Last Updated on January 21, 2022 by Asif Iqbal Shaik
Washing machines make our lives a lot easier and better because they do all the heavy work in keeping our clothes clean and fresh. However, they also cost a lot of money. And despite how tough and modern washing machines might look, even they have some weak points. Keeping the washing machine well-maintained helps them run properly and efficiently for years to come and saves us from unnecessary repair costs.
Let us have a look at some essential tips to maintain a washing machine.
10 Essential Washing Machine Maintenance Tips
Most of the washing machine maintenance can be done by you right at your home, without the need for costly tools. However, you need to make sure that you keep following these washing machine maintenance tips at regular intervals.
1. Use the Right Detergent
It is important to use the right detergent with your washing machine. The type of detergent you choose usually depends on the type and price of the washing machine, and it is usually the best practice to go with the detergent that’s prescribed by your washing machine’s brand. You can find more details about the suitable detergent in your washing machine’s manual. Whether you use a machine-specific detergent or a regular detergent, it is important to know that it shouldn’t be too harsh or alkaline in nature. Otherwise, it can end up harming the washing machine’s interior parts as well as your clothes.
2. Use the Right Amount of Detergent
It is also important to use just the right amount of detergent while washing your laundry. Too much detergent can lead to higher wear and tear of clothes, while too little can lead to unclean clothes.
3. Don’t Overload the Washing Machine
The number of clothes a washing machine can wash in one go depends on its specifications, and you should overload it with too many clothes or laundry. When you overload a washing machine, it starts shaking dangerously. Since there’s not enough room in the drum in case of overloading, your clothes are not cleaned properly. Overloading puts a lot of pressure on the washing machine and can permanently damage its internal parts in the long run.
4. Don’t Forget Coins & Other Things in Your Pockets
Don’t forget to double-check your clothes before putting them in the washing machine. Sometimes, we tend to forget things such as coins, pins, toothpicks, receipts, money, and even smartphones in our pockets.
If you forget money, receipts, and smartphones in your pocket, you will lose a lot. Things like coins, pins, and toothpicks can bounce against the drum and damage its surface. In some cases, they can even stop the washing machine from working in the middle of a load wash. Forgetting tissues inside your pocket means that you have to deal with an unclean pocket later.
5. Leave the Washing Machine Door Open After Washing
After the washing cycle is complete, it is recommended to keep the door of the washing machine open for 15-30 minutes so that the drum gets to dry and the moisture is removed from the interiors. Keeping the washing machine’s door ajar helps in preventing the build-up of bacteria and moulds. It also prevents the washing machine from smelling foul.
6. Regularly Clean the Lint Filter
The lint collector in a washing machine collects all the lint and dirt that is found on the clothes. It is important that you remove the lint filter and clean it once every few days. Otherwise, it can get clogged, and the lint and dirt are no longer collected inside the lint filter. That leans to unclean clothes even after you wash them in the washing machine.
7. Descale Your Washing Machine
A lot of washing machines face the problem of scaling. In areas where soft water is not available to wash clothes, people are forced to use groundwater from the borewell. Hard water has too much salt content, and that salt ends up forming a thick layer on the washing machine’s drum and other internal parts.
To remove scaling from your washing machine, you have to use the deep cleaning function. You should also use a descaling solution once every few months to remove scaling without damaging the internal components. Alternatively, you can also use a mix of baking soda and white vinegar, add that to warm water in the washing machine, and run an empty load.
8. Clean the Interiors & Exteriors of Washing Machine
Since detergent, hard water, and lint can build up on the insides of the washing machine, it is important to remove them by cleaning the interiors such as the drum, rubber gaskets, and dispensers. The drum can be cleaned using a cleaning agent or a mix of baking soda, white vinegar, and warm water. You can read everything about a washing machine drum here. Make sure to clean the detergent and water fabric softener dispensers as prolonged use of them without cleaning can cause the build-up of bacteria and toxic materials.
Keeping the washing machine clean from the outside is equally important. Detergent and water residue can cause stains to appear on the washing machine. You should clean the washing machine’s exteriors using a glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth so that there are no scratches on the body. You should do this once every week to make your washing machine appear squeaky clean.
9. Keep the Washing Machine Level
If the washing machine is not placed on a flat surface or if its feet are not at the same level, it can vibrate and shake, and that can cause components to become loose or break down in the long run. So, you need to make sure that all the feet of the washing machine are at the same level. You can adjust your washing machine’s feet or call a professional to help you in fixing the problem. You can read more tips about fixing a noisy washing machine here.
10. Check Hoses for Leakage
Every washing machine has three hoses, two for the water inlet and one for the water outlet. You have to check these hoses for leakages or cracks so that the washing machine can take the amount of water it needs and remove all the dirty water after washing the clothes. Lint and dirt can build clog the outlet water hose. If that happens, you should try to unclog them or call a professional to help you out.
After a few years, these hoses can start leaking and cracks can appear on them. If that happens, you need to replace those hoses or ask help from the brand’s certified professional. Otherwise, leaks lead to a lot of water wastage and it can end up harming your washing machine’s body. It is recommended to replace the hoses every 3-5 years, depending on their condition.
Also Read: Washing Machine Buying Guide
If you follow these simple and essential washing machine maintenance tips, your washing machine will keep working efficiently without breaking down for years. That means you don’t end up spending money on costly repairs and save money.
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