Washer Care and Maintenance
Tips for Maintaining your Clothes Washing Machine
There are Basically two styles of Washing Machines. The Standard Top Loading Washer and the more energy efficient Front Load Washers. Most of the Tips below
will apply to both styles of Washers.
Do Not Overload your Washing Machine
Filling the washer past it's recommended fill capacity will only cause
problems. Most washers are belt driven and this will cause undue
stress on the belt and cause it to slip or possibly break.
Use the Recommended amount of Detergent
Using to much detergent will not get your clothescleaner. A lot of
the newer machines will not be able to drain properly if there are
too many suds in the wash water. Front Load Washer will leak from
the suds getting to high in the overflow tube. This will also cause
the machine to stop and your clothes will not wash anyway.
Best Detergent for a Front Load Washer
Don't Treat Clothes on Top of your Washer
Spaying pre-wash soil and stain removers on articles of
clothing on top of the washer will stain and corrode the painted and
plastic surfaces on your machine. Most washer tops are painted with
Porcelain Enamel, which is very resistant, but can still be damaged
or discolored.
Cleaning the Fabric Softener Dispenser
Fabric softeners are waxy and can gum up in the washer if introduced
undiluted with water before dispensing. So mix them with water
before use. If there's a fabric softener dispenser on your machine,
add the recommended amount and then top off with water. If you're
pouring from a cup, use a 3-to-1 ratio of softener to water.
Replace Fill Hose Screens
Remove and clean intake screens where water-supply hoses enter the
washing machine. The screens get clogged with sediment and/or
mineral buildup. Because they're difficult to reseat—improperly
installed, they can jam open an internal valve—replace them with
flat screened washers (available at most hardware stores) in the end
of the hose. Be extra careful when removing and replacing hoses, as
the plastic threads on the intakes at the back of the washer are
easily stripped. Every five years: Replace rubber water-supply hoses
if they're splitting, cracking or are losing flexibility. Rubber
replacement hoses last five years, but hoses that use a
braided-jacket of stainless steel, although more expensive, last at
least twice as long.
Turn off the Water to your Washer when your not using it
How to Winterize your
Washer
Turn off the hot and cold water faucets going to your
washer between washdays. I know this seems unreasonable but believe
me it's worth the time. This will prevent pressure strain on the
hoses. You should occasionally check your fill hoses to make sure
they are not kinked, bent or have bulges in them. You don't want to
come home to a flooded house. Water damage can be costly.