General care for your washing machine

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Day to Day Care for washing machine maintenance

Disclaimer and Safety Warning[edit source]

Disclaimer: Any persons attempting to reproduce the acts represented in this article or any other repair information/article on the Repair Cafe Wiki site, either wholly or in part must be aware that they do so at their own risk. Neither the Author/s or contributing Repair Cafes accept liability or responsibility for any loss, damage, injury or any other unexpected consequences as a result of any attempt to replicate the actions in any article.

This information is intended for sharing between experienced and competent repairers. If you are not technically competent then seek professional advice. You may also invalidate the manufacturers warranty.

Safety Warning: Always check that electrical items are fully disconnected from the mains supply before opening enclosures, and be aware that some items retain charge even when physically disconnected from the mains supply. Always read and comply with safety warnings on the product/appliance and within the manufacturer's documentation; on repair substances, replacement parts, materials and tools used. Always take appropriate precautions to ensure your safety and that of those around you when undertaking fault diagnosis, repair and subsequent testing of any product.

Difficulty level & repair time[edit | edit source]

Partshub UK
Difficulty Time
Simple Easy Moderate Tricky Advanced 5 minutes periodically

Our Top Tips[edit | edit source]

A little day to day care with your machine could help you make the most out of your appliance, ultimately saving you hassle and money in the long run.

Here are our tips on how you can take care of your machine.

1: Inspect the hoses[edit | edit source]

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Washing Machine Hoses

Check your machine’s hoses for any form of wear or weakness. It is advised to do this once every few months, at least twice a year. If you discover any damages like cracks, blistering, or splits, then you should replace the hose. This kind of damage could cause a leak, or even a burst, which would could be costly in flood damage.

Most manufacturers recommend replacing the hoses every 5 years, but it is always advisable to check regularly the state of yours.


2: Don't overload or unbalance your load[edit | edit source]

Loading your Machine

Overloaded or unbalanced loads can cause many unseen damages to your machine. It may seem harmless to throw that one towel in with your t-shirts, or shove in those last few items, but this is best to be avoided. Causing the drum to shake more, this can result in excessive wear and tear to the inner workings of the machine, putting excessive pressure on various parts connected to the drum, like the bearings and springs.

3: Level it out[edit | edit source]

Solve a Noisy Spin Cycle

An unbalanced or unleveled washing machine can not only be very noisy, but it may wobble and vibrate strongly. It is advised to keep the machine as close to the floor as possible, positioned on the most level spare of floor you have available. However, feet are adjustable with a locknut, and are easily positioned to level out your machine. If any have broken, or aren’t adjustable, then you could simply replace them. This could save you a headache when your machine no longer shakes and rattles the whole house.

4: Clean the inside monthly[edit | edit source]

Clean Drum, Clean Laundry

Detergent residue easily builds up inside washing machine drums, increasing grime in your machine. To keep your yours fresh and gleaming, use a cleaner once a month to keep your machine working efficiently.

5: Clean out the fabric softener dispenser[edit | edit source]

Regular Care Goes a Long Way

Liquid fabric softener can build up in your dispenser to a gooey, clogged up mess. It’s easily solved by periodically cleaning out your dispenser with hot water and a cloth to prevent major clogging or gunky softener effecting your laundry.

Comments[edit | edit source]

Looking after your machine could save you expensive electrician bills, prolonging the life of your machine so as to save your wallet having to splurge on a new machine.

Repairing your machines yourself can save you money, head to Partshub - a proud partner of the Repair Cafe - for a wide range of spare parts and more information on how you can best care and maintain for your favourite household appliances.

Useful links[edit | edit source]

Partshub.co.uk