How often do you give your washing machine a thorough deep clean?
My guess is not that frequent. After all, doesn’t a washing machine kind of clean itself during a cycle?
Although your washing machine drum may look clean and shiny, grime, limescale, oil residue, and soap scum, especially under rubber seals and around internal components, can quickly accumulate without being seen.
This dirt build-up can not only produce unpleasant odours and reduce the lifespan of your machine, but it can also serve as a haven for many types of germs.
You should routinely remove residue from the washing machine to avoid the formation of an unpleasant black, greasy film in the first place. However, you don’t need a costly speciality cleaner for this; instead, use dishwasher tabs, which the majority of us already have at home.
Yes, using dishwasher tabs to clean your washing machine is simple and effective. We’ll briefly go over the process, acceptable tabs, and suitable substitutes for cleaning your washing machine.
How to Use Dishwasher Tablets to Clean a Washing Machine
The laundry’s dirt is gradually deposited within the machine – behind the drum, around the heating element, and internal pipework. You should clean your washing machine frequently to prevent calcification and maintain a fresh scent in your laundry.
You don’t need to hire a professional to dismantle and deep clean your machine or use any pricy washing machine detergents. Traditional dishwasher tabs are a cheap and powerful option.
To clean filthy dishes, cooking utensils, cutlery, and cookware, we combine the power of hot water in a dishwasher and throw in a cleaning tab. This combo is equally efficient at getting rid of residue from the inside of washing machines.
To accomplish this, once every 3 – 6 months, pop two dishwasher tabs into an empty washing machine. Place the tabs directly into the drum, and then add more water through the detergent compartment (with the door closed) until the level just exceeds the height of the lower edge of the hatch. You can alternatively use dishwashing powder or first dissolve the tablets in warm water before adding them.
1. To begin, place two dishwasher tabs (any brand will do – whether Finish, Fairy, or cheap generic) in the washing machine’s drum.
2. Set your machine to a temperature of 90-degree, close the door, and run the machine cycle.
It’s that simple.
Note: Keep in mind to routinely replace the fluff filter, inspect the rubber door seal, and clean the detergent drawer, as their areas can develop dirt and mould.
Also read: 5 Most Energy Efficient Washing Machines
Can You Clean Cloths With Dishwasher Tablets?
Dishwasher powder and tabs are said to help with heavily stained clothing. The powerful cleaning agents can help whiten whites, but should never be used with coloured washings.
It is not recommended to have any clothes or laundry in the washing machine with dishwasher tablets, because the cleaning chemicals could damage the fabrics. It’s always best to use this method in an empty machine.
Alternative natural cleaning methods for washing machines
An alternative to the dishwasher tab method would be to use, vinegar, citric acid, dishwashing detergent, and baking soda, as these are excellent home remedies for cleaning the washing machine; however, only use one of these at a time.
White Vinegar: the all-purpose cleaner, is a great alternative to machine cleaner solutions of tabs. There is no need to be concerned about the scent because it goes away right away. Add a few drops of lavender oil to create a nice fragrance.
Citric acid: This substance not only gives off a lovely aroma but also decalcifies your washing machine efficiently. Put 10 teaspoons of citric acid in the detergent drawer and let the machine run at the highest temperature.
Baking soda: Baking soda cleans and gets rid of nasty smells. Place 30 grammes of baking soda in the detergent section after combining it with a little water. Now run the machine at a high temperature. This restores the shine to your laundry in addition to cleaning internals.
How many dishwasher tablets?
2 – 4 dishwasher tablets are all that’s needed to clean a washing machine for those who are brave enough to try it. To clean the washing machine drum, simply drop 2, 3, or 4 dishwasher tablets into the drum.
Set it to a hot wash, and let the machine and tablet do the work for you. When the cycle is complete, you can use the machine as usual, and it will be clean and smell great!
More than four tablets may prevent the product from draining away properly, leaving a residue that may cling to garments or disrupt the normal washing cycle.
It’s a waste of washing tablets that could be put to better use in the dishwasher and will negatively impact your laundry and machine’s performance. For best results, use 2 dishwasher tablets and run your machine at its highest temperature. The tabs may not dissolve properly if the water is not hot enough.
For smaller washing machine drums – 5 – 7kg, 2 tabs are ideal, for 8 – 10kg drums, use 3 tabs, 4 max.
What happens if you put a laundry pod in the dishwasher?
Now that you know dishwasher tabs can be used to safely and efficiently clean your washing machine, you might be wondering about how washing machine tabs would work in a dishwasher.
Do not try this – washing machine tabs contain fabric softeners that may coat your dishes, and can produce excessive levels of foam which could block the drain. They do not contain the correct ingredients for breaking down grease from cookware and will leave your dishes smelling like flowers, which can put you off your food.
Dishwashing isn’t really considered when laundry pods are developed, so they don’t include the enzymes necessary to dissolve caked-on food and get your dishes sparkling.
Instead, the detergents and softeners you use to keep your clothing clean and smelling nice might leave a distinct flavour and odour on your plates and silverware.
Is anybody up for a pasta dish with a touch of lavender? Your dishes will probably need to be washed again before they’re usable.
You should only use the washing pod in the washing machine, where you know they will operate well, and not in the dishwasher, for the reason explained above.
What Could Go Wrong?
Void Warranty
Putting dishwasher tablets in a washing machine is generally discouraged by manufacturers.
The best way to clean your washing machine is generally outlined in a paragraph or two of your user manual. The materials you must not use to complete the task may also be specified.
You should not disregard these instructions; they are included for a reason: proper machine cleaning is essential to preventing damage.
Furthermore, your warranty may be null and void if you fail to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the manual. Because of this, you will likely have to foot the bill for any future assistance you may require.
Excessive Foam
Moreover, an overabundance of dishwasher tablets in a washing machine could result in an excessive amount of foam.
While too much laundry detergent can cause foaming, the foam produced by dishwasher tablets is distinct.
This could potentially clog the washing machine’s hose and is not going to be appreciated by the machine. Again, this is an extra effort that needs to be resolved immediately.
Dishwasher tablets are designed to be used in dishwashers, which brings up another issue. Unlike a dishwasher, a washing machine is not used to wash dishes but rather clothing.
Because dishwasher tablets and laundry detergent are used for such diverse tasks, the dishwasher tablets’ robust ingredients will be rather different.
Consequently, this might lead to problems with the seals and other internal components of a washing machine. Using too many dishwasher tablets at once or using the pills too frequently can cause damage to a washing machine.
How likely is it that you would use laundry detergent to empty your dishwasher? That’s not likely to happen. A gooey mess would form at the bottom of the dishwasher, and the dishes and silverware would be left smelling like linen and lavender. To put it simply, it wouldn’t function correctly.
Tab Residue
Remains of dishwasher tablets have been seen to be left in washing machines.
There’s a chance that a hot wash will remove the stain, but doing so is a waste of time and water.
In addition, using a dishwasher pill to clean your washing machine will leave your garments feeling tough and gritty. You may need to buy extra fabric softener to restore the clothes’ original softness, which is merely more money out of your pocket.
Lingering Dishwasher Tab Smell
Some dishwasher tabs have strong distinctive smells, which may linger in your washing machine and be noticeable on your fabrics. If this happens, simply run the machine without clothes and at high temperatures, using a couple of your favourite washing machine tabs, power, or liquid. This should return your machine to its regular smell.
