In order for the washing machine to last for a long time, it is necessary to care for it with the help of special products that soften the water and clean the parts of scale and plaque. Manufacturers offer a lot of specialized products both for softening water and for getting rid of scale. Such funds are expensive, but there are their cheap counterparts - folk remedies available for purchase in ordinary stores. One of these analogues is the most common citric acid. It reacts with salts and helps to get rid of them.
We clean the automatic machine correctly
Before you start cleaning the washing machine with citric acid, you will need to remove all dirt from the rubber pad. It is most convenient to make it a soft cloth. You must also make sure that there are no things in the drum, otherwise you risk spoiling them - they will lose color.
How many grams do you need?
The calculation of the amount of acid must be made, starting from the volume of the washing machine.
For example, if the volume of your drum is designed to load linen 3-4 kg, then you will need approximately 60 grams of powder. As an example, these are 3 bags packing 20 grams or 4 bags packing 15 grams.
If you use weighted citric acid, which is much cheaper than packaged, you can pour 3 tablespoons with a slide. If you have a larger washing machine, you need to take more acid. For a volume of 5 kg, you need to pour 100 grams.
It is very important not to overdo it with a lemon and calculate its amount correctly. Remember that excess can cause damage to the rubber and plastic parts of the machine. And, to my great chagrin, instead of extending the life of the washing machine, you will get the opposite result. In any case, experts advise against falling asleep more than 200 grams of citric acid at a time.
Get rid of scale
Scale appears on the heating elements during the washing process of automatic machines, and the reason for this is the low quality of water with a high salt content. There is also a pattern: the higher the temperature of heating the water, the faster the scum forms. If you allow the formation of a thick layer of calcareous deposits, this can lead to breakage of the washing machine, unpleasant odors or it simply becomes impossible to start the washing program. This is due to the fact that the scum coated with ten can not work at full strength in order to heat the water to the desired temperature; settled salts interfere with it.
Step-by-step purification using citric acid powder is described in the following instructions:
- Pour lemon into the powder compartment or directly into the drum. Experts advise using option number one, since in this case not only the drum is cleaned, but also all the parts through which the powder passes.
- The next step is to choose a program for washing. For better work of citric acid, the program should be at a temperature of at least 60 degrees. More often it is the “cotton” mode, but some washing machines offer 60 degrees in the “synthetic” mode. If the machine has not been cleaned for a long time, then it is advisable to perform it at a temperature of 90 degrees. The program should be complete with all cycles, including the mandatory rinse and spin.
- Selecting a program, you can start. At the end of the cycle, if you have the opportunity to see the water after draining, you will find particles of dirt and deposits that hinder the operation of the machine.
- When the job is completed, gently bend the rubber gasket to check for the presence of scale deposits in it. If they remain, you must remove them and wipe the gum with a soft cloth. It is better to leave the door open and close it after the appliance has completely dried.
In order to minimize scale formation, it is recommended to clean the “washer” at least once a quarter.
Odor Remedies
Often an unpleasant odor appears in the washing machine. It is formed due to plaque on the walls inside the drum and other parts. It can be as calcareous deposits, as well as settled fungi, bacteria and mold. Regular cleaning of the washing machine with citric acid helps to avoid this. Moreover, it is quite effective to use intensive rinsing as an additional mode, during which all exfoliated mud particles and flakes are washed out.
At the end of the rinse and after you have cleaned everything inside with a soft rag, the drum and the heating element will sparkle like new, and the unpleasant smell will cease to bother you.
If the smell does not disappear after cleaning with a lemon, it is recommended to use normal whiteness or other bleaching agent in the cleaning procedure. It must be poured into the drum, and then turn on the normal washing without laundry at high temperature. At the end, the drum must be washed with plain water and wiped.
Often the cause of the disgusting smell from the washing machine is poor quality detergent. Therefore, it makes sense to be more attentive to detergents and choose only a quality product.
Reviews
Not every housewife will believe that ordinary citric acid can work wonders and bring the washing machine to a new state. Doubters often reassure the recommendations of experts and reviews of other housewives.Almost all women who have the opportunity to compare in action citric acid and anti-scale and limescale agents from well-known manufacturers preferred the lemon. The most experienced and picky housewives were satisfied with the results of its use.
Having studied the instructions for using citric acid to clean the washing machine, many, without hesitation for a long time, decided to experiment. Most bribed the low cost of the procedure, which rarely exceeded 30-50 rubles.
The hostesses were also pleased with the fact that after the first application it was possible to see the result. The drum and heating element became clean with a beautiful metallic luster, disappeared completely or an unpleasant odor became less. Electricity began to be spent more economically, and the wash cycle completed faster.
Also, many women agree that cleaning the washing machine with citric acid improves the quality of the wash. White linen ceases to have a grayish tint, and colored items at the end of washing are bright and saturated. Mistresses who consider their car neglected in terms of scaling in it note that all the parts have cleared after the third use of citric acid.
What else can you clean?
