Any washing machine needs periodic cleaning. Dirt, Mold and microorganisms inevitably accumulate inside the equipment over time and turn it into a breeding ground for bacteria. We will tell you how to properly clean an automatic machine at home.
A washing machine is an indispensable assistant in everyday life, but like any other equipment, it requires timely maintenance and cleaning. Regular cleaning of the washing machine will help maintain its functionality for many years.
When to clean your washing machine
It is usually easy to understand that your equipment needs cleaning. An unpleasant smell, increased consumption of detergents, and even knocking noises during operation can clearly indicate this. But even if your machine is technically in order, this does not mean that it does not need cleaning.
We recommend cleaning the internal elements of the washing machine at least once every 3-4 months. Such preventive measures will help to significantly extend the service life of the equipment and protect you from other possible problems, such as scale deposits on the heating element or clogging of the drain filter.
Here are just a few of the signs that indicate it's time to clean your car.
1. There is a smell coming from the car or clothes
The smell from the washing machine clearly indicates that it is time for preventive maintenance. The unpleasant aroma may come from accumulated scale, limescale and powder residue in the tray. In addition, the smell may come from a clogged drain filter or a blockage in the sewer.
2. Mold and dirt on the rubber seal
After washing, water often remains in the rubber seal that protects the appliance from leaks. Hair, fabric lint and other small debris, such as buttons, often get there. If the seal is left unattended for a long time, all this can cause mold and mildew to form, and as a result, an unpleasant smell from the clothes.
3. The consumption of washing powder increases
A noticeable increase in the washing process time, water, washing powder and electricity consumption also indicates that the internal parts of the machine, such as the heating element and drum, need to be cleaned.
4. The machine does not drain water
If the machine suddenly stops draining water or does not drain it completely, this symptom may also indicate that the drain filter needs to be cleaned.
What you can and cannot clean your washing machine with
The washing machine is not the easiest object to clean. Wiping it with a damp cloth is often not enough. However, there are many products that will help to cope with even heavy dirt. Among them are both specialized and folk remedies that can be found in almost every home.
1. Citric acid
Due to its ability to dissolve calcified deposits, citric acid is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to clean scale from the internal elements of the washing machine. With its help, you can do regular preventive cleaning of the heating element and the drum of the washing machine.
2. Vinegar
Vinegar is another great way to combat scale and possible dirt in your washing machine. Acetic acid dissolves any inorganic compounds well, so along with citric acid, it is a good helper in everyday life.
3. Soda
An equally effective folk remedy for cleaning a washing machine from scale and Odor is soda. When interacting with water, soda disintegrates into carbonic acid molecules, which in turn converts scale into soluble hydrocarbonates.
4. Specialized cleaners
There are also specially developed cleaners in the form of capsules, effervescent tablets, gels and powders. The mode of action of such products is more or less the same: usually it is enough to pour the product into the tray and run a short wash cycle without laundry at a temperature of 60°C.
Step-by-step instructions for cleaning the drain filter in your washing machine
The drain filter, which is usually located at the bottom of the machine behind a plastic cover, is the dirtiest place in the machine. It is designed to catch large objects, fibers, and other contaminants that may fall into the drain system during washing.
Failure to keep this element clean can result in the washing machine not functioning properly and can also clog the sewer system.
Cleaning the drain filter in your washing machine should be done about once a month, but the frequency will depend on how much you use the appliance. Here's how to do it:
- Place a dry cloth or towel on the floor.
- Remove the plastic cover behind which the filter is located by pressing its latches. If the height allows, place a suitable container under the filter, as a small amount of water will flow out of the machine when it is unscrewed.
- Carefully begin to unscrew the filter plug until water stops flowing out of the machine.
- After unscrewing the filter completely, remove it from the compartment.
- Clean the filter from accumulated debris and rinse it under running water.
- If necessary, clean the compartment where the filter was installed.
- Install the filter in reverse order.
How to get rid of the smell from your washing machine
You can quickly get rid of the smell of your washing machine using regular vinegar. Vinegar is excellent at removing deposits and plaque, and is also an excellent disinfectant.
Step by step instructions
- Add two tablespoons of vinegar to the tray and run a wash cycle without laundry at maximum temperature.
- When the machine drum is filled with water, stop the washing process by pressing pause.
- Wait 30-40 minutes to let the vinegar do its job and then restart the wash cycle.
Vinegar acts as an antibacterial agent and will eliminate excess odors in the drum. It is recommended to use this method no more than once every four months.
How to clean the drum in a washing machine
For cleaning the drum of a washing machine, both specialized cleaning agents and folk methods, such as citric acid, are equally suitable.
- Pour citric acid into the drum at a rate of 20 grams per kilogram of load.
- Set the rinse mode and temperature to 65-70 degrees.
- After 10-15 minutes from the start of the cycle, when the drum is filled with water, stop the machine by pressing the “Pause” button and wait 20 minutes: during this time, citric acid will destroy all deposits.
- Resume the rinsing process by pressing the Start button.
- At the end of the cycle, run the rinse cycle again, but without citric acid, to wash out all the remaining product.
