Why washing machines are disgusting!

WHY on Earth did I decide to take my washing machine apart and clean the tub?

It all started a few years ago when there was a constant 'muck' at the bottom of the washing machine after every load. At first I thought someone was putting filthy muddy socks in without telling me. But it was even happening with sheets and towels, and it was every single load. Things were not smelling as fresh anymore either.

So I ran the Tub Clean mode a few times. Added Vinegar and Baking Soda. Used a Tub cleaner. Wiped and scrubbed all surfaces with Lysol wipes. Nothing helped.

Then the pump died. So instead of replacing the expensive, not that old washing machine we ordered a new pump and got to work taking the machine apart.

THAT is when we discovered that we could take the tub OUT and actually clean it. Now, I have never thought to take a picture of the before. Mostly because it is so gross that I just want to get it clean. Then I realized just how gross is WAS and how sparkly and new it becomes....and that's when I decide to take pictures.

Anyways, I hosed the tub down and we put everything back together. Things were running smooth. And then in time, it started happening again. The muck. The guck. The stinky sheets. The smelly shirts. And no Tide, no Gain, no Downy did the trick. IN FACT: the clothes coming out of the dryer just smelled stale, even with the strongest scents from the laundry aisle!

Proof that I just did this 7 months ago!  I was so proud of my sparkly clean tub that I posted about it on Instagram. I started getting texts asking how to do it.

So now, here we are and it already needs to be done again! I blame it on the well water. Either way, its really not a difficult job and it is VERY rewarding if you're like me and like to see the fruits of your labor N.O.W! And you can bet that somewhere between Halloween and Christmas I will be doing this again!

So here is the run down on how I clean my Fisher & Paykel Top Loader.
#1---The tools I use!
-Dawn Dish Soap
-A good scrub brush
-A screwdriver for screws
-Needlenose pliers for the spring and for removing grossness from the agitator.
-Garden Hose

**Please unplug your machine before doing this!

First I remove the screws from the lid so that it will lift up and expose
the tub, or drum as you may call it.
{{{PUT THE SCREWS IN A SAFE PLACE!!}}}

Then I remove the little screw that holds the agitator in place.
Lift out the agitator
We have a dog, 2 cats, 3 kids and live on a few acres....needless to say the agitator always has 'lint' caught in the little holes that I use the needle nose pliers to pull out.
I use the scrub brush to scrub the inside and outside of the tube.

Next I pop off the ring disk and remove the spring that attaches it to the machine base. This can be tricky. One time the spring shimmied its way all the way down to the bottom so we had to lift the machine and find it. So this needs to be done with care.

this is me putting it back together,
notice how clean it is!

Now comes the hardest part. Possibly a two-man job. While propping the entire lid(s) up, carefully lift the drum out of the machine. Be careful because the outside of the drum (on my machine, at least) is 'scratchy' from the metal holes popping out.

This is where we take it outside and hose it down, inside and out!
Then I scrub it with Dawn and the scrub brush and hose it down again.
I flip it upside down and do the same thing.
It goes from looking old and rusty to brand new and shiny!

While it sits in the sun to sparkle and dry, I head back inside to clean the interior of the machine itself.

 The Dawn Dishsoap really helps to cut through the build up. All of this nastiness was removed.

Now, you just reverse the process. Take your time to make sure you didn't leave out any screws or skip a step!

Then I run a HOT cycle with some of this Peroxide cleaner to rinse away all of the residue and anything I may have missed.

NOW I can actually smell the detergent and fabric softener!!

Isn't that disgusting?

Unfortunately, I deleted half of the pictures because I thought I had already downloaded them. (Another project I am working on, deleting used pictures so I actually have space on my phone and laptop for everything!)

**Please note my disclaimers: I am in no way telling you any of this information from a professional point of view. I am far from being mechanically inclined. I stink at house cleaning. This process has helped me and my personal situation. Your results may vary, for better or for worse. You could get injured doing this. There are sharp edges and awkward objects. Please use your own judgement when doing this. And if you disagree with the products I have mentioned using, please feel free to suggest alternatives but please do not criticize me for my personal choices when it comes to dealing with my stinky and dirty washing machine.**