Regular cleaning will keep your washing machine operating at peak efficiency and help avoid offensive odors. Citric acid is a widely used and efficient solution for removing buildup and limescale from machines.
However, what temperature is ideal for using citric acid to clean your washing machine? The effectiveness of the cleaning process can vary significantly depending on the temperature you select.
We’ll walk you through the ideal temperature settings in this post so that you can clean your washing machine safely and thoroughly and keep it in top shape.
- What temperature to set?
- How to carry out the procedure?
- Video on the topic
- How to use citric acid to clean a washing machine from scale
- citric acid day 1
- Cleaning the WASHING MACHINE heater with citric acid
- Cleaning the washing machine with citric acid.
- How to clean the washing machine with citric acid and bleach
- How to clean the washing machine with citric acid
- Cleaning the drum of the washing machine using LG as an example
What temperature to set?
Low-temperature washing won’t be sufficient if the washing machine has been running for a long time without ever being descaled. Since hot water is ideal for cleaning—including citric acid—a mode with a temperature range of 60 to 95 degrees is chosen. A lot depends on how contaminated the machine is; the "60" program is sufficient for preventive cleaning and at least the "90" program is needed for complex cleaning.
The length of the cleaning process is also crucial. The first time that citric acid and the washing machine interact, it should ideally last for several lengthy cycles—roughly four to five hours. However, exercise caution: you should ideally activate "90" and then run "60" twice instead of repeating the 90 degree program twice.
Use citric acid to clean the washing machine in the "60," "90," or "Cotton" high-temperature, long-term modes.
The washing machine is in grave danger if it repeatedly operates in the high-temperature mode without stopping. First off, a heating element that runs continuously might not be able to handle the load and eventually burn out. Second, the seal overheats and deforms, shielding the machine’s bearing unit from moisture. Furthermore, the rubber seal’s grease will wash off more quickly in hot water, allowing the liquid to reach the bearings and hasten their demise. It is best to avoid taking chances and to use citric acid strictly in accordance with the guidelines to avoid the need for costly repairs in this scenario.
When using citric acid to clean your washing machine, make sure the water temperature is set to 60°C (140°F). This temperature keeps your machine operating smoothly and prolongs its life by allowing the citric acid to fully dissolve and break down odors, detergent residues, and limescale.
How to carry out the procedure?
Scale and other plaque can be removed fast and efficiently with the use of citric acid, which is regarded as an inexpensive and safe cleaner. Two more benefits of "citric acid" are that it’s inexpensive and has no strong smell. But usability is the key benefit.
It’s easy to clean the machine at home using citric acid. We first purchase three to five bags of citric acid. The dosage is determined by the machine’s capacity: 150–200 g is sufficient for compact washers with loads up to 4 kg, and 250 g is required for full-size washers with drums weighing 5–10 kg. It is not advised to go over the "portion" because doing so will harm the equipment’s component parts.
Next, adhere to the subsequent algorithm:
- check that there are no forgotten clothes in the drum;
- pour citric acid into the drum or into the powder receptacle (preferably into the main wash compartment);
- turn on the “60”, “90” or “Cotton” program;
- set double rinse;
- reduce the spin intensity to a minimum, if possible, turn it off completely;
- start the cycle.
Keeping an eye on the cleaning procedure is crucial. Citric acid causes scale to lift off the surface in big chunks, which could get lodged in the drain. You should halt the cycle, unplug the washing machine from the mains, remove the dust filter, and clean the machine of any limescale or other debris if you hear an odd scratching sound. The program then resumes after the nozzle is put back in its proper location.
It is advised to carefully inspect the drum by opening the hatch door as soon as the cycle is finished. It’s possible that scale fragments have become lodged in the cuff and need to be freed from the rubber band. To finish the process, you should ideally activate a quick wash or an additional rinse.
Put on rubber gloves at the "finish" and use a soft, dry cloth to carefully wipe the cuff and drum. Check the trash filter again for any stuck scale after that. After that, leave the powder drawer and hatch door ajar to let the machine dry naturally.
| Cleaning Temperature | Recommended Usage |
| 30°C (86°F) | Light cleaning; regular maintenance to prevent buildup. |
| 40°C (104°F) | Standard cleaning; effective for removing mild limescale. |
| 60°C (140°F) | Deep cleaning; ideal for tackling heavy limescale and grime. |
Citric acid is an easy and efficient way to keep your washing machine in good working order. This process works best at temperatures between 60°C and 90°C because this range allows the citric acid to dissolve easily and break down detergent residues and limescale.
By operating the machine at these higher temperatures, the citric acid is able to thoroughly clean the interior parts of the drum and all of its constituent parts. But use caution when using citric acid—too much of it can be harsh on rubber components.
Your washing machine’s lifespan can be increased and your clothes will continue to come out clean and fresh if you include this cleaning technique in your routine maintenance schedule.