How to clean rubber in a washing machine
The rubber seal in the washing machine plays an important role in ensuring tightness. Due to constant contact with moisture, pathogenic microorganisms can accumulate under it, which over time lead to the formation of plaque, Mold and unpleasant Odor.
A solution of water and dishwashing liquid, at a ratio of 10:1, will help to quickly clean the cuff at home. Just wet a cloth or sponge in it and, carefully bending the edges of the cuff, wipe all the cracks and folds. More persistent stains can be cleaned with a mixture of water and bleach in a ratio of 1:1.
After cleaning, let the seal dry thoroughly. Also, do not forget to wipe the sealing cuff with a soft cloth after each wash.
How to clean the inside of a washing machine from scale
The same citric acid will help to deal with scale on the heating element. The amount of powder depends on the degree of contamination, but on average, no more than 100 g is required for a machine with a load of 5 kg.
Divide the mixture into two equal parts: pour half into the powder tray and the other half directly into the drum and run the wash at maximum temperature.
Acetic acid copes with scale no worse, but keep in mind that it is more aggressive, so it should be used with caution. It is enough to add just two tablespoons of vinegar to the conditioner container and turn on the machine. We do not recommend pouring more: vinegar can damage rubber elements.
How to clean the inside of a washing machine from Mold
If mold is present in the tray or drum, special mold removal products can be used to combat it. Also, any acidic products combined with high temperature, such as Coca Cola, work well against this disease. It contains phosphoric acid, which is a weak acid.
Experienced housewives claim that 3 liters of this drink in the washing mode with preliminary soaking can work wonders. Cola will carefully clean your car from mold, while it is completely safe for its internal elements, as it does not react with rubber and metal.
How to clean a top load washing machine
Cleaning top-loading machines is generally not much different from front-loading machines, except for some design features. For example, on most vertical machines, the powder loading tray is not removable, which makes it difficult to clean. Otherwise, the cleaning procedures will be similar.
It is also better to clean the drum of a vertical machine at high temperatures using special cleaning agents or folk methods.
Here is one of the effective methods:
- Set the highest temperature setting on the control panel.
- Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the tub and run a wash cycle.
- After heating the water, stop the cycle for half an hour to allow the solution to take effect.
- Resume washing.
- At the end of the cycle, wipe the internal elements with a soft dry cloth or sponge.
To completely remove vinegar residue and dirt, pour 1 cup of baking soda into the drum, place a couple of towels (preferably unused ones) in it and run the machine on the rinse cycle with cold water. The baking soda will neutralize the vinegar residue, and the towels will pick up the dirt.
How to clean a washing machine tray
To clean the washing machine tray from deposits, you must first remove it completely from the compartment. This is quite easy to do. On most models of washing machines, such as LG, Samsung, Bosch, the tray is removed by pressing a special tab. But it can be different.
For example, on some LG models, to remove the tray, you first need to pull it all the way towards you, and then press down slightly. On Hotpoint Ariston machines, the tray first needs to be lifted on one side and only then removed from the guides to remove it from the body. In general, everything is individual here, but usually nothing too complicated. As a last resort, you can look for instructions on the Internet or a video on YouTube with your specific machine model.
After removing the tray, you can start cleaning it. For this, regular laundry soap, hot water and an old toothbrush will do.
If there are heavy deposits, the tray can first be filled with a mixture of hot water and any cleaning agent for plumbing, preferably without chlorine.
After just 30-40 minutes of soaking, you will see the tray lighten. So all you have to do is rub it lightly with a sponge and rinse it under water.
How to enable self-cleaning mode
Unfortunately, there is no single algorithm for turning on the self-cleaning mode, so the combination of buttons from manufacturer to manufacturer may differ dramatically. We will tell you how to activate the drum self-cleaning mode on the most popular models of washing machines.
LG
To enable drum self-cleaning in LG washing machines, simultaneously press the "Intensive" + "No Wrinkles" buttons. As a rule, the icons for these modes are combined with a square bracket with an asterisk. Hold the buttons down for three seconds until the inscription "tcL" (Tub Clean) appears, then press the "Start/Pause" button.
Samsung
To start the self-cleaning mode on Samsung washing machines, "dancing with tambourines" and secret combinations are usually not needed. On most washing machines of this brand, the corresponding "ECO Drum Clean" mode is already present on the control panel in the form of a separate button (ECO Drum Clean).
Questions and Answers
Below we will answer the most frequently asked questions regarding the self-cleaning mode.
What should I do if the self-cleaning mode does not start?
If the "Self-cleaning" mode does not show itself in your washing machine and you cannot turn it on using a key combination, perhaps the manufacturer simply did not provide this function for your model. However, this does not mean that your machine does not need periodic cleaning.
In this case, you can start the self-cleaning mode manually. Here is one possible scenario for cleaning the drum:
- Select one of the daily washing programs on the electronic panel,
- Set two rinse cycles and the maximum possible water temperature - 85-90 °c,
- Set the maximum spin speed for your model and start the wash cycle,
- After washing, open the door for two hours to allow the drum to dry.
How often can I use the self-cleaning mode?
Do not abuse the self-cleaning mode of the washing machine and turn it on too often. Manufacturers recommend using the self-cleaning mode of the drum every 40-60 washing cycles, but not more often than once a month.
