If you're like most people, you probably assume that your washing machine is the cleanest appliance in the house. After all, it spends all of its active time agitating away with hot water and soap!

For months, my husband and I couldn’t figure out where the mysterious stains on our clothes were coming from. That was, until I discovered our old washing machine was to blame. By the time we replaced ...

Lindsey Ellefson is Lifehacker’s Features Editor. She currently covers study and productivity hacks, as well as household and digital decluttering, and oversees the freelancers on the sex and ...

Pour vinegar in, run a hot cycle, then sprinkle baking soda and run another—say goodbye to funky smells and gunky residue. Give the drum baffles and rubber seals some love with a toothbrush and soapy ...

Baffled? Here's a hint: This often-overlooked feature is essential for keeping your clothes clean. Ever heard of washing machine baffles? Me neither, but apparently you have to clean them or they’ll ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Damian Lugowski / Getty Images Even if you have your laundry routine down to a science, you might not even know that your washing ...