If you are a landlord or a tenant, we recommend that you carry out regular maintenance on your domestic appliances; it only takes a few minutes and it could save you lots of unnecessary inconvenience and stress. *Before doing any sort of maintenance on any appliance, turn it off and unplug it before starting. Always read and follow manufacturer’s user manual. [sc name=”Adsense”]
How to look after your washing machine
Like most domestic appliances, washing machines are expensive so it pays to look after them. Follow our washing machine maintenance tips just once a month to ensure it lasts.
Clean the lint filter
The lint filter is a coarse sieve which catches bits of fluff, coins, hair clips and other objects. If this gets blocked up, water will remain in the machine which could result in a leak. The lint filter is normally located in an access hatch at the bottom on the front of the machine. On most models, you can just open the access hatch, undo the filter cap and pull out the filter assembly. Remove all of the debris, rinse the sieve under a tap and refit. [sc name=”Adsense”]
Clean the detergent tray
If washing powder clogs up the detergent tray, this could result in your clothes not being properly cleaned. This is more common in areas with lower water pressure. To clean the tray, you simply pull it out of the machine and wash it in hot soapy water and then refit once dry.
Clean the glass door
Dip an abrasive pad in warm water (no detergent necessary) and rub any debris off the glass, predominantly focusing on the area where the glass meets the door seal.
Clean the door seal
Mildew tends to gather in the door seal, especially at the bottom of the opening to the machine’s drum (where the washing goes!). It is best to keep on top of this, ensuring mildew is regularly wiped off the rubber seal with a water/bleach solution. Leaving the washing machine door open as much as possible will also provide more ventilation so that there is less condensation inside the machine, meaning mildew is less likely to grow. Ensuring the rubber seal is clean at all times also means that you won’t get remnants of mildew on your clothes when removing them from the machine and the rubber seal will last longer. [sc name=”Adsense”]
Other tips for washing machine maintenance
- Add a cup of white vinegar to a wash every six weeks or so to prevent a build-up of limescale in the machine.
- Don’t overload the machine and when washing washable footwear (slippers) wrap them in a towel first
- USEFUL Videos to watch
- Looking after you washing machine and extended warranty offer from Domestic and General. (Link)
- Cleaning Tips from ehow (Link)
- Dealing with Smelly Washing Machine from Which? (Link) [sc name=”Adsense”]
