Your washing machine is one of the most heavily used appliances in your home, running load upon load of laundry week after week. The average washing machine operates between 10 and 14 years, but with the right routines, you can push that lifespan even further while steering clear of expensive failures and steep repair costs. Most of what it requires to keep a washer running longer comes down to a small set of easy, repeatable practices that require minimal effort or investment.
Read on for a comprehensive guide to keeping your washing machine running at its best.
Stop Overloading Your Washer
Overfilling your washing machine is one of the surest ways to reduce its service life. When clothes become saturated, they become significantly heavier, and a drum loaded beyond its capacity puts tremendous pressure on the bearings, motor, and drum structure. Over time, this leads to accelerated deterioration on a number of the most costly pieces to service.
Try to keep laundry amounts to about 75% of the drum's capacity so there is adequate space for clothes to move without restriction. When washing oversized individual items such as thick blankets or pillow sets, toss in a few towels to help spread the weight across the drum. An unbalanced drum not only break down faster, it also creates aggressive vibrations that can push the washer out of position and compromise internal fittings over time.
Make Sure Your Washer Sits Flat
Current washing machines are capable of spinning at up to sixteen hundred RPM. At those RPMs, even the slightest imbalance can create significant vibrations that wear down internal elements and loosen fixtures over time. Use a spirit level to check the machine from all angles. If the machine is off-balance, reposition the leveling feet by loosening their lock nuts, fixing the height, and retightening the lock nuts once the machine is level. Taking a few minutes to balance your washer right can add meaningful years to its life and stop the excessive banging that happens during off-balance spin cycles.
Use the Right Amount of Detergent
Using additional detergent does not produce cleaner laundry, and it puts unnecessary stress on your washer. An overdose of detergent leads to heavy suds buildup that the washer has trouble eliminate, causing it to run extra rinse cycles and deteriorate components faster. Soap residue in the drum and plumbing components attracts microorganisms over time, causing the musty odors that many machines tend to acquire.
If you have a energy-efficient (HE) machine, always use HE-labeled detergent. Standard detergent produces way too many suds in HE washers, which are engineered for very little water, and can cause machine problems over time. One to two tablespoons of liquid detergent is enough for the most of everyday cycles. If you are not certain, consult your washer's handbook for measurement instructions based on load size and water quality.
Keep the Drum Clean With Regular Maintenance
Despite appearing perfectly clean on the exterior, your washing machine's drum gradually collects deposits from soap, softener, skin oils, and mineral deposits. Running a once-a-month drum-cleaning cycle is one of the most powerful care routines you can add to your regimen.
The bulk of current washing machine machines feature a dedicated cleaning cycle in their cycle options. If your machine does not have this feature, run an unloaded cycle on the most intense program using a descaling tablet, two cups of white vinegar, or half a cup of baking soda. This dissolves buildup, kills bacteria, and keeps the drum interior, seals, and hoses in good condition. Front-loading machines in particular benefit from this consistent practice because their door gaskets are prone to holding moisture and developing mold.
Do Not Forget the Filter and Soap Drawer
Most washing machines have a built-in lint filter, usually positioned at the front bottom panel, behind a tiny access panel. This filter collects lint, small coins, hair ties, and other stray items that make their way into the drum. Once this filter becomes obstructed, the washer is unable to drain as it should, straining the drain pump and sometimes causing water to pool inside the drum after the cycle is complete.
Make it a habit to remove and clean the lint filter every four weeks or so. Just unscrew it, rinse it under running water, clear any caught material, and fit it back in place. While you are at it, remove the soap drawer fully and give it a complete rinse. Buildup in the dispenser drawer can clog the spray holes that direct detergent through into the drum, silently reducing the performance of every wash cycle.
Keep a Close Eye on the Supply Hoses
The water supply hoses linking your washer to the water source are often ignored, but a ruptured line stands as one of the most frequent causes of major water damage in homes. Regular rubber hoses deteriorate slowly and can form hairline cracks or vulnerable points that over time give way under regular pressure.
Inspect your hoses every six months for signs of ballooning, surface cracks, fraying at the fittings, or discoloration. The majority of manufacturers generally advise changing rubber hoses on a three-to-five-year basis even if no visible damage is present. Braided stainless steel hoses are a wise improvement over conventional rubber, providing greatly improved durability and a much lower chance of sudden failure. Make sure the connections are snug at both sides, at the washer and at the shut-off valve, and watch for any evidence of leaking or website moisture.
Empty Pockets Before Every Wash
As basic as it seems, objects left in pockets account for a significant share of washing machine breakdowns. Small hard items including loose change, metal keys, fasteners, and metal clips are able to slipping through the gaps in the drum and blocking the drain pump or wearing out the bearing assembly, leading to increasingly serious breakdowns. Paper tissues dissolves during the wash and deposits paper debris in the drain filter, restricting water flow. Lip balm, pens, and comparable items can melt or burst during the wash, ruining clothes and depositing stubborn residue on the drum that is very difficult to wash off.
Make sure to search every pocket as part of your regular loading process. Flipping heavier garments inside out allows for searching simpler, and children's clothing in particular warrant extra attention since little objects, pencils, and like objects are frequent uninvited additions.
Keep the Door Ajar After Every Cycle
Every time you finish a cycle, leftover moisture lingers inside the machine, on the rubber seal, and inside the soap drawer. If you seal the door as soon as a cycle completes, that sealed-in dampness produces the ideal moist, warm environment where mold and mildew will thrive. It is a special concern for front-load machines, whose close-fitting rubber gaskets trap dampness particularly well.
Once you have taken out your laundry, prop the lid or door open for a at least 60 minutes so airflow can occur and dry the interior. On front-loading washers, use a dry towel to wipe the door seal carefully, especially inside the folds where standing water tends to collect. Just propping the door open is one of the most affordable and most effective steps against the persistent musty smell that develops in machines that are always kept sealed.
Use an Anti-Vibration Mat Under the Machine
If your washing machine sits right on a hard or wooden floor, the vibrations during the spin cycle can slowly shift the machine, loosen internal components, and even scratch or warp the surface over time. Consider placing an rubber isolation mat under the machine. Made from thick rubber, these cushions absorb the energy generated during the spin cycle and keep the washer from moving on the floor. These mats are affordable, are easy to place, and provide a meaningful improvement in both vibration sounds and appliance shifting.
Call a qualified specialist today for fast, affordable washing machine repair.