In my house, every day is laundry day, which makes my washing machine one of the hardest working appliances. However, even if you have one of the best washing machinesIt still needs care and attention to ensure that laundry day remains a breeze rather than causing sadness.
While I would be happy to plug in my washer and forget about any maintenance, I know that living in a hard water area puts my washer at greater risk. Hard water minerals can build up in the wash tub and other out-of-sight areas, damaging mechanisms, especially the heating element, affecting machine performance and reducing its lifespan.
However, according to a recent survey by washing machine manufacturer AEG of consumers in the UK, 11% were unaware that washing machines can be affected by limescale, and almost half of respondents admitted they never descale their machines.
However, the UK is not alone when it comes to this issue. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 85% of Americans live in hard water areas, and the worst states in the country for water hardness are New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, South Dakota, Wyoming and Arizona. The worst American cities for water hardness are Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Antonio and Tampa.
But living in an area with hard water doesn’t have to be a problem because it doesn’t take much time (or money) to stay on top of washing machine maintenance. Michael Forbes, product specialist at AEG, told Jugo Mobile: “A quick maintenance wash should be carried out at least once a month to keep the machine in the best possible condition and ensure clothes look their best.”
If your washer doesn’t have a maintenance schedule, check your manual to find out and then run it on a 130°F cycle with an empty drum. Washing with hot water will remove any bacteria, dirt or old water trapped in the machine.
3 cheap tricks to clean your washing machine
When washing your washing machine with hot water, Forbes suggests adding one of three inexpensive household cleaning products to the drum for an extra touch. What’s more, they are all natural and cost less than a dollar each.
In addition, it is important to descale the washing machine regularly. As Forbes points out, you should try to descale your machine “every six months to clean the tub and the area you can’t see around the metal drum to remove bacteria and lime buildup.”
1. Soda Crystals
These magical crystals remove limescale and detergent buildup and deodorize your machine. With 3-in-1 power, add a cup of soda crystals to your machine and place it in a hot or maintenance wash. Try this 2.2-pound bag of Dri-Pak soda crystals ($17, Amazon).
Advice:
You can also add soda crystals to your normal wash to increase the cleaning power, as they help remove stains and soften the water. Dri-Pak suggests adding 0.9 oz per wash if you have medium water, 1.8 oz for hard water, and 2.6 oz for very hard water.
2. Lemon juice or white vinegar
These common household ingredients are inexpensive and can be added to a hot vacuum wash to eliminate bacteria buildup. Simply pour two cups of lemon juice or white vinegar into the tub and run a full cycle on the hottest setting.
If you have a front-loading washing machine, put the lemon juice or white vinegar in the dispenser.
It’s surprising how basic kitchen ingredients like lemon and vinegar can help you with your clothes.
3. Baking soda
If you’re a baking enthusiast, you probably already have some baking soda, also known as baking soda, in your kitchen cupboards. In addition to baking, it can also be used for cleaning and will help eliminate odor and residue buildup in your washing machine.
Add two cups of baking soda to an empty machine and run a long, hot cycle. You can then repeat the process, but instead of adding baking soda, add two cups of white vinegar and run another long, hot cycle. The vinegar will break down any extra deposits and eliminate moldy odors.
- See 7 ways you are damaging your washing machine without knowing it
- How to make your washing machine last longer and need fewer repairs
- 15 things you should never put in a washing machine
