When living in a communal space like a dorm or multi-family apartment complex, it can be difficult to control the cleanliness of shared laundry rooms. Washing machines can harbor many different bacteria or even mold if cleaned improperly. In order to protect yourself and your clothing from these unwanted contaminants, it’s important to know how to properly sanitize these machines before using them. Not only are you keeping yourself and your clothing items safe, but you are also ensuring the cleanliness of your fellow residents.
In this blog post, we’ll cover the reasons why residents should sanitize their washers and ways to clean them before and after the washing cycle.
Why Should We Sanitize Washing Machines Before Use?
It’s easy to assume washing machines stay clean thanks to regular detergent use, but that’s far from true—especially in shared spaces. Communal laundry rooms can become breeding grounds for bacteria, mold, and fungi, particularly in warm, damp areas like door seals, detergent drawers, and internal hoses. These hidden spots can trap moisture and develop odors, and if left unchecked, may even pose health risks.
A Popular Science article notes that washing machines can harbor everything from drug-resistant bacteria to other harmful pathogens. That’s why maintaining good hygiene in shared laundry spaces isn’t just courteous—it’s essential for the health and safety of everyone who uses them.
Before And During Your Laundry Load
When you are about to run your load into the machine, it is important to sanitize both the inside drum and outer rim. There are two solutions that are effective for cleaning the inside of the drum before doing a load.
The first method is to use one cup of chlorine bleach to disinfect the washer. Before adding any clothes to the washing machine, add your cup of chlorine bleach. Set the washer to the hottest setting, then run a cycle with a rinse if available. Most washing machines have a setting specifically for interior cleaning, though these steps are still possible by running a hot water cycle as well. If you are worried about your clothes becoming bleached, run a rinse and spin cycle after the initial cleaning cycle is complete. Leave the door open to dry out the drum to ensure the bleach has dissipated.
If you prefer a natural cleansing alternative to bleach, vinegar is a good second option. Architectural Digest suggests in an article that the acidity of white vinegar helps break down slimy buildup. Run the same hot water cycle with a rinse, but instead of adding the chlorine bleach, substitute two cups of white vinegar into the drum. The vinegar not only breaks down bacteria, but also has a deodorizing effect. Never use bleach and vinegar together in the same cleaning solution, as they may cause toxic fumes. After running the cycle with either bleach or white vinegar, use a soft cloth or brush to scrub any excess residue.
When you’ve completed the pre-sanitization steps, you may continue your laundry as normal. If you are concerned about bacterial contamination on your clothing, using a laundry sanitizer during your wash may help. Read the directions on any sanitizer or detergent you use on your clothing to determine when and how to use it to preserve your clothing.
For more tips on detergent ratios, stain removal, and water temperature, Automatic Laundry’s tip section has you covered.
Post-Cycle Tips
When your loads are finished, wipe the exterior and interior with an antibacterial wipe. Ensure that the areas where moisture collects are cleaned, as these are the areas most likely to harbor mold, mildew, and bacteria. When finished, leave the doors open to let the washing machine dry. The drying process prevents moisture from collecting in the crevices of the machine, disallowing bacteria to spread. This applies to drying clothes as well; ensure your clothing is fully dry before storage in order to stop the spread of mold. An article from The Spruce recommends checking your clothing for any objects or particular stains to keep your washer safe, like makeup, pens, and any articles stained with gasoline.
When you are leaving the washing and drying room, clean any spills or excess detergent from the machines. Ensure that the lint filter is free of lint. When transporting your clothes to your unit or room after using the shared facilities, use a laundry basket that is clean and dry to prevent bacteria from spreading. Before and after using shared facilities, make sure your hands are sanitized and clean. All of these small factors in your chore routine make a major difference in the sustained cleanliness of your shared laundry spaces.
Conclusion
When sharing a communal space with others in your community, it’s important to be considerate and practice proper etiquette. As a general rule of thumb, leave the space you use cleaner than when you found it. To keep your fellow residents safe and healthy, practice these cleanliness steps and keep your laundry room hygienic. Contact Automatic Laundry today for any assistance in your laundry room, and consult our cleaning tips for more help on keeping your clothes pristine!
