The washing machine is a useful household invention that can be found in every home. It allows you to significantly save time and effort on washing. However, many people forget that this device needs regular cleaning. If you neglect this, the laundry will acquire an unpleasant odor, it will begin to wash worse. How to clean a washing machine? The answer to this question is contained in the article.
How to clean the outside of the washing machine?
Where to start? First of all, you should figure out how to clean the outside of the washing machine? Smudges of powder and other detergents make these appliances look untidy, so you need to get rid of them regularly.
Before starting work, it is important to take care of your own safety. Be sure to unplug the machine. In the process of washing the case, it is necessary to carefully wring out the rag. If adisregard this advice, water may penetrate the internal parts, creating the possibility of a short circuit.
How to clean the outside of the washing machine? If cleaning is carried out regularly and efficiently, it is enough to treat the surface with a clean, damp cloth. To combat old pollution, you can prepare a soap solution.
Powder Compartment
How to clean the inside of a washing machine? It’s worth starting with the powder department, which many people forget about during cleaning. And in vain, because it is there that unpleasant odors and mold form due to stagnant water. Water passes through this section during washing, and with it the dirt that falls directly on the clothes and linen in the drum. Ideally, you should empty the powder drawer every five washes.
The tray should be removed from the machine, rinsed thoroughly with a brush or sponge. You should not leave without attention the place for the rinse aid, where a white coating can form. To eliminate it quickly and easily, bath cleaners will help.
Filters
How to clean the inside of a washing machine? This device traditionally has two filters. The drain filter traps debris that enters the tank along with clothes and linen (fabric fibers, threads, and so on). The coarse filter is used to get water from the water supply into the machine.
Urgent cleaning may be required in case of blockage. Of course, you can always turn to the master, but first you should try to cope with thistask on its own. Before starting work, it is important not to forget to turn off the water.
Coarse filter
How to clean the filter in the washing machine?
- The filter is easy to detect in the hose, which is located on the machine itself.
- At the end of the hose you can see a mesh that traps debris coming from the water supply. You should get this mesh, carefully clean it with cotton swabs.
- If the filter is very clogged, you will have to disconnect the entire hose, and then connect it to the pipe with the reverse side. Next, you need to direct the other end into a basin or bucket, turn on the water with the maximum allowable pressure. The flow of water will rid the filter of all debris.
Drain filter
What to do with the drain filter? The procedure is described below.
- In most cases, this element is at the bottom. It is necessary to open the lid, under which the pipe is located. Round piece with handle and drain filter.
- Next, direct the drain hose into a basin or bucket, remove the plug and get rid of the water.
- Then the drain filter is carefully unscrewed, thoroughly cleaned with cotton swabs.
Drum
How to clean the washing machine correctly? After the filters, you should start cleaning the drum, which consists of a tank and sealing gum. First you need to get rid of the accumulated debris, then carefully remove the remnants of cleaning products from under the gum. This is easy to do with a dry cloth. It should not be forgotten that small particles can get stuck under the rubber band.items that have fallen out of things, for example, buttons, coins. All this poses a significant threat to the safety of the machine.
Dirt and mold may contain the tank itself. To clean it, you can use the products discussed below.
Citric acid
There is a tool that is very popular among the people. Of course, we are talking about citric acid. How to clean a washing machine with it? The instructions below will help to cope with this task.
- To clean household appliances, add about 200 g of citric acid to the powder tray.
- Then you need to start washing at a temperature of 60 degrees. Of course, clothes and linen should not be placed in the drum.
- When the machine is finished, you need to turn on the rinse mode.
Citric acid is a tool that is effective not only in the fight against pollution. It also makes it easy to get rid of bad odors. However, this product should not be used more than three or four times a year. If used too often, it will endanger the rubber elements.
Soda
How to clean the washing machine from dirt? To do this, you can use ordinary baking soda, which can be found in every home. You need to follow the instructions below:
- Soda must be mixed in equal proportions with water. This producthas abrasive properties, therefore, can pose a threat to the surface of the drum. It is important to make sure that the soda is completely dissolved in the liquid.
- Next, you need to moisten a sponge or rag in the prepared solution, carefully process the internal surfaces of the device. Increased attention should be paid to the sealing gum.
- Then the soda must be washed off with warm water, the cleaned surfaces should be blotted with a dry cloth.
With the help of soda, it is easy to get rid of not only pollution. This product is also a reliable prophylactic against the appearance of fungus. Ideally, this procedure should be carried out at least once a week.
How to get rid of scale?
The above describes how to clean the washing machine from dirt. However, we must not forget about the need to deal with scale, which eventually forms in each appliance due to hard water. Scale can cause leakage or breakage. It is necessary to clean the washing machine from it about three to four times a year. Vinegar or whiteness will help to cope with scale.
Descaling with Vinegar
Pour two cups of 9% vinegar essence into the drum. Then you need to set the longest washing mode and maximum temperature, start the machine. Clothes and linen cannot be added.
After a few minutes after the start of washing, you should pause the appliance and wait about half an hour. This will allow the vinegar to actively fight scale. Then the washing machine starts up again, works to the end.
Descaling with "Whiteness"
"Whiteness" is also effective when you need to get rid of scale.
- Approximately 200 ml should be poured into the drum.
- Next, you need to select a long mode and a high temperature, start the device without clothes and underwear.
- After the process is completed, you need to select the rinse mode. Thanks to this, you can easily get rid of the smell of bleach.
Prevention of scale formation
Dealing with scale is easy, but it's even easier to prevent it from forming. What to do so that the washing machine does not suddenly fail? Here are some helpful tips:
- Wash only with water softeners. It can be either ordinary citric acid or a purchased product. For example, the Calgon product is now very popular.
- Installing filters that soften the water can also help. Before purchasing such a device, it will be useful to take water from the house for analysis. The result will help you choose the optimal device. Filters are worth the money, as they effectively protect appliances that are constantly in contact with water.
- It is known that scale appears under the influence of hot water. Therefore, it is best to give preference to low temperatures when washing, this will significantly extend the life of the automatic machine. Clothes and linen can be washed in cold or lukewarm water. Some things meanneed for hot water. In this case, wash clothes or linen first.
Mold
How to clean the washing machine from mold? Most often, it is formed in the drain hose, behind the rubber seal, in the detergent compartment. All these elements must be removed and treated with a brush dipped in soapy water.
There is an effective way to remove mold:
- Pour approximately 1 liter of bleach into the powder tray.
- Then you need to start the wash without clothes and linen, setting the maximum temperature.
- The machine can be turned off after 10 minutes, after which you should wait one to two hours.
- Next, approximately 200 ml of 9% acetic acid is poured into the conditioner compartment.
- Washing starts again, then rinse should be used.
Bad smell
Unpleasant odor is a common problem that all owners of washing machines face sooner or later. It occurs when detergent deposits settle on the walls of the drum.
Unwanted odor is easy enough to get rid of. It is only necessary to pour washing powder into the machine, turn on the unit, choosing the maximum available washing temperature. It is not recommended to put clothes and linen in the drum.
When washing is completed, dry the rubber seal and drum with a rag. After the procedure, the door of the washing machine shouldstay open for a while.
This is important
Whichever way you choose, there is an important rule that must not be broken. Do not combine cleaning the washing machine with washing things. There is a high chance of damaging clothes and linen.
