Your washing machine is one of the most relied-upon machines in your residence, handling countless loads of laundry week after week. The average washing machine lasts between 10 and 14 years, but with the proper practices, you can go well beyond that range while preventing expensive malfunctions and high repair costs. The great thing is that keeping your washer in great working order requires only a few straightforward, reliable practices that fit into any routine.
Read on for a complete guide to keeping your washing machine running at its optimal level.
Stop Overloading Your Washer
One of the most harmful things you can do to a washing machine is stuff it too full. Once laundry absorbs water with water, its heaviness increases dramatically, putting excessive pressure on the drum bearings, motor, and support components. Continued overloading hastens deterioration of parts that can be very costly to replace.
Try to keep loads to about three-quarters of the drum's maximum volume so there is adequate space for clothes to circulate freely. If you are washing a solitary large item like a duvet or pillow set, toss in a couple of towels to help even out the load. An unbalanced drum not only deteriorate faster, it also causes violent vibrations that can shift the machine off-balance and compromise internal fittings over time.
Always Check That the Machine Is Properly Leveled
Today's washing machines are capable of rotating at up to 1,600 revolutions per minute. At that velocity, even the smallest lean can cause severe vibration that slowly wears down internal components and weakens fixtures. Use a bubble level to verify the machine from all angles. If the machine is unlevel, reposition the adjustable feet by undoing their locking nuts, fixing the level, and retightening the nuts once the machine is even. This single adjustment can significantly extend your washer's lifespan and also significantly reduces the loud banging noise many homeowners mistake for normal operation.
Be Careful How Much Detergent You Add
More soap will not produce cleaner laundry, and it absolutely does not produce a longer-lasting machine. An excess of detergent leads to excessive lather accumulation that the washer has trouble eliminate, causing it to run extra rinse cycles and break down elements faster. With repeated overdosing, detergent buildup accumulates in the machine drum, hoses, and drain pump, encouraging bacterial growth and leading to lingering odors.
Owners of energy-efficient washers should exclusively use detergent that is designed for HE machines. Standard detergent generates excessive suds in HE washers, which are built to operate with very little water, and can lead to mechanical issues over time. 1–2 tablespoons of liquid detergent is sufficient for the bulk of everyday cycles. When in doubt, refer to your machine's manual for dosage guidance based on the size of your load and water hardness in your area.
Clean the Drum Monthly
Even though it is looking immaculate on the outside, your washing machine's drum quietly builds up buildup from soap, conditioner, skin oils, and mineral deposits. A regular monthly drum-cleaning cycle is one of the best upkeep habits any washing machine owner can follow.
Most contemporary washers have a built-in drum-clean setting available in the settings. Without a built-in clean cycle, an empty high-temperature wash with a cleaning tablet or 2 cups of white vinegar delivers the same result. This breaks down residue, eliminates bacteria, and keeps the drum, seals, and hoses in great shape. This habit is especially valuable for front-loaders, as their close-fitting rubber gaskets often trap water and are highly prone to mold growth.
Clean the Filter and Detergent Drawer
Most washing machines have a compact debris and lint filter, usually located at the lower front of the unit, behind a tiny access door. This filter traps lint, coins, hair bands, and other stray items that make their way into the drum. Once this filter turns obstructed, the washer struggles to drain as it ought to, pressuring the pump and in some cases causing water to stay in the drum when the cycle finishes.
Make it a routine to clear out the debris filter every four weeks or so. To service it, unscrew the filter cap, flush it under running water, clear away any debris by hand, and refit it securely. While you are at it, slide out the soap drawer completely and give it a thorough clean. Deposits in the detergent drawer can clog the nozzles that deliver detergent down into the drum, invisibly compromising the effectiveness of every laundry cycle.
Inspect and Replace Hoses Regularly
The water supply hoses attaching your washer to the water supply are commonly forgotten, but a burst hose ranks among one of the most frequent causes of significant water damage in homes. Traditional hoses degrade over time and can develop minor fractures or compromised sections that ultimately give way under normal water pressure.
Inspect your hoses twice a year for any ballooning, cracking, fraying near the connectors, or unusual coloring. Most appliance brands advise swapping out standard rubber hoses on a three-to-five-year schedule even if you see obvious wear. Switching to braided stainless steel hoses is a good value for the small investment, as these are significantly stronger and significantly less likely to rupture. Ensure the attachments are tight at both ends, at the washer and at the water supply valve, and check for any signs of seeping or wetness.
Empty Pockets Before Every Wash
A brief pocket check before running a cycle can avoid more machine problems than most homeowners expect. Hard objects including loose change, metal keys, screws, and metal clips are able to slipping through the drum holes and blocking the pump or damaging the drum bearings, leading to worsening mechanical issues. Paper tissues breaks apart during the wash and accumulates lint in the drain filter, blocking water flow. Lip balm, ballpoint pens, and like objects can break open mid-cycle, discoloring laundry and depositing stubborn residue on the interior drum surface that is very tricky to remove.
Build a brief pocket check into your pre-wash process before every single load. Turn denim and thick pants the other way to check all pocket sections easily, and devote children's clothing an especially careful check since miniature toys and erasers commonly hidden inside.
Keep the Door Ajar After Every Cycle
Finishing a wash cycle does not mean the interior of your machine is dry, as moisture accumulates in the drum interior, gasket, and soap drawer after every load. If you immediately close the door right after a cycle completes, that sealed-in dampness forms the perfect humid, warm conditions that mold and mildew thrive. This is a heightened concern for front-loaders, whose tight-fitting rubber door seals retain water particularly well.
After removing your laundry, leave the lid or door open for at least one hour to allow circulation and the interior to dry website out. Clean the door seal on front-load machines with a dry cloth, paying attention to the ridges in the rubber where moisture collects. Simply keeping the door open is one of the least expensive and most proven measures against the persistent stale odor that affects machines that are always kept shut.
Avoid Vibrating on Hard Surfaces
Tile or hardwood floors beneath a washing machine give no shock absorption for high-speed vibrations, enabling them to slowly move the machine out of position and produce deterioration on both the machine and the floor. Think about installing an anti-vibration mat under the machine. These rubber or foam cushions absorb machine vibrations and hold the washer firmly in place. These mats are affordable, require zero installation, and deliver a noticeable reduction in both vibration sounds and machine movement.
Call a qualified specialist today for fast, affordable washing machine repair.