Research suggests the washing machine is the household appliance most of us struggles to clean the most. In fact, around 18,100 people each months search for ways to make them sparkle.
Now, experts at Confused.com have analysed the data to see what ways you can keep your washer ship-shape. This includes adding white vinegar to the machine to get rid of grime.
Cleaning experts Steph and Jade, known as StadeClean, have now explained how to clean your machine using white vinegar. They said: "Washing machines can build up grime rapidly depending on usage.
"You can prevent this by adding two cups of white vinegar to your washing machine detergent drawer. Then, run on a hot wash to conquer the grime build up.
“For optimal cleaning power, add half a cup of baking soda in the drum and again run on a hot wash. This will neutralise any odours within the drum and fight bacterial build-up around the seal. Once the cycle has finished, wipe out the drum and drawer with a microfibre cloth. This should leave your washing machine fresh and grime free."
An analysis of online how-to lists from Confused.com found top household items listed among online cleaning hacks are vinegar (12%), baking soda (8%) and lemon (5%). Among the hacks were using baking soda to get rid of stains, and using lemon and water to clean your microwave.
Jessica Willock, home insurance expert at Confused.com, said: “The internet is the perfect place to find unusual yet effective cleaning hacks. You may not have considered using vinegar to clean your washing machine or baking soda to remove stains, but the internet says you can. Research reveals that many hacks could be possible with just a few items that you would find in your kitchen cupboard.
"Although some online cleaning hacks may save time and money, you should be cautious when using them on your household items. That's because you might accidentally damage more than you bargained for. For example, if you try to remove a stain from your coffee table, you could end up damaging your carpet in the process. As a result, you might have to claim on your home insurance to repair or replace it. That’s why you should always weigh up the risk factor and be mindful before trying unconventional approaches.”
