Step 6 = Leave your washing machine door ajar.
When your washing machine is not in use (if it ever is not in use!?) then leave the door ajar and the detergent drawer open. This will allow air to circulate and stop the dreaded black mould from growing on the door seal.
Check how your washing machine drum smells too, whilst you are examining this hard-working device. If it smells fusty then your washed clothes will also smell fusty. Maybe you mask the smell with scented floral washing detergent or softeners? There will still be an underlying aroma of damp mould following your every move, and being around (let alone wearing) mould spores is terrible for the health of those with delicate lungs - including; asthma sufferers, babies and elderly people.
So, if your washing machine has signs of MOULD or a MOULDY AROMA, you need to thoroughly clean your washing machine with BLEACH (open windows and door to ensure a good air flow whilst you do this, obviously pets and kids should not be around):
a) Remove the detergent drawer (You Tube will help you with this) and put it in the sink. Open the window(s) and wear gloves, then spray/squirt the drawer with bleach and scrub with an old toothbrush / dish brush. Make sure you take apart and scrub any removable bits of the drawer / inserts. Rinse well. Wipe the hollow place where the drawer goes with bleach-on-a-cloth, then wipe the area a few times with a clean water cloth (to remove all traces of bleach) and finally replace the drawer.
b) Wearing gloves, wipe the inside of the washing machine's viewing window with a damp cloth sprayed with bleach. (Rinse the cloth and wipe over the window a few times to rinse it if you aren't going to complete the other cleaning steps.)
c) Still wearing gloves, wipe the rubber seals (just inside the door) with a damp cloth sprayed with bleach, being sure to dig deep and remove any trapped gunk. (Again, rinse the cloth and wipe over the seal a few times to rinse it if you aren't going to complete the other cleaning steps right now.)
d) Run an empty wash at 40 degrees Celcius, with 1/2 a cup (125ml) of toilet bleach in, let it run for a full cycle, not a quickwash.
e) Put in two old cotton towels (which will help scrub the drum clean), 1/2 a cup (125ml) of vinegar straight into the drum (white vinegar, or the cheaper malt vinegar is fine ) and set a 90 degree Celcius boil wash going, for the full cycle time (again, don't press the quickwash button).
(f) If your washing machine has a white outer, use cream cleaner, such as this Ecover version, and wipe over the outside of your washing machine to remove scuffs and stains. Black or grey machines should be wiped over with just washing up liquid, as cream cleaner would visibly scratch them.
Now that you have gone through all of that hassle to prevent you and your family from walking round, smelling like mould and inhaling spores, please do KEEP YOUR WASHING MACHINE AIRED! Keep the door open ajar and keep the detergent drawer half open, when not in use.
If you just want to give your washing machine a 'once a month' REGULAR CLEAN:
(a) Remove the washing machine detergent drawer (You Tube will help you with this) and put it in the sink. Scrub it well with washing up liquid and a dish brush / old toothbrush. For an extra clean, put the dispenser drawer into the dishwasher and run a 60 C dishwasher cycle (the Splosh 'all-in-one' dishwasher tablets are excellent and are entirely plastic free). Other things I occasionally wash in the dishwasher include: microwave turntable, sink-side cutlery holder, sink-side draining rack, sink plug, cotton dishcloth(s), dishbrush, empty laundry peg basket and the racks you dry your kid's drinks bottles on (both the TOMY Boon one and the Termichy one are good).
(b) Now that's enough about the dishwasher, back to the washing machine - wipe the inside of the washing machine's viewing window with a damp cloth sprayed with tea tree oil.
c) Wipe the rubber seals (just inside the door) with a damp cloth sprayed with tea tree oil, being sure to dig deep and remove any trapped gunk (you might want to put gloves on before doing this).
d) Put in two old cotton towels (which will help scrub the drum clean), 1/2 a cup (125ml) of vinegar straight into the drum (white vinegar, or the cheaper malt vinegar is fine ) and set a 60 degree Celcius wash going, for the full cycle time (don't press the quickwash button).
(e) If your washing machine has a white outer, use cream cleaner, such as this Ecover version, and wipe over the outside of your washing machine to remove scuffs and stains. Black or grey machines should be wiped over with just washing up liquid, as cream cleaner would visibly scratch them.
Now a final reminder - please keep the washing machine door ajar when it isn't in use. Please.