Clever Cleaning Tools That Will Keep Your Washer And Dryer In Tip-Top Shape

Your washer and dryer are key appliances in your home. Not only are they considerable investments, but they are also staples in your daily routine. When they aren't working properly, it's a real pain. Plus, whether you've got a leaky washer or a faulty dryer, they can pose serious safety hazards in your home, with dryers being responsible for thousands of house fires each year, according to the National Fire Protection Agency. 

So, while it's easy to take the laundry for granted, not keeping these appliances in tip-top shape could cause you to destroy your washer and dryer without even noticing. If you notice musty odors, accumulated debris in the drums, or excess lint in your appliances, there are some clever appliance-specific tools worth trying, as well as some tried-and-true household items that will keep your washer and dryer spic and span. One example is the almighty Scrub Daddy, which can work wonders to clean caked-on soap scum and grime that can accumulate in laundry appliances. Read on for smart cleaning tools that will make your washer and dryer like new.

Washers can accumulate a surprising amount of soap scum, mold, and mildew as they work to clean laundry. An obvious tool for cleaning the washing machine is the machine itself! Use 2 cups of white vinegar or a washing machine cleaning product with the machine's self-cleaning cycle, or just do a large hot water cycle before moving on to more detailed cleaning. If you're worried about using cleaning products in the washing machine, you can also use the machine's steam function if it has one, or a household steam cleaner to clean and sanitize the inside of your washing machine.

After the initial clean, you'll need a few more tools to give the separate parts of the washer — including the door seal, filter, detergent drawer, and drum — a good scrub. A Scrub Daddy sponge is great for cleaning off stuck-on gunk in and around the machine. If you still notice mold and mildew discoloration or stains, the Sugelary Home Remover Gel on Amazon acts like a heavy-duty stain remover that will leave your washer looking like new.

For front-load washing machines, the door seal is one of the dirtiest parts of the appliance as it traps grime and water in each cycle. If you are struggling with a mildew odor in your front loader that just won't go away, the Magoog Washer Door Prop on Amazon can help. It holds washer doors open with its magnetic ends to allow airflow to fully dry out the drum and door seal between cycles.

Of course, routine dryer vent cleaning prevents lint buildup from becoming a hazard while also helping clothes dry faster, making your home more energy efficient. If you start to notice signs that it's time to clean your dryer vent and you want to take on the job yourself, there are some smart tools to help. One is the Holikme 30 Feet Dryer Vent Cleaner Kit on Amazon, which has an impressively long cable and two brush attachments to work all the way through the vent hose. You can attach it to a drill or manually move the cable around to collect trapped lint. Another smart — and surprising — tool to clean the dryer vent is your leaf blower. Just connect it to your vent hose and let it rip, making sure you capture the lint on the other side so you don't wind up with a huge mess. Take note that using a leaf blower isn't considered a comprehensive cleaning method as the blower only removes loose lint, and it could damage the ducts if it is too strong.

As for the dryer itself, there are a few problem areas that some clever tools can help keep clean. The lint trap and the dryer filter usually have a mesh screen, and a Scrub Daddy will once again come in handy to scrub trapped dust and lint out of the mesh. Lint also accumulates inside the filter and lint trap compartment, and the Holikme 2 Pieces Dryer Vent Cleaner Kit on Amazon can easily clean out those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.