Washing Machine Maintenance

[TheIntelligentHoodwinker]

This is something I found out about a while ago. Apology's if its been posted before, or is common knowledge, 'cos everyone I have mentioned it to seems totally oblivious. And besides, i'm new :-)

Posted it in here because of many denim wearers tendency to wash at cooler temperatures (30 to 40 degrees) and to use bleach free detergents. I started doing it after weird smells developing in my washing machine, and also weird musty smells of jeans after cooler washes, especially if hung dry for long periods, extra especially if they hadn't been washed for 5-6-7 months prior.

Here's an example of the level of gunge that can build up inside a washing machine.

I carried out the following, as well as cleaning out the filter and soap tray (Sweet JESUS - the smell that came out there! God damn!!). The difference was instantly evident. I still wash jeans cool, but I no longer get dank smells.

Again - sorry if this is super obvious, but even my Dad didn't know you had to do this.

Many people use the 40° washes almost exclusively these days and the current trend is to use even lower temperatures to save energy. Remember that a non-biological powder, doesn't work as well at lower temperatures so washing at low temperatures requires biological detergent. It's also worth noting that bed bugs (or their eggs) are reported to be able to survive washing at lower temperatures and therefore it is recommended that bedding sheets should be washed at 60° and (as mentioned later) a maintenance wash is also needed.

Washing machines now commonly suffer from a build up of a greasy deposit that causes bad smells, rots hoses & door gaskets and blocks the pressure system causing overfilling or spin failure. An even more serious consequence of this problem is that the aluminium based drum spiders can be corroded by this grease and in serious cases can cause one or more arms to break. This is often fatal to the washing machine.

This fault was not prevalent before the 1980s when detergents started to become more environmentally "friendly". It seems that the problem is worse when a combination of factors are involved, but almost everyone suffering the worst cases of this slimy grease uses 40° washes almost exclusively. This, combined with poor quality detergents (or not using the recommended quantities) or using colour-friendly detergents that contain no bleach (allowing bacteria to thrive) can seriously rot a washing machine inside.

If you were to wash greasy plates in a plastic washing up bowl with the water at 40° you would expect the plates to come clean but when emptying the bowl there is likely to be a greasy film coating it. To break down grease you need higher temperatures. Washing the same plates at 60° or higher I would expect the grease to be dissolved more effectively.

Washing machine manufacturers now recommend a service wash once a month.

Washing machine repairmen like myself have been recommending a service (or maintenance) wash for about 15 years. Washing machine manufacturers have eventually decided to endorse the advice by also advising it in their instruction books. This is particularly important if you mostly use low temperature washes and (or) liquid detergent and other washing machine detergent without bleach like colour friendly detergent. A service (or maintenance) wash involves putting the washing machine on at 95° with only the detergent inside - and no laundry. I particularly recommend you use a washing machine detergent that does contain bleach for a service wash (colour-friendly washing detergent contains no bleach). If you normally use a washing machine detergent that doesn't contain bleach, then buy some detergent that does, and use it for your maintenance washes. This will help kill off bacteria and prevent black mould and grease.

Another idea is to use some Soda crystals which are renowned for dissolving grease and pour them into the drum. Put the washing machine on with no clothes in on a hot wash.

To check if your washing machine is being badly affected, carefully examine the inside of the door seal for slime and grease. Pull the lip in front of the drum and look underneath on lip of the tub. If it's a Hoover Classica, Soft Wave or New Wave, it will have a large section that can be lifted to inspect underneath which (due to the poor design) can accumulate grease and slime, which causes smells, and rots the seal (see photo above).

[Tenchi]

So should I service my bucket more regularly?...