The washing machine is one of the most helpful and reliable appliances at home. It helps you accomplish the most tedious and daunting household tasks.
As it makes our life easier, it deserves to last for years. However, it can only provide excellent performance for years if it is well-maintained.
Do you want to use and maintain the full washing capability of your washer? Follow this guide on how you should properly maintain your washer– protect and maintain it at all costs.
If you are hired a maid service to do the laundry, do not forget to inform them how to care for your washing machine properly.
Protect Washing Machine
“Prevention is better than cure,” that’s what experts say, and it applies to how you use your washing machine. Aside from adequately maintaining your washing machine, do these laundry practices to protect your washer.
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Use the Right Water Temperature During the Laundry Cycle.
Always use the right temperature on each laundry cycle. Do not set it on extreme temperatures. It will damage the fabric of your clothes and the washer. Check the recommended water temperature of the fabric and follow it.
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Choose a Safe Detergent and Use It in Lesser Amounts.
Detergents with harsh chemicals or contain heavy alkaline content will damage the machine parts and your clothes.
Moreover, if you do not use the high-efficiency detergent, the regular detergent will make the laundry too sudsy.
It will affect the wash and rinse performance of the washer. Over time, it will lead to mechanical problems, and it will also lead to foul odors.
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Load Enough Laundry Weight.
If you have a large family, it is best to buy a household washer and dryer to accommodate your large laundry loads.
However, even if your machine has a powerful motor and higher capacity, do not overstuff it with your clothes.
Follow its weight capacity to allow the machine to rotate correctly. If you load more than its recommended laundry weight, the circular movement will damage the machine’s drum and motor.
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After Use, Leave the Washer’s Door Open for a Few Minutes.
Do you immediately shut your washing machine’s door after use? It is one of the biggest mistakes when using a washer. Closing the door will not prevent dirt and dust from building up inside.
Although it is possible, you do not have to close the door immediately.
It is best to leave your washer’s door open for a few minutes to let the insides dry. Allow the moisture to evaporate to prevent bacteria and mold buildup.
If you close the door immediately, aside from mold buildups, the moisture might damage some of the parts of your machine. A good 30 minutes is enough to dry up the insides of your washing machine.
How to Maintain Washer
Always follow the safety practices in using your washer and regularly maintain or clean it to maintain its pristine condition.
Spending time cleaning and maintaining your washer is better than spending hefty amounts on repair or buying another washer.
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Deep Clean Washer.
Washing machine owners expect their machines to give their 100% efficiency when washing and rinsing a load. However, that’s not true on some occasions.
Over time, your washer will experience problems and lose its efficiency. You will notice that on your clothes, there will be a noticeable difference in their cleaning performance.
That’s due to scaling, and it is caused by micro-residuals present in hard water.
In this case, you need to deep clean your washer. Look for a robust machine cleaner to effectively remove all scaling without damaging any machine’s delicate parts.
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Take Time to Clean the Rubber Gasket.
In this step, you will realize how your machine’s rubber gasket receives all the wear and tear. The rubber gasket protects your clothes and hands from the sharp edges.
Moreover, it is typical for residues and dust particles to accumulate on the gasket.
You might disregard the rubber gasket but if you want your washer to last long, clean the rubber gasket once a week with a damp cloth.
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Regularly Check the Hose.
You regularly check the hose to ensure the inward and outward flow of water to and from your machine has no problems.
Ensure that the hose connected to the water hose has no leaks or cracks to properly provide an adequate amount of water to the machine and prevent water waste.
Give attention to the drain hose as much as you care about the inlet hose. It filters lint and micro-fabric particles resulting in buildups in the filter blocking the pipes.
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Clean the Filter and Detergent Dispenser.
You can find the filter in the tub of your washer. It filters lint and other particles during the laundry cycle. You need to diligently clean the filter to avoid damaging the agitator of your machine.
Moreover, you will have a poor washing quality as the filtered debris will remain in the water.
Aside from the filter, you have to clean the detergent dispenser. New washing machine models have fabric softener and detergent dispensers attached.
If you do not clean the dispensers, it will buildup molds and a possible breeding ground of bacteria. Do not let it contaminate your washer and affect its cleaning quality.
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Lastly, Protect Your Washing Machine’s Finish.
Your washing machine is probably old and needs a quick touch on its finish. Do not let your machine looked unloved. Clean the top or outside portion of your machine.
Use a glass cleaner to maintain the machine’s finish. It will make it look shiny and new. If you do not use your washer, cover it with a cloth. Do not place things on top of it to prevent dents and scratches.
If you are wondering, how you care for and maintain your washing machine is the same– whether you intend to do it for your household washer or your commercial laundry washing machine.
Always give care and attention to your appliances. They are your best friend in this daunting household chore.
