4 Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Washing Machine Running

It's no joke, but keeping your washing machine in tip top condition is of utmost importance. Imagine having to deal with heavy loads of laundry every week and your washing machine suddenly breaks down! Here are 4 tips to keeping your appliance working for many years to come.  

Keep your washing machine as close to the ground as possible.

If your appliance is causing your floor or wall to vibrate, it's not a good sign since the rocking motion may cause damage to both machine and surroundings. Ensure that the washing machine is level and has all four legs on the floor, with the body as close to the floor as possible. Many washing machines will have rear legs that can adjust themselves so you just have to tilt the machine about 3 to 4 inches off its rear legs before setting it back down. The rear legs should be able to adjust accordingly.

Clean up detergent build-up.

Keep your machine spick and span by giving your washing machine a good clean inside every month or so. Doing your laundry will inevitably leave detergent residue behind, which may affect the efficiency of your washing machine. Prevent a serious build-up by running an empty but full load cycle and pour in 2 to 4 cups of white vinegar (depending on your machine's capacity). This will help clear any detergent or limescale that has accumulated on the agitator and wash tub over time. This is especially important for washing machines that use High Efficiency detergents. Oh, and don't forget to clean out the fabric softener dispenser from time to time. NOTE: Avoid using the vinegar wash straight after washing your clothes with chlorine as this will release Chlorine gas, which is poisonous.

Avoid overloading your washer.

You might be tempted to add just a few more pieces of dirty laundry to the load, but avoid doing that as this can wear out your washing machine faster. Overloading it will also mean that your clothes cannot be washed properly as the agitator cannot move normally.

Don't use too much detergent.

Putting in too much detergent will leave a residue on your clothes and you will have to run a second cycle to get a more thorough wash. High efficiency washers, especially, use less water so it's advisable to measure your detergent carefully before pouring it in. Another undesirable result of overusing detergents is the clogging up of your washing machine's filters and ports. This can lead to detergent build-up and growth of bacteria, mould and odours.