Cleaning and self-cleaning a washing machine

To keep your washing machine functional and long-lasting, you must keep it clean. Lint, soap scum, and other residues can accumulate inside your laundry over time, possibly causing foul odors or even impairing the cleanliness of your clothes. Thankfully, self-cleaning and cleaning your washing machine aren’t as difficult as they seem, and they can significantly improve the efficiency of your device.

Regular maintenance and sporadic deep cleaning are the two main strategies to guarantee your washing machine remains in excellent condition. Simple cleaning procedures like wiping down the drum and door seal are part of routine maintenance that help keep mold and mildew from growing. On the other hand, more involved procedures are involved in periodic deep cleaning, such as using natural or specialized products in a cleaning cycle. Both techniques are essential to maintaining the efficiency of your machine and the freshness of your clothes.

This post will go over some practical advice for maintaining your washing machine’s self-cleaning capabilities as well as quick and simple ways to clean it. These simple procedures will help guarantee that your washer stays a dependable and hygienic component of your laundry routine, regardless of whether you have a front-load or top-load washer.

Washing hygiene

The purpose of automatic washing machines is to spare their owners from needless hassles. But are they really that self-sufficient? After adding laundry to the drum, adding powder, and pressing the button, you eventually get clean clothes. The drum still contains pet hair, lint, threads, and dirt particles.

Such tiny debris only partially enters the filtration system and flows into the sewer. Small fragments land on the walls, where they create the perfect conditions for bacteria and fungi to proliferate.

When you load new clothes, all of this microflora ends up on them because the typical washing mode only heats the water to between 30 and 60 degrees Celsius. It is not hot enough to kill infections.

Self-cleaning of the washing machine

The drum’s eco-cleaning feature cleans everything on its own, negating the need for additional cleaning or disinfection supplies. The cleaning cycle lasts 90 minutes at a temperature of 70 degrees.

This enables you to clean the interior of the appliance, get rid of mold, scale, and bad odors. The washing machine’s electronics automatically set these parameters, so you cannot modify them.

In addition to allowing for the preservation of internal hygienic conditions, the drum’s eco-cleaning program greatly extends the device’s useful life. Furthermore, you can save electricity by cleaning the washing machine on a regular basis. This is because a clean electric heater heats water faster and more effectively by removing any plaque buildup.

How does the drum cleaning function work?

Cleaning is done in several steps and resembles a typical wash without laundry:

1. Pre-wash mode is activated.
2. The main mode or cleaning at 60 degrees with revolutions up to 150 rpm is started.
3. The program ends with a double rinse and spin at the highest possible revolutions.

It is sufficient to clean the drum twice a month in order to prevent plaque buildup and clogging. It is highly advised that you clear any debris from the drain filter before using this function.

Crucial! Scale formation is not eliminated or stopped by using this cycle.

Application area of the cleaning function

The drum of the washing machine is more prone to contamination than other parts because detergents can seep in there from stale laundry.

It also comes into contact with unfiltered, hard water that is tainted with dangerous substances:

• Iron,
• Technical, edible oils,
• Rust,
• Chlorine,
• Calcium and magnesium salts.

The machine becomes damp and leaves streaks and puddles on the drum after extended use, especially in households with lots of children. An atmosphere is created that is conducive to the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms that are harmful to human health. Some housewives have the bad habit of putting dirty clothes straight in the washing machine, which exacerbates the situation.

Maintaining the cleanliness of your washing machine is essential to preserving its lifespan and functionality. Cleaning your machine on a regular basis will help avoid mold growth, offensive odors, and detergent residue accumulation. This post will walk you through easy, efficient ways to clean your washing machine and, if it has one, demonstrate how to use its self-cleaning features. You can make sure your washer stays in good working order and consistently produces clean, fresh laundry by following these simple instructions.

Why you need to clean the drum of the washing machine?

Over time, the drum that handles soiled laundry becomes soiled. You have to clean your washing machine manually if it doesn’t have automatic cleaning. Pour soda, vinegar, citric acid, bleach, or other cleaning and disinfecting agents into the machine to accomplish this.

The drum eliminates soap deposits, dirt, bacteria, mold, scale, and bad odors because of the cleaning agent treatment. A foul odor will emanate from the machine if the "insides" are not cleaned in a timely manner, and the laundry will also smell like it.

It will break down early if you don’t keep the washing machine clean. If you purchased an Eco model, the washing machine will take care of its own cleaning without the need for you to use special cleaning supplies or leave it running all the time.

If the washing machine does not have a self-cleaning mode for the drum

You should become acquainted with the laundry detergent manufacturer’s recommended list for drum cleaning, which is found in your washing machine’s operating instructions. In the worst situation, "folk remedies" may be used. Naturally, though, it’s important to keep in mind that they should only be applied sparingly and very carefully.

How to clean the drum of a washing machine with citric acid

Once the powder compartment is filled with 100–200 g of citric acid (depending on your model’s load), turn on the wash at a high temperature and high speed.

