8 Tips To Maintain A Washing Machine

8 Tips To Maintain A Washing Machine Washing machines do a lot of hard work, and over time it may start looking dull and collect dirt and grime. If it is not properly maintained, it might also break down, causing costly repairs. Here are some tips to maintain your ​Washing Machine​.

Before you use your washing machine: ● Make sure the pipes are fitted perfectly without any blisters to avoid water dripping. ● Use a carpenter’s level to make sure that your washing machine is leveled; it is important that the machine is level so that it does not tilt or become off-balanced.

The importance of cleaning your washing machine regularly: The exterior of the washing machine should always be kept clean. You can wipe it with a damp cloth. Also, ensure that there are no scratches that can damage the surface. Keeping the tub clean is also equally important in this way, you can avoid odors and remove any residue from the detergent. It is a good idea to try to clean the tub every one to three months depending on how frequently you use your machine. Here’s a simple way to clean the tub, fill the tub with water, and then add 3 cups of white distilled vinegar and ½ cup of baking soda. When the water starts draining, allow it to spin. Once the cycle ends, set the washing machine to cold and run another cycle while the machine is empty. It’s also important to clean any other parts of your washing machine. You can soak removable dispensers in hot water and clean the dirt and soap residue that collects there. If you can’t remove a dispenser, pour hot water in it or wipe it with a damp cloth until it is clean.

Some of the tips to maintain your washing machine are: 1. Inspect the hoses

Check hoses regularly for bulging, cracking, fraying, and leaks around the ends.

Replace the hose if a problem is found for every three to five years 2. Do not overload it Too many clothes in one go is not a good idea. Overloading puts pressure on the motor and results in overheating. Also, a packed load will result in poor or no spinning at all. But if you still wish to wash heavy load, set the machine at heavy load wash option. This would use large amounts of water and clothes will come out clean and spotless. Heavy loads require more water and also puts pressure on machine motor.

3. Use the right detergent Read the ​appliance instruction manual to make sure you use the correct type and amount of detergent for your machine. Too much soap can leave residue on your clothes and cause excess wear and tear on your washer, and high-efficiency washers require a special, low-sudsing detergent.

4. Use the right amount of detergent People usually think that more detergent is needed to get spotless clothes. It is a very common habit to use more detergent to wash clothes. We load the machine with dirty and greasy clothes and add heaps of detergent and hope that at the end we will get stain-free clothes. But it's not true. Always wash clothes in small loads with less detergent. Use of excess detergent will not only damage the clothes, but also the water pipes and motor of the washing machine.

5. Clean the interior and dispensers Your machine can clean your clothes but unfortunately, it cannot clean itself. So you have to take care of it. If your machine has a removable lint filter, detach it and remove the accumulated lint from your clothes and attach it back. Lint clogs the water pipes and also results in improper washing of clothes. If your clothes look old and have a layer of fluff on them, then please check the filter of your washing machine.

Remove the detergent build-up, grease (due to washing greasy clothes), and dirt from the tub, dispenser, and water pipes. Just run the machine with water and 2 cups of lime juice or white vinegar on hottest wash but without clothes. Doing this once in 3 months would clean the interior of machine and outlet pipe from grease, hard water residue, and other dirt build-up.

6. Leave the door slightly open after a load Ever notice a smell when you open your washer to start a load? This can help with that. Keep the door slightly open after loading the clothes and then start the wash by closing the door.

7. Transfer clean Laundry to the dryer as soon as it's done Letting wet clothes languish in the washer can trigger mold and mildew. It damages the drum and gasket.

8. Clean your detergent drawer Unlike liquid laundry detergent, powder is dispensed from your washing machine’s drawer. Water is pumped into the drawer, before pulling the detergent out into the drum during the wash. If it builds up too much, it can clog up your machine, causing your detergent to not dispense properly, leaving your clothes unwashed.

Having a service person do a maintenance check can help maintain the life of your washing machine. You can do it yourself instead, but in case you’re not sure about it, it’s best to call a service person that you trust who can help. Make sure that you take care of all the parts of your washing machine. It is a good idea to replace the hoses and fittings every three years, even if you don’t see any problems.