The washing machine makes our daily lives easier by performing one of the most difficult jobs – washing clothes.
This invention is a major advancement in the world. Thanks to it, we save a great deal of precious time.
In order for this wonderful invention to bring us joy for a long time, it needs to be looked after.
The need for washing machine maintenance
Why is washing machine maintenance necessary?
This measure is aimed at preventing breakdowns of the machine and increasing its service life.
Preventive measures can be divided into:
- chemical;
- mechanical;
- physical.
There are many reasons for the breakdown of the machine, starting due to natural wear and tear of components and manufacturing defects.
During operation, the washing machine is affected by a huge number of factors:
- power surges;
- water quality;
- assembly;
- user errors;
- quality of parts.
To prevent premature wear and tear and malfunctions of your washing machine, you just need to spend a little more time on its maintenance and perform regular preventative maintenance.
The ideal option would be to disassemble the washing machine once every three years to diagnose the pipes, pump, motor, and other important components.
You can do this yourself if you have experience and knowledge, or you can use the services of a professional.
Preventive maintenance of the washing machine
Physical care
This implies the use of water filters either into the hose itself or into the water supply system.
There are magnetic softeners, which filter calcium and magnesium by breaking them down into ions.
And there is mechanical filters with cartridge, which collects sand, rust and dirt.
The water in our taps contains many minerals, including iron. Everyone knows that drinking such water is dangerous to your health, but it can also damage household appliances.
Thanks to it, the internal parts of the machine - pipes, drum, hose, pump - remain free of moisture. sediment, which leads to equipment failure. Over the years, scale can accumulate by the kilogram, and if left untreated, the outcome will be dire.
For example, a heating element loses its thermal conductivity and can no longer heat water to the required temperature. This will lead to the element burning out. Inlet valve Due to dirty water it also wears out quickly.
How to perform preventative maintenance on your washing machine to prevent this from happening it needs to be softened or with special means, or by installing a water filter.
What other measures should be taken when washing clothes?
Checking the loaded laundry on presence of foreign objects - small items, buttons, seeds, keys, toothpicks, etc.- The load on the drum must not exceed the recommended volume. loaded laundry.
- If you frequently use the 95 degree temperature mode, the machine will break down faster.
Using laundry bagsFor example, shoes must be loaded into the drum in a bag. The same applies to items with metal locks, buckles, and sharp objects.- The washing process must be carried out under the control of the user.so that in case of breakdown, leaks or extraneous sounds, take action.
- After finishing washing, The detergent tray must be maintained. It is enough to simply wipe it with a cloth.
- The door of the machine must remain open after unloading the laundry. for the purpose of drying.
Regular maintenance (at least once a month) of the washing machine filter and removing excess water will extend its life. To clean it, unplug the machine, open the small door at the bottom, and unscrew it. filterNext, it is washed under running water, any debris is removed, and it is put back in place.
The machine cuff requires constant care. When using detergents under rubber A jelly-like substance forms, which begins to rot over time. Wipe the seal with a rag, including the grooves. Do not use solvents or chemicals, as this may damage the seal.
Dry cleaning
We have already said that a complete mechanical cleaning is advisable once every 3 years, and a chemical cleaning is advisable once every 6 months.
It consists in the fact that it is acquired special cleaning agent for washing machines, which is poured into the powder dispenser and launched into the wash cycle without laundry on the longest cycle at the highest temperature.
Typically, such products contain acidic substances that remove scale from internal elements. The most popular of them are:
- Calgon softens hard water, but doesn't clean or remove scale.
- "Limescale Free." Removes limescale and prevents it from forming.
- Tyrone. A Calgon analogue, but more affordable.
- "Doctor Ten." Eliminates limescale.
Effective Washing machine maintenance with citric acidIt is poured into the powder compartment and the washing process starts at 90 degrees.
Sometimes citric acid is used in combination with bleach, but with this option it is necessary to thoroughly ventilate and rinse the machine due to the smell.
Another folk remedy is acetic acidTake up to 100 ml of this liquid and pour it into the detergent compartment. Run the machine on the longest cycle with a temperature of at least 60 degrees.
You can pause the wash cycle for 1 hour mid-cycle for more effective cleaning. Vinegar is considered a very effective preventative measure for washing machines.
Chemical maintenance, unlike mechanical maintenance, is far less labor-intensive. Its downside is that overuse of chemicals can damage the rubber parts of the washing machine.
Mechanical cleaning
This type of preventive work is more labor-intensive. To implement it you will need:
remove the cover from the top of the machine, from the back and, if present, the tray;- clean the machine's hose;
- clean the pump;
- check and flush the pipe from powder receiver to the tank, and also from the filling valve to the powder receptacle;
- clean the trash filter;
- deal with the drain and inlet hoses.
The main rule for mechanical cleaning and maintenance of a washing machine is: when removing and cleaning one part, do not forget to put it back in place and screw it securely.
The user can independently determine the scope of preventive maintenance for their washing machine depending on the frequency of use, volume of wash, and water quality.
