What is the best way to clean a gummy, grimey, washer with caked on lime and detergent residue?
I’ve had some luck in the past with using vinegar to clean up a lot of these deposits. Some of the tougher ones might require the use of a sponge and a little CLR. But make sure to rinse the machine out really well with a sponge before using it. Here are a couple of other suggestions: Step One Combat rust with 2 c. lime or lemon juice in a cycle of the hottest water setting. Step Two Remove dye stains with 2 c. bleach run through two cycles on the hottest and highest settings. Step Three Visit a hardware or appliance store for rust removal products such as Iron-Out. Know which brand of washer you have, and follow the product’s instructions. Step Four Be aware that rusty spots on the washing machine barrel can indicate damage to that part. The only solution in that case is to replace the washing machine barrel (though it may be more cost-effective to replace the entire washer). Tips & Warnings * Run the cycle without clothes in the washer and clean the lint filter afterward. * Don’t san