How to clean the drum of a washing machine with vinegar

Pour 9% vinegar (250 ml) into the powder compartment. Turn on the high-temperature washing feature. Once the mixture of vinegar and water has heated, stop the wash for sixty minutes, then continue and finish it. Once the procedure is complete, leave the hatch open to allow the machine’s vinegar odor to dissipate.

How to clean a washing machine drum with soda

Combine 200 grams of soda with 200 grams of water (one to one). Apply the resulting gruel to the hatch’s rubber cuff, the machine’s drum, and the inner glass of the hatch cover. After 30 minutes, take the mixture out of the machine using a damp sponge. Next, turn on the machine’s rinse mode.

How to clean a washing machine drum with chlorine

Transfer 250 milliliters of a 0.5% chlorine solution into the powder drawer. Set the washer to the maximum temperature and speed.

Restarting the washing mode is advised if you are unsure whether the detergent you used washed into the machine’s internal components during the drum cleaning process (after waiting for the time interval specified in the instructions for your LG washing machine). If not, there could be future harm to the laundry.

How to clean the drum of a washing machine with powder

• Front-loading washing machine (built-in or freestanding),
• Top-loading washing machine.

1. Remove all laundry from the drum
2. Select the Cotton program and set the highest temperature
3. Add a small amount of powder detergent to the empty drum to remove any remaining dirt

Occasionally, at the conclusion of the cycle, an icon may show on the display advising that the drum should be cleaned.

The icon vanishes once the drum has been cleaned.

Preventing drum contamination

After washing, the washing machine’s dampness and warm temperature create an ideal environment for the growth of mold and fungus. Microbes proliferate because of garbage, dirt, and unwashed detergents that settle on the powder tray, drain hose, rubber door seal, and filter.

Additionally, washing heavily greasy-soiled items causes sediments to settle on the rubber cuffs, tank, and drum.

Limescale is frequently the cause of the drum’s contamination. When heated, an insoluble sediment forms because running water contains impurities and salts. Consequently, a layer of scale forms on the heating elements, and this layer gets thicker over time and blocks heat conductivity. Energy use and water heating quality are impacted by this.

In order to avoid contamination and scaling, one must:

• at least once a week wash at a high temperature, but up to 75 degrees, since the process of scale formation begins from this value;
• wash out the remaining detergents from the tray;
• wipe the hatch cuff dry;
• 1-2 times in 2-3 months (depending on the operation of the machine) carry out preventive cleaning with citric acid or vinegar;
• ventilate the tank after washing, leaving the hatch slightly open for an hour and a half.

According to washing machine repair experts’ reviews, models with a drum cleaning feature are less likely to break down and are kept in better condition. This can be explained by the fact that, because this program doesn’t require cleaning supplies or physical labor, users are more inclined and willing to clean the machine of accumulated dirt.

Self-cleaning washing machines

The majority of contemporary washing machine models from the following manufacturers—LG, Samsung, Haier, Hotpoint, Electrolux, Gorenje, Haier, Ariston, Beko, Indesit, and many more—come with the self-cleaning feature.

For instance, the BEKO WMI71241 model features a self-cleaning program that involves washing an empty drum at a high temperature without the need for detergents. Its classic design allows it to handle loads of up to 7 kg of laundry.

This feature is also present in the highly popular built-in LG F-1296ND3 model, which is intended for a 6 kg laundry load.

The LG brand’s manufacturers have created a unique series called "Direct Drive," models of which have at least 10 programs (the number varies based on the machine’s cost), including self-cleaning.

Cleaning Method	Description
Manual Cleaning	Regularly wipe down the drum, door seal, and detergent drawer with a damp cloth to remove residue and dirt.
Self-Cleaning Function	Use the washing machine"s built-in self-cleaning cycle to eliminate odors and bacteria from the drum.
Descaling	Run an empty cycle with a descaling agent to remove limescale buildup, which can affect the machine"s performance.
Filter Maintenance	Check and clean the filter periodically to prevent clogs that can lead to drainage issues.
Using Vinegar and Baking Soda	Add vinegar and

Contrary to popular belief, cleaning your washing machine is crucial. Its performance and your clothes may be impacted over time by the accumulation of dirt, mold, and detergent residue inside the machine. Frequent cleaning keeps your machine operating smoothly and helps avoid offensive smells. You can maintain your washer’s condition and increase its longevity by adhering to a basic cleaning schedule.

Modern washing machines with self-cleaning features make this task even simpler. A built-in cleaning cycle on many models can get rid of buildup with little to no effort on your part. To achieve the best results, just make sure you use the appropriate cleaning products and adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t worry if your machine doesn’t have a self-cleaning feature; with regular maintenance, manual cleaning techniques are just as successful.

Keep in mind that a clean washing machine results in clothes that are cleaner and an efficient machine. You can avoid having to deal with more serious problems later on by scheduling routine maintenance. It pays to put in a little time investment to keep your washer operating like new.

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