Washing machines and dishwashers today have smoothly transitioned from being luxuries to becoming essentials in numerous households. However, just like all other gadgets they too come with a niche set of maintenance issues. Through the cleaning tips for washing machine & dishwasher, Gharpedia shares some hacks to resolve these minor hiccups on how to clean washing machine and how to clean dishwasher.
They sit quietly in the laundry room and under the kitchen counter, doing their jobs in complete anonymity … until something goes wrong. Then these unobtrusive machines become your worst nightmare, spewing water and belching suds all over the floor and if you don’t catch them quickly, throughout the entire house. How can you prevent such a catastrophe? Well, all it takes is just a little preventive maintenance! Here are useful cleaning tips for washing machine & dishwasher!
Washing Machines and Leakages
Washing machine leaks can happen where the hoses meet up with the supply pipes in the wall or the hoses themselves can fail. In this case, water can gush from the hoses and if it’s the hot water line there’s added danger of scalding. All those Diligent Dianas out there who remember to close the supply line valves when the machine isn’t in use are doing all that they can do to prevent their hoses from bursting. But most of us don’t bother with this extra step each time we unload our clothes, which is why people have invented devices that do it for you. Look online for these products which open the valves when the machines are turned on and close them when it is turned off.
Best Way to Clean Washing Machine
While we’re talking washing machines, remember that your clothing dryer needs some occasional attention as well. Let’s discuss some washing machine cleaning tips:
Stuff You’ll Need
- Bucket
- Towel
- Replacement drain hose (if necessary)
- Adjustable pliers
- Small bristle brush
- Two-braided stainless steel supply lines
- Plumber’s tape (if necessary)
Time
This should only take an hour or so, including a trip to the store to get the new hoses.
Replacing Rubber Hoses in Washing Machine
If the rubber hoses that came with your washing machine are more than five years, you should replace them with steel-jacketed hoses that won’t burst, here’s how …
- There should be shut off valves on the water supply pipes that feed your washing machine. If there aren’t you’ll need to shut off water to the entire house.
- Unplug the washing machine. Pull the drain hose out of the drainpipe so you can move the machine to get better access to the back. Have the bucket nearby and drain out excess water from the drain hose into it. If the drain hose seems brittle or you see any cracks, take it to the store and get a new one.
- Put down the bucket or use a towel to absorb excess water where the drain hoses meet up with the hot and cold water pipes. Use adjustable pliers to remove the hoses from the supply pipes. The bucket should catch any drips. Also, shake the hoses into the bucket to remove any accumulated water. Then remove the hoses where they are attached to the machine itself (in case there’s so much corrosion around the connections that you can’t get them off you’ll need to call the service technician).
- There are small filters at the back of the washing machine where the supply hoses attach that keep any sediment in the water line out of the machine. If you don’t see them there, check the insides of the supply hoses where they connect to the water pipes. Use a small bristle brush to drain off any build-up.
- Screw the hose fittings at the ends of the new supply hoses onto the machine with your fingers and then tighten them with the pliers. Do the same with the water supply side, making sure that you attach the hot water hose to the hot water valve and the cold water hose to the cold water valve.
- Turn the water on and then slowly open the valves and check for leaks; if there are any try wrapping the threaded part of the water supply pipes with plumber’s tape and then reattach the supply lines.
- Move the machine back into place; plug it in and put the old drain hose (or the new one if you decided to replace it) back into the drainpipe. Here have tip on How to Connect a Bathroom Sink Drain?
Levelling Your Washing Machine
Is your washing machine shaky or shimmy when it’s running? Does it have moves that can put a dancer to shame? That means the machine isn’t placed at a proper level. It’s not exactly good for the appliance to shake that much. After all, appliances aren’t meant to dance! All you need to do is fix it so that the machine gets quieter!
Get down on the floor and look for the legs at the front of the washing machine. The legs can be adjusted to the proper height and a locknut keeps them from moving. Loosen the locknut of the leg that’s not touching the floor, extend it down, and then lock it in place again. Keep the legs as close to the floor as you can to reduce vibration (if your machine’s legs won’t move by hand, check the manual to find out how to move them).
Some machines have legs that you can also adjust in the back, but most have self-adjusting rear legs. When you tilt the machine forward, the rear legs spring into action and automatically adjust when you set the machine back down.
Cleaning Washing Machine
‘Amanda Garrity’ advice that (author of the article – Here’s how to Deep Clean a Washing Machine for Fresh Laundry Every Time, published on good housekeeping) you should deep clean your washing machine once a month and take these simple steps after each load to help keep it fresh and clean.