Baking soda is most often used as a means to clean the washing machine from mold. As a rule, its accumulation can be found behind the rubber seal. Also, traces of fungal formations can be in the compartment for washing powder. Before starting the procedure, it is necessary to mix soda powder with water in equal proportions. With this solution it is necessary to soak a rag for cleaning and wipe the drum, sealing gum and powder tray. This is a way to clean the machine of the fungus without much cost and physical effort.
Soda ash acts more aggressively on settled salts, compared to baking. That is why while working with her it is strongly recommended to wear rubber gloves. Direct contact with the substance may cause skin irritation.
Before cleaning begins, mix one part of soda ash with the same amount of water. The resulting mixture is wiped with a drum and a rubber cuff, then left for 30 minutes. After this time, the dirt is removed with a sponge along with a soda solution. The final operation is the launch of the “quick wash” mode with an empty drum.
Whitening is another way to get rid of mold and soap deposits. To get started, you need to pour a bottle of 1 liter in the drum and turn on the longest washing mode with the highest temperature. As a rule, it is 90-95 degrees. After heating the water to maximum temperature, you need to have time to press the pause and leave the machine for 1 hour, and after the time has passed, continue washing. At the end of this cycle, it is necessary to start the machine a second time in the “quick wash” mode and wash at 30 degrees, at this time the remaining whiteness will be removed.
Chlorine is contained in white. However, if whiteness needs to be poured in the amount of one liter, then in the case of bleach, it is enough to fill 1 cup. It must be borne in mind that bleach has a very pungent odor, and also reacts with salts, releasing steam that is harmful to health. Therefore, when using it, it will be necessary to open the windows and, if possible, the door.
Typically, bleaching is combined with citric acid. In this case, the efficiency of the procedure increases, the laundry washed after it is not covered with dirt. Use this method is recommended no more than once every 2 months, so as not to spoil the details of the machine.
If the fungus has already thoroughly settled inside your washing machine, then it makes sense to use copper sulfate. This is one of the oldest mold control agents in wet areas.Copper sulfate is a blue crystalline powder.
It is necessary to prepare a solution in a proportion of 30 grams of vitriol per 1 liter of water. Using the prepared product, wipe the cuff and leave it alone for a day, and then rinse thoroughly with detergent and clean water. This method can be used both to radically solve the existing problem of fungal formations, and as a prophylactic.
Oxalic acid helps get rid of bad smell and limescale. The product is poured into the drum for a 30-minute wash. The amount must be calculated based on the volume of the washing machine, however, as is the case with citric acid. Oxalic acid is stronger than citric acid, so its exposure time is shorter, therefore, you need to be careful with its amount.
To clean the washing machine, you can also take 2 cups of ordinary vinegar, pour it into the machine and turn on the longest washing mode at the highest temperature. As in all other cases, the launch of the "washer" must be done without laundry and any detergents. After 5-6 minutes after starting, you must press the pause and leave the machine alone for an hour to “soak”, and then finish the wash.
The remaining product is recommended to be washed off using the quick wash mode. After draining this cycle, the rubber seal, drum and door from the inside must be wiped with vinegar water, that is, a solution of water and vinegar in equal proportions. Then wipe the surface well with a soft cloth.
After the cleansing procedure with vinegar, a specific odor may remain, which can be removed by airing and / or using an additional blank wash with detergent with the addition of fabric softener.
Care Tips
In addition to caring for the drum and heating element, it is necessary to properly care for other parts and parts of the washing machine. This will help to maintain its beautiful appearance for a long time and increase the service life.
It is necessary to ensure that the machine is correctly installed on a flat horizontal surface, as well as being connected to water supply and electricity. Accordingly, hoses and electrical cables must not be damaged or twisted. Water or any other liquid should not drip onto the surface of the machine.
If any stains appear on the outside of the cabinet, they must be removed with a sponge and detergent. A gel for washing dishes is quite suitable for these purposes. Particular attention should be paid to the door, since in the slots around it the main accumulation of dirt occurs. For a more effective cleaning, you can use an old toothbrush.
After that, you can begin to clean the powder compartment, in which the remains of the detergent and rinse aid often linger. For convenience, it would be better to pull the compartment out of the machine, provided that it is provided for by its design.
Filter cleaning
As you know, in automatic washing machines there is a filter that is necessary to prevent clogging of the drain hose with mud accumulations and hair. If you clean the filter occasionally or completely neglect this procedure, then a not very pleasant smell will appear. Also in this case, the risk of machine breakdown increases.
Experts recommend cleaning once every three months, that is, once a quarter.
Step by step this event can be described as follows:
- First remove the panel cover behind which the filter is located.
- It is necessary to take any bowl or other container into which liquid will be drained from the emergency hole.
- Drain the water from the drain hose.
- In some cases, to better clean the drain hose, it must be removed.
- Keep in mind that the drain hose must be empty before you pull the filter out of it.
- It is imperative to remove all hairs, fluff and other dirt from the filter.
- Do not forget to look into the filter hole. Dirt and even small objects can linger there.
- Clean the hole.
- Replace the filter.
Citric acid perfectly destroys the smell and dirt inside the washing machine. How to clean this technique? This can be found in the next video.