Your washing machine is one of the most heavily used appliances in your home, tackling load after load of laundry on a regular basis. A standard washing machine has a lifespan of 10 to 14 years, but consistent maintenance and regular maintenance can keep yours going far longer than that estimate. Most of what it requires to keep a washer running longer comes down to a handful of simple, repeatable routines that require minimal effort or investment.
Read on for a comprehensive guide to keeping your appliance running at its optimal level.
Stop Overloading Your Washer
Cramming your washing machine is one of the surest ways to shorten its lifespan. Once clothing absorbs water with water, its weight increases dramatically, putting serious strain on the bearing assembly, motor, and structural parts. Persistent overfilling hastens deterioration of elements that can be very pricey to repair.
As a standard rule, fill the drum about three-quarters full and leave room for the laundry to tumble freely. When washing single bulky pieces such as duvets or cushions, toss in a few towels to help even out the weight more uniformly. A drum that is not properly balanced creates aggressive vibrations that can steadily move the machine out of position and loosen internal connections.
Keep the Machine Level
Today's washing machines are designed to spinning at up to 1,600 RPM. When running that fast, even a small tilt in any direction produces heavy vibration that stresses elements and compromises connections. Rest a spirit level on the surface of the machine and check it is balanced in both planes. If the machine is unlevel, reposition the leveling feet by backing off their locking nuts, correcting the position, and re-securing the nuts once the machine is level. This simple fix can meaningfully extend the lifespan of your machine and put an end to the excessive banging that many homeowners take for normal.
Do Not Use Too Much Soap
Adding more detergent than needed does not improve laundry outcomes and directly harms your machine's durability. An overdose of detergent leads to excessive suds accumulation that the washer has trouble eliminate, causing it to trigger additional cycles and wear down components faster. Detergent buildup in the drum and internal pipes promotes bacteria over time, producing the unpleasant scents that many machines commonly exhibit.
Users of HE washers should only use detergent that is specifically formulated for HE machines. Standard detergent produces way too many suds in HE washers, which are built to operate with very little water, and can lead to mechanical issues over time. In most situations, a single tablespoon or two of liquid detergent is all you need for a typical load. Your washing machine's user guide will have specific detergent recommendations based on load size and water hardness in your area.
Keep the Drum Clean With Regular Maintenance
Even if your machine seems fine from the exterior, deposits from detergent, fabric softener, skin oils, and hard water minerals quietly accumulates inside the machine interior over time. A regular once-a-month drum-cleaning cycle is one of the most effective maintenance steps any washing machine user can take.
Many of the latest washers come equipped with a integrated cleaning cycle designed directly to clear the drum and internal components. If yours does not, just run an unloaded cycle on the hottest available cycle using a cleaning tablet, two cups of white vinegar, or sodium bicarbonate. This process eliminates accumulated residue, eliminates odor-causing organisms that cause bad smells, and extends the life of door seals and internal hoses. This routine is particularly important for front-load machines, as their tight-fitting door gaskets are likely to hold dampness and are particularly susceptible to mildew.
Clean the Filter and Detergent Drawer
Most washing machines have a built-in lint and debris filter, usually positioned at the front bottom panel, behind a small access door. Its function is to catch fluff, coins, hair accessories, and other foreign objects that end up in the machine. A obstructed filter prevents the machine from draining properly, placing extra load on the pump and potentially allowing pooled water in the drum after the cycle completes.
Make it a practice to remove and clean the filter every four weeks or so. To clear it, remove the filter cover, clean it under the tap, remove any debris by hand, and refit it snugly. Take the moment to remove the dispenser drawer as well and wash it clean under fresh water. Detergent and fabric conditioner residue collects fast in this drawer and can clog the spray jets that deliver detergent through the drum, quietly compromising the quality of every wash.
Check Your Water Hoses Every Six Months
Most homeowners rarely look at the inlet hoses behind their washing machine a second thought, yet a burst hose is among the most common causes of significant home water damage. Regular rubber hoses break down slowly and can form hairline cracks or weak areas that ultimately fail under continuous pressure.
Every six months, check your supply hoses carefully for any swelling, surface cracks, deterioration at the connection points, or discoloration that signal the rubber is deteriorating. The common advice from most manufacturers is to replace standard hoses every three to five years as a proactive measure. Upgrading to reinforced stainless steel hoses is a wise upgrade, as they are far more durable and significantly less susceptible to rupturing. Also check that the supply hose attachments at both ends, at the machine and at the shut-off valve, are tight and completely free of any moisture or dripping.
Empty Pockets Before Every Wash
A quick pocket check before loading laundry can avoid more machine faults than most households realize. Hard objects including coins, keys, fasteners, and metal clips are capable of getting through the drum perforations and lodging in the drain pump or wearing out the drum bearings, leading to worsening mechanical issues. Paper napkins disintegrate in the wash and deposit lint behind that restricts the drain filter over time. Chapstick, ballpoint pens, and similar items can break open mid-cycle, discoloring garments and depositing hard-to-remove residue on the interior drum surface that is very difficult to remove.
Always search every pocket as part of your standard pre-wash routine. Invert jeans here and heavy trousers to the inside to check all pocket sections conveniently, and give children's garments an particularly diligent check since small toys and erasers are often tucked away in pockets.
Keep the Door Ajar After Every Cycle
After every wash cycle, humidity remains inside the machine interior, around the door gasket, and in the soap drawer. Shutting the door straight away after a load locks in that remaining humidity, and the resulting humid, warm environment are ideal for mildew growth. Front-load washers experience this concern more prominently due to their tight door gaskets, which hold dampness in their creases with every load.
Once you have taken out your laundry, keep the door or lid open for a minimum of 60 minutes so air can move through and dry the interior. Clean the door seal on front-loading washers with a clean dry cloth, targeting the folds in the gasket where water tends to pool. Regular ventilation after every load is one of the most impactful ways to stop the unpleasant smell that plagues so many machines after prolonged operation.
Avoid Vibrating on Hard Surfaces
Tile or hardwood floors beneath a washing machine give no shock absorption for spinning vibrations, letting them to gradually shift the machine out of alignment and cause wear on both the washer and the floor. Installing an anti-vibration pad beneath the washer is an inexpensive solution that delivers noticeable results. These foam or rubber cushions dampen machine vibrations and secure the washer solidly in position. These mats are affordable, need no fitting, and provide a real improvement in both machine noise and machine movement.
Call a qualified specialist today for fast, affordable washing machine repair.