How to Clean Washing Machines if Leaving Black Streaks on Clothes

Washing machines can accumulate mineral buildup or mold over time. If an object such as a pen or crayon accidentally ends up in the laundry, it can stick to the washer and transfer stains to your clothes. Hot water and laundry detergent are usually not enough to remove tough stains from the inside of your washer. Run a cleaning cycle if your washer has one, or clean the empty washer once a month with bleach or citric acid to remove problematic buildup.

Things You'll Need

• All-purpose cleaner
• Scrub pad
• Chlorine bleach or citric acid

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Open the washing machine and inspect it for any stains. Dampen a scrub pad with an all-purpose cleaner and remove as much of the residue as possible.

   • 2

     Set the washing machine to fill with hot water.

   • 3

     Add 1 cup of chlorine bleach or 1/2 cup of citric acid directly to the inside of the washing machine.

   • 4

     Run the washing machine on a normal setting.