Washing Machine Maintenance Tips That May Surprise You
We all know that our washing machine can be used for so much more than clothes to wash our daily wear like t-shirts, tops, and trousers to heavier clothes like towels, bedsheets, and curtains. It makes our work easy and takes a lot of burden from us. Hence, keeping these machines running smoothly makes sense.
You should regularly do its service so that the washing machine lasts for years to come. If you take proper care of your device, then you can easily make it last longer.
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10 Washing Machine Maintenance Tips
Here are a few maintenance tips for the washing machine that will help you better take care of your unit.
1. Deep Cleaning
We always want our machine to perform best every time and even after few years of its use. However, this is not still the case.
After a certain period and regular use, you will find your washing machine will start losing its efficiency. You will find that your clothes now do not come as clean as they used to go before when the device was new.
You should deep-clean your machine a little more in such a situation. Using a powerful machine cleaner can reduce all the scaling without harming the appliance’s metal and plastic components.
This does not necessarily mean you have to purchase the market’s most expensive machine cleaner, but it is not advisable to buy the cheapest one as well.
2. Clean the Rubber Gasket
This is an integral part of your machine that goes through a lot of wear and tear. The rubber gasket covers the washer-edges and protects your clothes from harm and your hands from any sharp edges.
Each time you open the door, some micro dust particles reach it, be it a front-load or a top load unit. On the edges and sides of the gasket, these dust particles usually accumulate.
The detergent and softener particles also leave residues on the gasket. As this is located outside the tub, the rubber gasket undergoes regular spills, and many do not clean it. So that is why we must clean the rubber gasket regularly.
3. Protect from Spillage
Washing machines accumulate residues when detergent spill over it. This residue will become sticky with time and will start to smell unpleasant, despite your attempts to use the best detergents or softeners on the market.
Wiping this sticky substance with a gentle dishwashing cleaner is the safest way to disinfect it.
4. Leave the Door Open
Immediately after using it, do not shut the door of your washing machine. This is one of the most significant flaws that most individuals make after using it.
We think that if we keep the door open for a long, then dust and debris will go inside through the doors. To some extent, this is valid, but this does not mean you have to close it immediately.
Leaving the door open for 15 to 30 minutes eliminates moisture and prevents the machine from developing molds and bacteria.
This also dries the tub properly and protects delicate parts from moisture-induced damage.
An excellent way to ensure that the inside has no moisture is to clean it off 15-30 minutes after the washing has finished and the residual moisture has dried out using a thick dry towel.
5. Keep Checking the Hoses
It would be best if you keep an eye on the system’s hoses for a smooth flow of water both inward and outward from your machine.
There are three hoses in both the semi-automatic and automatic washing machines, of which two are inlets, and one is an outlet. Ensure the inlets are correctly attached to the source of water and do not have cracks or leaks.
This will also avoid water wastage. Also, from time to time, do not forget to test the outlet or drain hose condition. Lint and micro fabric-particles also build up in the drain filter and block the pipe through it the dirty water goes out.
6. Choose the Right Detergent
Depending on your budget and particular washing requirements, choose the best washing machine detergent. Some individuals tend to use detergents specific to the unit, while others use regular detergents.
The point to note is that the detergent you use must not be too harsh or highly alkaline, as this would damage both the components of the system and your clothing. So, use the best detergent for washing.
7. Make sure the door gasket stays dry.
You should know that the gasket or rubber seal situated around the machine door is prone to mold and deterioration. You should always clean it and make it dry after cleaning your clothes.
You should always do this task regularly so that the gasket remains dry to protect it from premature wear.
8. Leave the Door Open (or Clean It)
Keep the door open after use if you have a top-loaded washer. This gives your washer time to dry out and lose the entire odor from it.
You must remember that washing machines can be a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Many front-loading machines have lights in them, and leaving them open is not convenient.
Make sure you at least wipe down the rubber seal between washes if you cannot keep the doors open so that mold or mildew does not begin to develop.
9. Always Follow Instructions
Many of us never pay attention to the owner manual that comes along with the machine. But it is always good to read out the Washing Machine Owner Manual to follow the instructions given by the manufacturer.
If you do not follow the instructions, then it will minimize the life of your washing machine. For example, if you are using a high-efficiency machine, you have to use a specific type of laundry soap for those machines.
10. Clean the lint filter in your washer
Many homeowners are not aware that there are lint traps on most washing machines. It could be because of a clogged lint trap if you find a lot of fuzz on your clothes. So it is good to clean the lint filter in your washer once a week.