How to Take Care of Your Washing Machine: Did you know you can extend the life of your washing machine by at least 3 years if you maintain it properly? The fact that it does the cleaning of your clothes for you doesn’t mean you should forget to clean it. In fact, there are so many little things that most people miss when it comes to big appliances and it costs them a lot of money in the end. Good thing you are reading this, so you get an idea of how to take proper care of your washing machine.

Deep Clean

First and foremost, your washing machine needs a deep clean every 3-6 months. The more frequently you use it, the more frequently you’ll have to give it a thorough clean. Descaling is the biggest part. With every wash, micro-scale builds up on the metal and impacts the efficiency of the machine. That’s the reason why sometimes your clothes come out of a cycle not as clean as you would expect them to be. Use a quality descaler, which will clean, but at the same time, protect the metal parts of the machine and then move on to other parts of the appliance.

Clean the Rubber Gasket

Another very common reason for dirty “just washed” laundry and really bad smells is a contaminated rubber gasket. This area usually remains damp the longest, which is a fantastic prerequisite for the development of mould and other nasties. Use a cotton bud or a Q-tip to clean the hard-to-reach places between the rubber gasket and the inside parts of the machine as well as the door glass.

Clean the Filter

Your washing machine will stop working properly if you do not clean the filter regularly. In fact, that kind of negligence can cause much bigger problems, like machine breakdown or even flooding. Once a month is a good starting point for a filter clean. If you wash daily, however, you may need to clean it once every two weeks instead.

Clean the Detergent Compartment

We’ve seen extreme cases of terribly maintained washing machines where the detergent and fabric softener compartment was never ever cleaned. As a result, it was all mouldy and gross. All this bacteria goes onto the fabric of your clothes and then on your body. Just because you put a cleaning agent in that box, doesn’t mean it should not be cleaned appropriately. After every use, wipe the compartment with a wet sponge and then with a dry cloth to avoid dampness retention. Even if you use washing capsules straight into the core of the machine, the detergent compartment will still need some attention from time to time.

Leav the Door Open after the Last Cycle

Always leave the door open for at least half an hour after your last washing cycle. This is to prevent the growth of mould and development of any unpleasant smells. To be extra sure there’s no dampness left, you can wipe the tub with a clean dry cotton towel.