It is a common misconception that washing machines do not need to be cleaned at all. Even though our cheap washing machines are normally there to wash our laundry, they unfortunately do not get as well washed as the clothes and will need a good cleaning out of dirt, grime and grease just like other electrical appliances.
Washing your clothes on lower temperatures is good for the environment, but might not get rid of grease and grime as easily as higher temperatures. The promotion of washing on a lower degree has led to more households turning the heat down but not realising that this could potentially cause serious damage to their washing machine. But there are things you can do to stop this from happening.
Running A Hot Wash
On a monthly basis you should run the machine on a maintenance cycle. Don’t put any clothes in, just fill the soap drawer with the best detergent and let your machine run on the hottest cycle. Biological detergent performs well on low temperature washes, though many households use liquid or non-bio detergent which might not remove all grease and dirt. For the purpose of the maintenance cycle you can easily kill bacteria and remove grease more easily by using bio detergent or a detergent that has bleach in it.
Smelly Washing Machine?
Sometimes there can still be bad odour lingering in your drum even after a big cleanout. This could be caused by a build-up of slime and grease from old liquid detergent, especially if the washing machine is being used for low temperature washes mainly. Use distilled white vinegar to get rid of the problem. Leave the washing machine running on the highest temperature cycle after you’ve filled the soap drawer with a cup of vinegar while the hot water fills up the machine.
Problems With Black Mould
It is not uncommon to find black mould in washing machines. Get into the habit of leaving the washing machine door open after washing so it gets a chance to dry out. Moist and hot environments are perfect for black mould and you’ll be far better off preventing than having to treat it. The regular maintenance boil wash with a bleach detergent will also help protect cheap washing machines against black mould.
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