How to clean a washing machine at home

After several years of use, your washing machine began to work poorly. Things turned gray, not white, washing time doubled. This happens when the drum, heating element and other parts are scaled. Therefore, you need to clean the washing machine at least 1 time in 2 months, and rinse the filters after each wash.

How to clean the washing machine body

Before proceeding with the cleaning of the internal parts, you need to wipe the control panel and the outer walls of the case. For these purposes, a damp cloth or sponge will do. If there is dirt on the machine, then you need to wipe it with a soap solution or mild abrasive products, but not with powder.

After cleaning the case, wipe it dry so that there are no stains left. Then proceed with cleaning the powder container and conditioner. With a soft brush, you can use a toothbrush, you need to go through all the corners where the dried detergent has accumulated and mold will start. Rinse well afterwards.

Now you can start cleaning the manhole cover. On the glass, streaks from powders, scale and dirt residues are very visible. Wipe it with a damp cloth dipped in vinegar. The rubber pad must not be left dirty. It accumulates water, threads, small objects that accidentally hit the machine. If they are not removed, they will begin to rot. It is enough to clean the rubber folds with a damp sponge and then wipe with a dry cloth.

Next you need to check the drum. Scroll it while rubbing it with a damp cloth. If the machine smells bad, you can clean it with vinegar. Pour 50 ml of product directly into the drum, turn on the washing mode 90 degrees and start. When water is typed, press pause and wait 2 hours. Then start the wash again and wait for it to finish.

If the unpleasant odor does not go away, then try cleaning the drum surface and the rubber band with soda. To do this, dissolve a little powder in water until a slurry is obtained, apply it to the surface, wait half an hour and wipe with a damp cloth. The mold fungi that cause the musty odor will die.

How to clean the filter

To do this, find the square compartment below the front of the machine, substitute a low capacity under it and open it. The water remaining after washing will drain out and then a filter can be removed. Gently unscrew it, pull it out and wipe it with a damp, clean cloth. Screw it back.

Most often, this particular part leads to the appearance of an unpleasant odor and damage to the machine. Cleaning the filter takes little time, but can extend the life of the equipment by several years.

What to do if rust appears

Often, rust stains can be found on the details of the washing machine. This indicates the poor quality of the water and the fact that she can not only wash, but also do not wash dishes. Proven methods will help get rid of equipment from such pollution:

1. Be sure to install the filter on the water pipe;
2. start a single wash with the addition of citric acid;
3. in household chemical stores, you can purchase tools that remove rust from metal and plastic surfaces;
4. mix a glass of vinegar with a tablespoon of salt and wipe it with all available places on the machine. Pour the rest of the mixture into a drum, let stand for half an hour, and stretch it idle.

Use these tips with care, as some made cars can be made of thin and brittle materials. And in no case do not rub the places with rust powder, if there are scratches on the surface, bacteria will begin to multiply there.

How to clean the heating element

The second most common problem for all washing machines is scaling on a heating element, that is, a heating device. It appears regardless of the model, country of manufacture and feature-rich features. You can avoid it by putting filters on the water pipes, but over time, it will still accumulate and will have to be cleaned.

Only a specialist can disassemble the machine and remove the heater; therefore, you will have to clean it with descaling agents, including a full wash cycle. If the machine has not been washed for a long time, you will have to do this 2-3 times in a row.

Lemon acid
The most affordable way to clean the machine from scale is with ordinary citric acid. To do this, buy 5 small bags, put one in the laundry compartment, and the rest in the drum. Turn on the machine in cotton mode and a temperature of 80-90 degrees and wait until the idle wash is over. If you look at what kind of water is pouring out of the hose, you will see pieces of lime disconnected from the heating element.

Bleach
If the machine is old and has never been cleaned during operation, it has accumulated a lot of bacteria that are hazardous to health. In this case, it should be cleaned with more aggressive methods. Pour 1 cup of bleach into the drum, and pour as much citric acid into the powder compartment. Turn the machine on 80-90 degrees and start the wash.

The disadvantage of this cleaning method is that the apartment will smell of bleach. Therefore, during the procedure and the next 2 hours, do not close the windows.

Table vinegar
Pour 2 cups of vinegar into the machine and turn it on for continuous washing. When it ends, set the quick mode and start again. Before using this method, consult with specialists, as vinegar can damage some materials.

How to extend the life of the washing machine

Many housewives complain that their washing machines fail after 2-3 years of work. To prevent this from happening to you, regularly clean the equipment of dirt and scale and follow the rules of prevention:

1. Connect a magnetic water softener to the inlet hose. It breaks down salts into ions, and they can no longer harm metal parts.
2. After washing, wipe the drum and rubber cuff with a dry cloth. Leave the door and powder compartment always open.
3. Do not leave wet laundry in the drum, bacteria will quickly get into it.
4. Once every 2 months, clean the equipment from scale using folk or professional means.
5. Do not use an unmarked machine powder, soap, shampoo or shower gel for washing.
6. If you are filling in the air conditioner, then turn on the extra rinse function.
7. If your area has hard tap water, add a softener to each powder for each wash.
8. Try to wash things less 95 degrees.
9. If cold water was turned off in your home before washing, drain it into the sink until it is clean.

Household appliances greatly simplifies the life of modern housewives. But this does not mean that you do not need to look after her. Some washing machines have a self-cleaning mode, but it does not exclude preventive procedures that eliminate scale and accumulated dirt. Watch your equipment and it will last you a very long time.

Video: how to clean the washing machine from scale