Spring Cleaning: Washer and Dryer

Spring Cleaning: Washer and Dryer

TOM: During the season’s spring-cleaning binge, don’t neglect to clean the appliances that keep your clothes clean all year long. Your washer and dryer. Hi, I’m Tom Kraeutler.

LESLIE: And I’m Leslie Segrete with today’s Money Pit Home Improvement Minute.

TOM: While you might least expect it, washing machines can become contaminated with fecal bacteria potentially leaving millions of germs in your laundry.

LESLIE: Yeah you want to clean things up by running the washer without clothes using just hot water and one half gallon of bleach. The bleach is going to sanitize the machine and all of its plumbing components.

TOM: Got crayon, pen or dye stains in your dryer’s drum? Remove those by applying spray cleaner, a mild abrasive or laundry stain treatment and then wipe with a damp cloth. Then dry a load of old towels or rags for about 25 minutes.

LESLIE: And clean up the outsides of porcelain coated or painted steel appliances with a little dish detergent and a damp cloth. And for stubborn stains on porcelain surfaces, try a bit of a non-abrasive cleanser. That should do the trick. I’m Leslie Segrete.