Can I Use Chlorine Bleach to Clean Inside Washing Machine?

You rely on your washing machine to clean your clothing. When the inside of your washer needs cleaning, you can use chlorine bleach to do the job as long as you take precautions to protect your health and your clothes.

Function

Using chlorine bleach to clean inside your washing machine works because it will help with the two main problems you can have inside your washer. Bleach will kill mildew and mold that can grow in the moist environment of the washer. If you tend to overload your washer, debris can build up inside it instead of being washed away, providing a breeding ground for bacteria. Bleach kills bacteria and removes the buildup.

Methods

You can wash the interior of your washing machine by hand if your laundry area is well ventilated. Add 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach to a gallon of water. Wear gloves and use a sponge to clean inside the washer and rinse the interior with water. You can also clean the inside by running an empty load of laundry with hot water. Add a cup of bleach to the water and let it run through. When it is done, check the very upper portions of your washer to see if they need scrubbing with a sponge.

Considerations

If you hand wash the inside of your washing machine with chlorine bleach, the bleach solution and the rinse water will linger in the unit until you run it again. Either run a short empty cycle to clear it away or make the next load of laundry you do one that is bleach-safe.

References

• "Green Up Your Cleanup"; Jill Schoff; 2008
• "Fungi and Molds"; Jennifer Viegas; 2004