Just put a little dish detergent on a damp rag and wipe the inside drum to remove dirt and water deposits. You can also pour two cups of lemon juice or vinegar into the machine and run it empty with hot water to clean the drum. Then run the machine empty again with hot water to remove any last remnants. While you’re at it, remove the soap dispenser and clean it with some hot water and detergent in the sink.
Some machines have lint traps that need to be cleaned out occasionally, while others send lint down the drain after each cycle. Check your manual to see if lint collects in the centre agitator, near the top of the tub or some other place so that you can clean it out.
There are two types of washing machines: front load and top load washing machine. Here’s to know how to clean front load washing machine and how to clean top load washing machine.
Washing Machine Filling-up slowly…What To Do?
When a washing machine fills slowly, it’s probably not a major plumbing problem. This may mean that your supply hose is kinked or the intake filters are clogged. See the instructions for changing the supply hoses on a washing machine to find out where the filters are and how to clean them. If the screens have hardened mineral deposits on them, you may need to remove and soak them overnight in white vinegar. Machines that won’t fill at all probably have a faulty inlet valve, in which case a plumber will be needed.
Dishwasher Cleaning
New dishwashers are great. They’re quiet, energy-efficient and virtually maintenance-free.
‘Carolyn Forte’ says, (Author of the article – How to Clean a Dishwasher Easily – And How Often You Need to Do so, published on good housekeeping) if dishwasher cleaning is not done correctly, your appliance can’t fully do its job. Plus, if you let the food and grime build up, it can seriously damage the dishwasher’s filter and pump, ultimately resulting in costly repairs.
Dishwasher Cleaning Tips
If you’re limping along with an old machine, you really ought to think about replacing it, but until that comes, here are some common problems with old machines, tips on the best way to clean a dishwasher, how to wash a dishwasher and how to fix them.
Cleaning the Filter of Dishwasher
Some older dishwashers have filters that need to be cleaned out regularly (new ones clean themselves). Check the manual to see if yours has one and how to find and clean your dishwasher.
Slow Leaks in Dishwasher
- Small amounts of water around the front of your machine may indicate a faulty gasket around the door. Shine a flashlight on it to see if it has any cracks. If it does or if it looks brittle, remove it and take a sample to the store to get a new one. Soak the new gasket in warm water, so it’s pliable enough to install in the groove.
- If the gasket looks fine, it could be that the door isn’t closing properly. Adjust the latch by loosening the screw that holds it to the cabinet, pushing the latch in a little and tightening the screw.
- Leaking can also occur when the machine isn’t on a proper level. Open the door and put a small level on the bottom edge. If it’s tilting slightly to one side or from front to back, use the levelling feet under the machine to adjust it until it is set on a proper level. The feet may be behind a panel if you don’t see them.
Dirty Dishes – Cleaning Dishwasher with Vinegar
When dishes aren’t coming out as clean as they used to, inspect the spray arm at the base cabinet interior. Its holes can get clogged with mineral deposits or food. Unscrew it and soak it in a solution of warm water and white vinegar (Vinegar is natural dishwasher cleaner) until the clogs are loosened. Then clean them out with a small pointed object.
It could also be that your water isn’t hot enough. Stick a thermometer into the hot water that comes out of your kitchen sink. If it is below 120 degrees, then that might be why your dishes aren’t getting clean. You can increase the water temperature to the whole house using the thermostat on your water heater, but don’t set it higher than 120 degrees, or you might get burnt.
Water Won’t Drain from Dishwasher
There may be a clog in the drain line that connects your dishwasher to your garbage disposal. If you are confident about your plumbing skills, remove the line, clean it out and reattach it before running the machine again.
Rust Stains in Dishwasher
If the coating on your dishwasher racks is coming off, there could be rust on the metal that is getting on your dishes. Buy plastic coating replacement material or use a marine-grade sealant to cover any exposed metal.
Conclusion
On a concluding note, you may sometimes think that an appliance has a major problem that only a professional can fix; but a bit of investigative work before picking up the phone could save you a lot of time and money. With these tips, you can certainly fix the minor issue plaguing your washing machine and dishwasher and bring them back to working efficiently.
If you have other old appliances at home, go through:
Is It More Environmentally Friendly To Replace Old Appliances?
Author Bio
Huta Raval – An English Literature and Journalism Topper, Huta Raval has graduated from the L D Arts College, Ahmedabad. Post serving for 23 years in the NBFC and Public Library Sectors her desire for ‘writing the unwritten’ brought her to the creative field of content writing. Her clientele comprises of NGOs, Blogging Platforms, Newspapers, Academic Institutions, et al.