It is difficult to imagine the life of a modern family without such an assistant as an automatic washing machine. Despite the presence of a "washing machine" in almost every home, not everyone knows how to care for it. But only proper care of the washing machine can provide its long-term and high-quality service. Conversely, if you do not take care of the washing machine, do not take proper care of it, it will break down very quickly.
What is car care
All of the recommendations below apply in general to automatic washing machines. Some of them can be used for other washers, but they, in all likelihood, will soon become a rarity, therefore it is better to focus on the first, because the future is still behind them.
- The main thing in the care of any household appliances is to ensure cleanliness, and for this they need to be washed frequently. This is required by both safety conditions and basic hygiene, which is simply necessary in the house. Various microorganisms, including pathogens, accumulate in dust and dirt, which can cause various ailments in those living in this room. Ordinary citric acid can help here. She will both clean the device and remove excess odors.
- The surface of the device must be free: do not place any objects, powders, dishes on it. The top panel should be dry and clean.
- It is important to control the drain line for possible leaks. For this purpose, you can establish multi-layered protection.
See also - How to clean a washing machine with vinegar from limescale and unpleasant odors?
Correct installation and connection of the washing machine
Washing machine care begins with its correct installation. It must be borne in mind that it should stand perfectly level, therefore, to complete this point, it is advisable to take a level for construction work. Slopes can be eliminated using the legs, the height of which is easy to adjust. For this purpose, you just need to raise the edge of your washing machine and scroll the leg to the desired length.
It is necessary to check that the wires, drain and inlet hose are not kinked, not pinched by various objects or by the machine itself. If the wires are bent, then their insulation may be broken, it may even break. As for the hoses, the violation of their patency creates obstacles for the normal filling and discharge of water.
How to take care of the parts inside the car
- The machine must be looked after both outside and inside. All departments and compartments of the machine need our care. It is important to keep the pipette clean. It is a plastic tray into which powder and other substances for washing are poured. It is very easy to get it. It is imperative to monitor the cleanliness of the dispenser, otherwise the drain holes may become clogged with powder residues, which subsequently turns into stone deposits.
- After washing, the hatch is slightly opened and not closed for a while so that all the moisture evaporates.If this is not done, an unpleasant odor will appear inside the washing machine.
- Before putting things in the drum, check all pockets for foreign objects such as keys and rings and other small things that could harm the washing machine. All laundry that has metal fittings such as rivets, buttons and zippers must be turned inside out or a special bag must be used before washing.
- Washing machine care includes washing all of its components. This also applies to the cuff - a rubber layer that is located near the drum and hatch. To process it, use a warm solution of soap; it is not allowed to wash the cuff with detergents.
- Do not load more than the maximum permissible weight into the appliance. The instructions should indicate the weight you can wash. It is worth considering that the calculation is not based on dry weight, it is indicated, most often, the permissible amount of exactly wet laundry!
- To avoid the appearance of mold, as well as unpleasant odors, you need to regularly clean the drain filter... It is located at the bottom of the washing machine. It can collect various items, buttons, hair, coins. If this compartment is not cleaned, items may smell musty. If you take timely care of this part of the machine, then there will be no such problem.
How to check water quality
The quality of the water affects the operation of the washing machine. Hard water will cause limescale, which can negatively affect the heating element. It is for this reason that the washing machine can break down. Water hardness can and should be fought. How to determine water hardness? Most Russian citizens do not need to do this, since the water from our water pipelines is far from the quality standard. If you still have doubts, you can determine the hardness using special test strips, which can be purchased at a household chemicals store.
Dealing with water hardness
All channels advertise various water softening additives. You can choose its brand at your discretion. Most of these funds are very expensive. But you can use more economical options.
Among such completely harmless and cheap means is citric acid. It will help you get rid of limescale in the machine. To do this, you should take about two hundred grams of it. Citric acid should be poured into the powder compartment. Then set the highest possible temperature (most often it is 80-90 degrees).
Before as clean the washing machine with citric acid, you should check if there are things in the device. Citric acid can ruin things. At the end of the citric acid wash, wipe the drum and all folds of the cuff with a soft cloth. Limescale particles are often found inside the appliance. They are carefully removed. The washer will be grateful for such a "lemon" cleaning.
To make the water softer, you can use different softening filters. High quality filters are expensive, but they can purify water for your entire home.
Useful Tips
You can extend the life of your washing machine if you follow these recommendations:
- use only a special “automatic” washing powder.
- do not keep dirty things in the washing machine; put them only before washing, otherwise an unpleasant odor will appear in the device;
- wash colored and white items separately.
- if you need to leave for a long time, all devices must be disconnected from the mains. The water also needs to be shut off.
On average, an automatic machine lasts from seven to ten years. The most common reason for its failure is lack of proper care. Proper care of the washing machine, regular cleaning at least with citric acid, compliance with all the necessary operating conditions, then its life can be doubled.
