Is washing machine cleaning truly reliable? Can it genuinely achieve sterilization? Isn’t buying a new washing machine a more dependable choice? Today， let’s discuss washing machine cleaning.
Washing machines primarily clean clothes through physical actions like water flow and the rotation of mechanical parts. During the washing process， water enters the inner drum through perforations， repeatedly rinsing and agitating the clothes between the inner and outer drums to wash away stains.
However， as washing machines are used over time， dirt， including fabric lint， detergent residue， limescale， and rust， can accumulate between the inner and outer drums.
The prolonged accumulation of deposits in the tub structure can lead to the growth of bacteria. These bacteria can flow back into the inner drum through the perforations， contaminating the clothes. This not only affects washing efficiency but， more importantly， can make clothes dirtier， potentially causing skin allergies or other infectious diseases.
Different types of washing machines have varying sterilization methods. Some machines are equipped with high-temperature sterilization functions， utilizing temperatures around 60°C for pasteurization. At this temperature， the washing environment inside the machine can effectively eliminate bacteria and viruses， ensuring both effective washing and hygienic， clean clothes.
Furthermore， some washing machines feature 90-95°C thermal sterilization. High temperatures can rapidly kill various pathogens， viruses， and bacteria on clothes， making it particularly suitable for households with infants or pregnant women， providing more secure clothing care for the family.
However， not all washing machines achieve ideal sterilization results. Researchers at De Montfort University in the UK have discovered that even with a 60°C high-temperature wash cycle， some washing machines fail to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria.
They tested six models of domestic washing machines using fabric samples contaminated with Enterococcus faecium， a bacterium that can cause various illnesses， including urinary tract infections.
Through tests of both a 60°C quick wash and a standard wash cycle， the research team found that half of the washing machines failed to achieve “disinfection” (meaning a reduction of bacteria by over 90%) in the quick mode， and even in the standard program， one-third did not meet the standard.
The root cause is that most washing machines are unable to reach or maintain their preset temperatures during operation， especially with short washing programs. For instance， they discovered that one washing machine’s actual working temperature was only 20°C， unbeknownst to the user.
Most washing machines on the market today come with a “tub cleaning” function. This typically involves an initial rinse with water， where the machine’s small water pump increases tap water pressure to spray the inner and outer walls of the tub， cleaning the entire washing drum.
Following this， there is a drying phase. A small built-in fan blows air outwards while the drum rotates rapidly to enhance drying efficiency and prevent mold growth on the outer drum.
Some high-end washing machines also feature a “high-temperature self-cleaning” function， which heats both water and air (primarily water) to clean and sterilize the washing tub with hot water.
However， the “tub cleaning” function also has limitations. Firstly， its effectiveness in removing limescale is relatively weak. Secondly， improper use can significantly reduce its effectiveness.
For example， if laundry detergent or washing machine cleaner is added during the tub cleaning cycle， the high temperature and high-speed rotation can catalyze the cleaner to release a large amount of foam. Without clothes to consume the foam， it can accumulate excessively， even overflowing.
Moreover， the “tub cleaning” function should not be used too frequently. After each use， you need to wash clothes several times (preferably with a full load) to help the inner drum regain its balance. Conversely， you should not wait too long between uses; otherwise， the outer drum may develop mold. In such cases， the self-cleaning function might not only fail to clean effectively but also wash down a significant amount of muddy water onto the inner drum. The correct frequency is to engage “tub cleaning” every 3-5 washes. The fuller the drum is packed when washing， the more frequently tub cleaning should be performed.
Additionally， it is best to add some cleaning agent when using the tub cleaning function. You can use dedicated washing machine cleaning agents， or alkaline cleaners like laundry powder or bathroom cleaner. However， do not place them in the detergent dispenser; add them directly into the washing drum. Cleaning agents do not need to be added every time; they can be added once a month or even every two to three months.
Simultaneously， the washing machine’s filter screen needs timely cleaning. At least once a month， the filter screen should be removed and rinsed. For agitator washing machines， the filter is usually on the inner wall of the drum. For front-load washing machines， it is located under a cover resembling a car’s fuel tank cap， usually on the bottom left or right.
After a period of use， the internal dirt accumulated in the washing machine may not be thoroughly removed by the self-cleaning function alone. Professional washing machine cleaning services typically employ more comprehensive and in-depth methods.
For example， the disassembly and cleaning method commonly used in professional cleaning services involves first dismantling components such as the washing machine’s filter， rubber seal， and inner drum exterior. Then， a specialized washing machine cleaning agent (company-customized) and high-temperature， high-pressure steam (140°C) generated by an appliance cleaning integrated machine are used to clean and sterilize each component individually. Finally， the components are reassembled， and the washing machine’s quick wash cycle is run three times to drain the wastewater.
If your washing machine is older (2 years or more)， has never been disassembled for cleaning， is used frequently， and you’ve noticed a decline in washing performance or unpleasant odors from your laundry， hiring a professional cleaner is a good option.
Professional technicians are familiar with the construction of various washing machine brands and models. They can reach areas that are difficult for average users to access， effectively removing long-term accumulated dirt and bacteria， improving the washing machine’s performance and washing results， and safeguarding your family’s health.
Purchasing a new washing machine can indeed address some of the cleaning and hygiene issues of an old one. However， buying a new washing machine involves considering various factors. The primary concern is cost; a good quality washing machine can be quite expensive， undoubtedly increasing household expenses.
Secondly， even with a new washing machine， if maintenance and cleaning are neglected during daily use， over time， the new machine can develop similar issues of dirt accumulation and bacterial growth as the old one. Therefore， buying a new washing machine is not a one-time， permanent solution.
If the old washing machine’s issues are primarily hygienic and can be rectified through professional cleaning and subsequent proper maintenance， then hiring a cleaner would be a more economical choice compared to buying a new machine.
Therefore， the most reliable approach currently is to have it professionally cleaned; the self-cleaning function is insufficient to solve the problem. Of course， if your washing machine is a few hundred dollars model and has been used for seven or eight years， it might be better to replace it. If it was a costly purchase， it’s worth investing some money in professional cleaning.
