Washing Machine Maintenance
Washing machines play a crucial role in our daily life and make our lives easier. We don’t need to wash clothes by hand for long hours. But, like every appliance, washing machines also need maintenance. Otherwise, they will cause various problems for us.
If you want a longer lifespan and active working of your washer, you must follow the maintenance guidelines given below:
- Clean the washer regularly with a commercial cleaner or detergent.
- Make sure to dry the washer for 10-15 minutes after every use
- Wash all the removable compartments properly.
- Clean the rubber gasket to prevent any mold and mildew growth.
- Regularly check and clean the drain hoses.
- Handle your washer with care, and do not overload.
- Clean the lint filter to remove all the stuck coins, pins, and wires.
The article provides all the necessary information about maintaining a washing machine. Moreover, You can also clean your front load and top load washers with the instructions. So, let’s discuss this in detail.
Tips for maintaining a washing machine
The washing machine’s maintenance is essential for the proper working and the long life of a washer. Maintaining a washer is not a difficult task. You can clean your washer at home without any extra effort.
A few of the mandatory steps that you must need to follow are given below:
- Deep clean the washer with a commercial cleaner.
If you clean your washer after every 2-4 weeks, it will work more efficiently. You can use a commercial cleaner or the right detergent for cleaning purposes.
You can run an empty wash cycle by adding detergent or cleaner in hot water. After completion of the cycle, run another rinse cycle to remove all the detergents’ residues.
Hard water leaves its micro-residues in the washer. These residues will combine with your clothes and leaves them dirty. So, deep clean your washer to remove all the residues completely.
Washing machines also need proper cleaning from the outside.You can use a wet cloth to wipe the dirt and detergent spillage from outside.
After thoroughly cleaning and drying the washing machine, you can cover it with a washer.
- Make sure to dry the washer after every use.
After washing clothes, keep the washer’s door open for 10-15 minutes to completely dry. Air drying will prevent the growth of mold and bacteria inside the machine.
The moisture inside the washer promotes the growth of bacteria, germs, and mold. So, dry your washer in direct sunlight or wipe with a cloth.
Do not leave the washer’s door open for hours, as it will catch dirt and bacteria from outside.
- Wash the removable compartments thoroughly.
Modern washing machines have a separate detergent dispenser and fabric softener compartment. These parts also need proper cleaning.
The detergent accumulates in the crevices of the box and often gives a musty smell. So, remove the detergent box and soak it in a tub for a few minutes. Wash and dry the box properly. Again attach it to the washer.
Repeat the washing procedure for the fabric softener box and place it in the washing machine.
- Clean the rubber gasket to prevent mold growth
The front-load machines have a door seal and are more prone to mold and mildew. The rubber seal catches moisture and dirt, which produces mold spores.
The rubber gasket, if left uncleaned, gives a terrible smell to the washing machine and clothes. So, always clean the rubber seal of your washer properly.
- Regularly check and clean the drain hoses.
Drain hoses are responsible for proper drainage. Any fault in the drain hoses might cause problems in your laundry machine.
You must check the drain hoses for any leakage or issues with hot and cold water hoses. Upon noticing any fault, replace the drain hose with a professional plumber.
Keep the washing machine on a plain surface otherwise. It will lose balance. Also, keep the washer at a distance of 4-inches from the wall to eliminate the chance of breakage of the drain hoses.
- Handle your washer with care and do not overload.
While washing clothes, handle your washing machine carefully. Always use the right detergent, which is recommended for washing clothes.
Do not use too much detergents as they can cause harm to the plastics of the washer. Add detergent according to the soil level of the washer.
Furthermore, do not overload the washing machine. Use the manual to check the washer capacity of clothes in one wash cycle.
Overloading will result in the washing machine shaking and moving from one place to another. You must be thinking how heavy a washer is, but still, it can move. Overloading causes shaky movements.
Do not leave the water and clothes in the washer unattended for long hours. After completing the cycle, immediately remove the clothes and water from the washer.
- Wash & Clean the lint filter.
Washing machines contain a lint filter to trap the lint, coins, pins, and other things you often forget in your pockets.
But, once the lint trap becomes filled with all these things, it does not catch other items. So, after every wash, remove the lint filter and wash it with hot water. Place it again in the washing machine.
If your washing machine is too old and needs lots of repairs, then you must purchase a new and modern washing machine. To easily decide which one to buy at a reasonable price, learn here: are lg and samsung washers better?
Top-load washing machine maintenance
A top loading washer needs maintenance to work smoothly. These are different from the front-load washer and do not have a detergent box. Follow the given steps for a top load machine:
- Deep clean your top loader every 2-4 weeks by running an empty wash cycle in hot water and detergents.
- Do not let the soap scum get accumulate inside the washing machine.
- Always air dry your washer after every use.
- Clean the drain hoses and filters regularly.
- You can use a cleaner, dishwasher, or DIY method to clean the laundry machine.
Front-load washing machine maintenance
The front loaders are different from the top loaders in structure and function. These washers contain a rubber door seal, detergent, and fabric dispenser. So, they need more care for longer life spans and work.
A few steps you must follow for maintaining your front load washing machine are below:
- Regularly clean your washing machine with an empty wash cycle at high temperatures to kill the drum’s bacteria, germs, and foul odor.
- Clean the rubber gasket thoroughly to eliminate mold and mildew growth.
- Wash the fabric softener and detergent dispenser to remove the accumulated materials.
- Clean the filters and drain pipes to remove anything stuck inside them.
Washing Machine Maintenance DIY
Apart from the commercial cleaners and dishwashers, you can apply your DIY tips to maintain your washer. A few of the DIY for maintaining a washing machine are discussed below:
- White vinegar and baking soda
Add hot water and a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to the washer for deep cleaning. Run an empty wash cycle.
After completing the wash cycle, run another rinse cycle to remove the baking soda and vinegar residuals completely.
- Add bleach for deep cleaning.
Bleach is one the best cleaner to kill bacteria, germs, and smell from the washer. All you have to do is fill water in the washer, add 2-3 tablespoons of bleach, and run a wash cycle at high temperatures.
Rinse appropriately in another cycle to remove the bleach smell and residues. You can mix water and bleach and add them to a spray bottle.
Later. Spray it on the rubber gasket of the front load washer. Let it rest for a few minutes, and wipe the mold spores and mildew with a damp cloth.
- Lemon and vinegar
Lemon is the best cleaning agent and is readily available at home. You can mix lemon and vinegar. Then add this mixture to the washer and run a cycle to remove the smell from the washing machine.
You can apply the DIY to the washing machine with a direct drive and other top & front load machines. But never use any harsh chemicals to clean the washer.
Washing machine maintenance FAQs
Do washing machines need maintenance?
Yes, washing machines need maintenance for efficient working and a longer lifespan. If you do not maintain your washer, you might face various problems in your laundry, like the smell, Scaling, and improper drainage system.
How often should a washing machine be serviced?
A washing machine must be serviced twice a month. Otherwise, mold production, soap scum, poor drainage, and foul smells can occur with many other washer malfunctions.
Final Verdict
Like other home appliances, washing machines also need maintenance for proper functioning. A washer must be cleaned or serviced every 2-4 weeks. The above article gave you an idea about the maintenance and efficient working of a washing machine. Thanks for reading our Washing machine maintenance article.