Caring for Your Washing Machine

Since the early 1990s, electric washing machines have made washing clothes in the home easy and convenient. Although modern washing machines need very little care, what maintenance they do need is important to ensure your washer continues functioning efficiently. A poorly-maintained washing machine is more prone to malfunction, as well as using more water than necessary and raising the cost of washing your clothes.

Inspect and Replace the Hoses

Burst washing machine hoses are the most common reason for filing a homeowners’ insurance claim. Most washing machines have two hoses, which are connected side-by-side to two water valves in your wall. These valves are typically behind your washing machine, so you may need to move the appliance to find them. Check the state of these hoses a few times each year with an eye to areas that appear damaged, kinked, or cracked. If you do spot signs of damage, replace the hoses immediately. Even if your hoses appear fine, you should still replace them every five years. For the best insurance against burst hoses, use steel braided hoses, which are much stronger and more resistant to wear and kinking.

Level the Machine

Your washing machine should be level and rest closely to the floor of your laundry room. A machine that is too high or not properly leveled can vibrate during spin and wash cycles, causing damage to itself or anything around the washer. Once a year, use a level to determine if your washing machine is off-kilter. You can adjust the front legs of the washing machine as necessary using the locknuts on these legs, which can be loosened while you adjust the legs and then tightened to keep the legs from moving. Most washing machines have self-adjusting back legs; once you’ve adjusted the front legs, tilt the machine forward to raise the back legs three to four inches off the ground. Lower the machine back to the ground, allowing the legs to adjust automatically. If your machine doesn’t have self-adjusting back legs, they’ll likely have locknuts that should be adjusted just like those in the front.

Clean the Interior

The interior wash tub of your washing machine does most of the machine’s hard work. As it separates dirt and suds from your clothing, your washing machine can become coated in residue that affects its efficiency. Once a month, clean the wash tub by running a wash cycle using a washing machine cleaning solution or baking soda and vinegar. To clean the other interior surfaces of your washing machine, you can create a paste of baking soda and water and scrub away any buildup with a cloth or toothbrush. Rise with clean water and dry to enjoy your fresh, clean washing machine.

Taking good care of your washing machine will reduce the likelihood of problems. However, even the best cared for washers may need maintenance and repairs from time to time. If you’re experiencing a problem you can’t solve, visit our website to learn more about appliance repair in Portland or to schedule your service online. Check out our blog for even more articles on maintaining and troubleshooting your washer, dryer, refrigerator, and dishwasher.