Keeping your washing machine clean will ensure that it will work more efficiently, for longer. Here are our top tips to help you to look after your washing machine and extend its life.
This article is split into 4 sections, to ensure that you get the most out of your washing machine.
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Keep the drawer fresh
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Regularly clean the filter
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Freshen up the seals and drum
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Two tips to keep your washing machine clean after each wash
1. Keep the drawer fresh
Detergent and softener drawers can become clogged up with old detergents or liquids. This might cause unpleasant smells, bad washing results and sometimes even blockages.
Cleaning the washing machine detergent drawer
To clean it take the drawer out and wash the drawer with hot soapy water and a toothbrush. This will help to keep mould, limescale and other nasty germs away.
2. Regularly clean the filter
Some washing machines have a filter that catches fluff, change and anything else that’s been left in pockets. To keep it working and prevent any blockages or leaks, then you can clean them.
Cleaning the washing machine filter
To ensure that the washing machine filter is clean, start by turning the washing machine off. Then, grab a shallow tray and open the filter door. Once you have done this, twist or unclip the handle to take the filter out. Pull out anything that might cause a block. If this doesn’t solve the issue, then soak the filter in hot water and give it a rinse before putting it back into the machine.
3. Freshen up the seals and drum
Freshening up the seals and drum takes no time at all. It’s usually one of the common causes of funny or unpleasant smells, so it’s important to keep them clean and bacteria free.
Cleaning the seals and drum
To clean the seal and drum, gather some white vinegar, a cloth or a cotton bud, Dab some vinegar onto the cloth or cotton bud and then wipe along the seal to get rid of any lingering bacteria. Then pour 500ml of germ-killing white vinegar straight into the empty drum. Run a hot wash at 90°c or higher. If your machine has a drum clean cycle, then this will also work like magic, if you run it once a month.
4. Two tips to keep your washing machine clean after each wash
Top tips to maintain a clean washing machine
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Now you’ve got a clean machine, it’s important to know how to maintain it. An easy way to do this is to keep the detergent drawer and the door open after every wash. This will let air flow through it, stopping any musky, damp smells settling in.
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You can also avoid detergent build-up by double-checking the instructions on your detergent and making sure you’re using the recommended amount to prevent the build-up of gunk in the drawer.
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