places. After a good soak, scrub and rinse it was much better!
Then you just put the rest of the liquid into the (now clean) detergent drawer and run your machine on a 60 degree cycle without any clothes in. When it was finished my machine was gleaming and smelt lovely and fresh!
Dr. Beckmann recommend cleaning your machine every 2 months or every 30 loads of washing. I'll be definitely keeping up cleaning mine as it made such a big difference to the look and smell of the machine, and I'm sure my clothes came out cleaner and fresher too. And of course anything that helps to prolong the life of my washing machine is a definitely essential in my house!
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Disclosure - this post is written in collaboration with Dr. Beckmann. All opinions are honest and my own.
Emily Leary says
Oh this looks great - the draw in our washing machine gets really gross sometimes!
Globalmouse (@globalmouse1) says
I absolutely need this. I feel really bad to say I really don't clean mine and it is definitely in need of it. I will be adding this to my shopping trolley next shop, thank you!
Rhian Westbury says
I really need to do this as I don't think I've cleaned my washing machine since moving into my flat 5 years ago *oops* x
hannahhowell912 says
I don't think I have ever cleaned mine..better get on that!
Jessica says
This sounds like a great product, I need to buy some these!
La French Connection (@ConnectionLa) says
I have never cleaned my washing machine I admit. And maybe I should start because recently I have had a few breakdown that wouldn't have happened if I took better care of my stuff...
Mika | http://www.la-french-connection.com
Dannii says
I really need to start doing this. Now we own our own house, we are responsible if something goes wrong.
Life as Mum says
I really need to do this to our washing machine! We have used it years ago and was pleased. Need to do it again though!
WhatLauraLoves says
I've not long moved into an apartment and i havent washed the washing machiene yet! definitely on my to-do list xxx