6 underrated maintenance tasks to do in every laundry room
From avoiding fire hazards to dogs overpowering appliances, make sure your washers and dryers can have longevity
No matter how much you scowl at that one tenant or condo unit owner who ignores the “remove the lint” sign in your communal laundry room, there’s a fairly good chance that this person will think all of the other residents are their maids.
Would it be easier to just have your own washer and dryer installed in your unit? Probably. As long as there are no Rules & Regulations or bylaws banning you from installation due to costly plumbing jobs, having your own appliances eliminates those who won’t take care of them.
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But even if you have your own laundry room in your home, there are some often-overlooked maintenance tips that should be followed to keep your washer and dryer in quality condition. Here are six suggested cleaning tips for your laundry room.
1. Disinfect and clean the wash basket and drum.
In addition to mold and mildew potentially growing in the damp areas of a washing machine, there’s also the leftover powder detergent, mineral deposits, grime and dirt remaining from previous loads. With communal machines, you’re not just handling your own dirt but other people’s dirty clothes too. Even if all the gunk is coming from within your four walls, that still doesn’t stop bad smells and bacteria growth from getting onto your clothes if the machine is dirty.
All you’ll need to clean your washer is white vinegar, a microfiber cloth and (for the hard-to-reach areas) a toothbrush. Clean all external, reachable areas and then run one full cycle so the machine can thoroughly self-clean. If you’re using a communal machine, you’ll have to give up your extra quarters. Or, encourage the condo board to incorporate appliance cleaning with the maintenance team. (There’s usually a hidden button behind the quarter drawer that will let maintenance turn on the machine without paying for it.)
If you don’t feel like doing the more labor-intensive way of cleaning the washer, try deep-cleaning tablets.
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2. Spray and wipe down the top of the machine.
Dirty clothes are often left on top of the same washer and dryer as clean clothes. And sometimes people will sit their laundry basket — bottom down — on top of the machine. This is just transferring dirt from the floor (and our bodies) onto clean clothing. In addition to not putting a laundry basket on top of the washing machine (regardless of it being a front-loading washing machine or top-loading washing machine), wipe it down as needed.
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3. Consider using eco-friendly detergent sheets.
Skip the laundry detergent containers altogether. While you think that putting your laundry detergent container in the blue bin means it’s recycled, that’s not always the case. Some recycling companies will only reuse containers with two gallons (or less) of liquid storage, only accept high-density polyethylene (HDPE), refuse caps and pump spray tops, and may dismiss those that haven’t been properly cleaned.
Laundry detergent sheets take out all the guessing games (and excess plastic), and you can just stick one into your washer to use immediately the same way you would with a fabric softener sheet in the dryer.
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4. Remove all pet hair from lint traps, and sweep pet hair off the floors.
If you’re using communal machines, that pet fur that you snuggle up to within your condo unit may be torture for your neighbor a few doors down. Additionally, even after you’ve bought all the pet hair rollers and the pet hair vacuums to avoid dog allergy complaints, your dog is going to shed.
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If you drop one clean sock or shirt, and pet hair hasn’t been swept up, now you’re going to have dog fur on your shirt and everything else in the clean pile — unless you wash that item all over again.
Recommended Read: “Should dogs be allowed in the kitchen? ~ Until you pay my mortgage, don't tell me where my dog is allowed to go in my home ... with two exceptions”
While a couch can be sprayed with anti-static spray, a laundry area probably won’t have much furniture (or any) around it. Pet hair can be airborne, so vacuuming, sweeping, lint rollers and an air purifier can help keep clumps or strands from flying everywhere.
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5. Throw out old, outdated cleaning containers.
Unopened liquid detergent is most effective for nine months to a year after purchase. Once opened, liquid detergent should be used within six months. (Check the label.) Although a homeowner who regularly does laundry may not get to this point, the homeowner who buys in bulk may find this out the hard way. If you’ve got a collection of dried-up stain remover and caked-up powder detergent that stays clumped during the wash cycle, it’s time to empty the containers out and part ways.
Recommended Read: The most underrated danger in your home: Lint traps ~ The fire hazard your home insurance company should warn you about
6. Remove clamps and detach vent from your dryer.
It’s way too easy to just assume your dryer is faulty and needs a technician when it can just be a matter of a dirty drum and a clogged-up vent. In addition to wiping the dryer drum and the top and handle of the dryer, it’s important to make sure lint isn’t becoming a fire hazard in multiple places.
Recommended Read: “If You Leave Lint In the Clothes Dryer, You're Creating a Fire Hazard”
Keeping a laundry room in good shape is about as much work as cleaning a bathroom. If you’re a stickler for wiping down surface areas, disinfecting where needed, checking expiration dates and not letting your dog treat the whole room like a crate, your appliances and your laundry room should be OK. Even if it’s a nuisance to do at first, if the machines are cleaned and wiped down right before you do laundry, you’ll be that much more driven to get everything cleaned, folded, hung up and back to a neat laundry room room for the next time.
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