What to do with your washing machine every month: it will last for many years

Hard water, small particles from the laundry and organic dirt such as mould and bacteria are not conducive to clean internal parts of the washing machine. If they accumulate, they can even cause the appliance to malfunction. Therefore, the appliance needs regular maintenance, which can significantly extend its service life. But you need to know how to clean the washing machine properly and how often to do it.

OBOZREVATEL has collected all the key tips for home maintenance of the washing machine. Repeat these procedures once a month or several months, and it will last you much longer. You most likely already have the means to care for the appliance at home.

Cleaning the filter

Every washing machine is equipped with a filter that collects solid particles that end up in the water during operation. These can be fabric fibres, animal hair, hair, small items from pockets, sand, etc. Over time, it becomes clogged with such dirt and this leads to a deterioration in the quality of the machine. It may take longer than the programme time, spin out clothes more poorly, vibrate strongly or take a long time to unlock the door after the cycle is complete.

To clean the filter, remove the panel behind the filter cover. It is usually located at the bottom of the appliance. For machines with a vertical load, it is located in the drum. You can find out more from the instructions for your model. Before unscrewing the lid, place a thick cloth under it or place a bowl under it. There is always a small amount of water in the filter that needs to be collected. Unscrew the lid slightly, wait until all the water has drained out and twist the filter completely. Clean it from dirt, rinse it thoroughly under running water and screw it back on. Then replace the hob again.

Descaling the heater and drum

The tubular electric heater (TEG) and the washing machine drum are affected by the salts in the tap water. It settles on them in the form of scale. And the harder the water, the faster it accumulates. It is difficult to detect the presence of limescale, as it accumulates on internal parts.

The machine should be descaled regularly and often enough to prevent the formation of a thick layer. Because it can be dealt with when its amount is small. If there is a lot of it, the contamination should be removed mechanically, which requires disassembling the appliance.

Acidic products work well with salts contained in water. Therefore, you will need food-grade citric acid to clean the machine. Also take any chlorine bleach. It will, in particular, disinfect the internal parts.

Pour the acid into the detergent compartment. You will need about 2-3 tablespoons of the product. The bleach is then poured into the drum. For one cleaning, you need to take 100-200 ml of liquid. After that, you need to start a long wash cycle with an additional rinse, while selecting a high temperature. There should be no clothes in the machine - acid and bleach can permanently damage them. This rinse should be carried out about once every 3-4 months.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told how to wash the washing machine from the inside with just one detergent.

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