The laundry room needs the same attention we give to our kitchens and bathrooms. Moisture, detergent residue, lint, dirt and dust can build up around your washer and dryer and on shelves. This creates unpleasant odors, impacts the efficiency of your appliances and could create potential fire hazards.<\/p>
Cleaning your laundry room is about making you and your routine more efficient too, says Sara Aparacio<\/a>, resident cleaning expert at Homeaglow. “Cleaning up and organizing the laundry room means you can easily find and access what you need to improve how long it takes to use the laundry room,” says Aparacio. <\/p> Our experts offer an essential laundry room cleaning checklist, as well as tasks that should be done regularly to keep your space and appliances clean and running smoothly.<\/p> Laundry rooms can quickly collect dust and detergent residue. Some of the mess is visible on shelves and the outside of your washer and dryer, but buildup can also hide inside your appliances and in hard-to-reach places.<\/p> The experts we spoke to agree there are several reasons to establish a regular laundry room cleaning schedule:<\/p> “People think their washing machine is cleaning itself every cycle. It’s not. You still need to wash your washing machine without clothes or items in it.”<\/p>— Ashley Kidder, cleaning expert and CEO<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure> When it comes to cleaning the laundry room, Aparacio says, “I like to work my way [from the top] down, removing any dust or clutter from shelves to help prevent fresh, clean laundry from coming into contact with potential dirt or allergy triggers.” <\/p> You don’t need to deep clean<\/a> the entire room every time you do laundry, but here are the essential tasks that should be part of your weekly or monthly routine. <\/p> “People think their washing machine is cleaning itself every cycle. It’s not. You still need to wash your washing machine without clothes or items in it,” says Kidder. Experts recommend the following:<\/p> Maintaining a dryer is more than just cleaning the lint tray after every load. While keeping the lint trap clean is your biggest defense against fires, says Kidder, there are other tasks to consider to make sure your dryer is clean and running well.<\/p> Shelves can become coated with dust and detergent residue. Liquid detergent can leave sticky spots, while powdered detergent can scatter across shelves and surfaces, says Martinez.<\/p> “The worst offender in the whole room is the [fabric] softener cap in my experience. It seeps into the cabinet, hardens into a film and attracts lint into a mat that must be scraped off,” says Aparacio.<\/p> Aparacio says to pay particular attention to areas around the washer and dryer where lint and spilled products may accumulate. Sweep, vacuum or mop the floor to remove dust and debris.<\/p> If your laundry room has a sink, clean the basin, faucet and wipe up any detergent or other products that have spilled nearby.<\/p> Out of sight should not be out of mind when it comes to cleaning the laundry room. Aparacio says one thing that should not be forgotten is the condenser (turns moisture into vapor during the drying cycle) on the dryer. “Some models can be a bit fiddly to clean, so check your machine’s guide and follow the instructions.” <\/p> Here are other tasks to keep in mind as you go through your regular cleaning routine: <\/p>Key takeaways<\/h3>
Why you need routine laundry room cleanings<\/h2>
Essential laundry room cleaning tasks<\/h2>
Your washing machine needs cleaning too<\/h3>
Don’t stop cleaning at the dryer lint tray<\/h3>
Give your shelves and cupboards some attention<\/h3>
Don’t forget the floor (and sink)<\/h3>
Essential laundry room tasks most people forget about<\/h2>