How to Clean a Washing Machine Drum?
The washing machine helps us to maintain cleanliness, but sometimes it happens that it itself starts to need cleaning. Constant contact with dirty things, household chemicals and tap water of dubious quality leads to the formation of plaque on the insides of the appliance. This not only harms the quality of washing, but also has a negative effect on the performance of the washing machine. Read about how to clean the drum from dirt at home in our today's article.
Causes and types of dirt
|
Type of dirt |
The reason of appearance |
|
Limescale |
Scale can appear on the metal elements of the washing machine because of too hard water, which in large quantities contains magnesium and calcium salts |
|
Residues of detergents |
Powder and conditioner residue deposits usually come from using poor quality detergents that do not dissolve well in water; another possible cause is that the recommended dosage of household detergents is exceeded |
|
Grease and dirt deposits |
If you wash frequently work clothes that are stained with grease, gasoline, oil, fuel oil or other hard-to-drain substances, these residues can end up on the drum as a sticky, dark residue |
Tools
Each housewife decides for herself which means to use to clean the drum from the dirt. You have to choose between the ready-made store preparations, based on acids and alkalis, and folk recipes, which are also mainly based on the use of these chemical compounds. The first method is faster and less time-consuming, while the second is more economical. The effectiveness of both folk and store remedies is approximately the same.
Let's list the most popular ingredients that are used to prepare cleaning mixtures at home:
- citric acid - is considered the most effective means, it is present in the composition of many ready-made cleaners;
- acetic acid - is used as an analogue of citric acid;
- baking soda - is more effective in conjunction with other products;
- bleach - not only cleans well, but also removes unpleasant smells when handled with care;
- copper sulfate - is used not so much to remove dirt as to carry out antiseptic treatment: it is good to get rid of fungus and mold, which can appear inside the washing machine.
Cleaning methods
Clean the dirt with bleach or acetic acid
It is necessary to work with gloves, and it is recommended to protect the respiratory tract with a medical mask. Apply a small amount of the product on a household sponge or soft cloth and thoroughly wipe the entire surface of the drum. Then start the rinse cycle. To ensure that as little detergent as possible is deposited on the inside of the machine, repeat the rinse procedure twice.
Cleaning the drum with citric acid
Unlike vinegar, citric acid should not be poured into the drum, but into the laundry detergent receiver. Start the longest possible wash by putting citric acid in the container instead of the powder. When the washing program is finished, turn on the extra rinse.
See the video below for more details.
Getting rid of dirt with baking soda solution
Dilute a few tablespoons of baking soda with a little water to create a thick slurry. Using a sponge, rub this mixture into the drum. Leave the solution for 30 minutes - during this time it should harden. After that, with a dry sponge or rag scrape off the crust with the dirt that has formed.
Prevent fungus and mold with copper sulfate powder
First you need to prepare a solution consisting of a liter of boiled water and 30 grams of powder. Before you start working with the mixture, wear rubber gloves. Mix the solution well, soak a sponge in it and thoroughly treat the entire surface of the drum. Then leave the unit for 24 hours. After 24 hours, pour the powder into the feeder and start the washing program. After it ends, run the program again, but this time without detergent.
What else is worth cleaning?
The dirt that we may find on the drum of the washing machine is only an external part of what accumulates on the various parts of the machine. In fact, a large amount of debris particles are deposited on the inside of the machine. To get to them, the washing machine has to be disassembled. Most often, the tubular heating element, the drain filter, the rubber sealing collar on the hatch inlet, and the pulley on which the collar is attached suffer from dirt buildup.
If the dirt is not very serious, these parts can be cleaned using the same means as the drum. However, in some cases, the accumulated dirt leads to the deterioration of the part - and then it has to be replaced. That is why it is so important to monitor the condition of the washing machine, noting the slightest changes in its operation. Cleaned in time and preventive care will help prolong the life of your faithful helper.
