Alright, let's talk about this power washer and the washing machine situation. My machine, it wasn't just a bit dirty, you know? It was starting to get that funky smell, and bits of gunk were showing up. Regular cleaning cycles with those fancy tablets? Didn't seem to touch the sides of what was really lurking in there.

So, I had this power washer sitting in the garage. I use it for the driveway, the deck, all that stuff. And a thought popped into my head: why not the washing machine? Seemed logical at the time. Get in there with some real force.

Getting Started: The Haul and Prep

First things first, I had to get the machine outside. That alone was a bit of a struggle, let me tell you. They aren't light, those things. Disconnected all the hoses, which was messy enough. Water everywhere, naturally. Finally got it onto the patio. Then I just stood there for a minute, looking at it, power washer in hand, thinking, "Am I really doing this?"

I figured I'd start with the outside. That was pretty straightforward. Years of dust and who-knows-what got blasted off in seconds. Satisfying, I'll give it that. Made the old workhorse look a bit newer already.

Tackling the Insides: Where the Real Fun Began

Then, the main event: the inside. This is where it got a bit wild.

• The Drum: Pointed the nozzle in there and let it rip. Wow. The amount of gunk that came flying out from behind the drum, through the little holes... It was like a science experiment gone wrong. Or right, depending on how you look at it. Stuff I didn't even know could build up in there.
• The Detergent Dispenser: Pulled that sucker out. It's always a nightmare of caked-on soap and softener. Usually, I'd soak it, scrub it, curse at it. The power washer? Just obliterated all that buildup in about ten seconds. That was pretty cool.
• The Door Seal: This is where I got a bit more careful. You know that big rubber seal? It traps all sorts of lovely things. I used a lower pressure setting, kind of angled the spray to get underneath the folds. You don't want to go too hard and tear it, obviously. Learned that lesson with a different rubber thing once, don't ask.
• The Filter Trap: Oh yeah, opened that little door at the bottom. Usually, it's a few coins and some lint. Power-washed the compartment and the filter itself (gently). Amazing what hides in there too.

Now, the thing is, while the power washer is great at blasting dirt, it's also great at blasting water everywhere. I mean, I was soaked. The patio was soaked. Probably annoyed the dog. You gotta be prepared for a bit of a splash zone. And you have to be smart about not blasting water directly into any electrical bits, even though most of it is reasonably sealed. Common sense, right? Well, sometimes common sense takes a little vacation.

After I was done with the watery assault, the machine looked incredibly clean. Cleaner than I'd ever gotten it by hand, that's for sure. But then came the drying. You can't just plug it back in. I left it outside in the sun for a whole day, door open, dispenser out. Tipped it a bit to let any trapped water drain. Wiped down everything I could reach. You really, really have to make sure it's bone dry before you even think about bringing it back inside and hooking it up.

So, was it a success? Yeah, I'd say so. The machine is definitely fresher. No more mystery gunk. It was a heck of a lot more work than I initially thought, mostly the hauling and the drying. It’s not something I'd do every month, that's for sure. More like a deep, deep clean once in a blue moon when things get dire. It's effective, but it's an operation. You're not just cleaning; you're practically performing a minor machine overhaul on your patio.