How to descale an automatic washing machine. Methods for descaling a washing machine and prevention. How to clean the drain filter in a washing machine

Tap water is not ideal. It is usually hard, smells like bleach, and contains impurities. In addition, chemical components are constantly added to washing machines. And technology reacts negatively to this, demanding cleansing. This procedure will help extend the life of the device. How to descale a washing machine is described in the article.

Causes of pollution

It is important to ensure that cleaning is necessary. You should also know what needs to be cleaned. If you look into a machine that has been working for a long time, you can find a dirty coating on the surface of the plastic and metal elements. It is usually hard and contains minerals, making it difficult to remove with a rag or your hands.

The causes of pollution include:

1. Hard or dirty water.
2. The presence of many chemicals in the powder.
3. Constant operation of the machine in the “Intensive wash” mode.

Moreover, the device necessarily has hard-to-reach corners where dirt accumulates. Over time, it becomes so much that it leads to breakdown of the machine. And repair work is quite expensive. Therefore, all owners should know how to descale a washing machine? Thanks to this, it will be possible to extend the service life. And if you perform regular maintenance, you can avoid many problems with equipment.

Why does scale appear?

When water is very hard, it contains calcium and magnesium salts. When heated, they turn into carbon dioxide and solid sediment, which, together with dirty particles, remains on the heating element and the tank of the device. After being coated with a layer of scale, the metal heating part does not conduct heat well. As a result, water takes a long time to heat up, and more electricity is needed. Dirt from the water causes clogging of the intake valve, the parts of which quickly deteriorate.

You can determine whether there is scale on the heating element or not yourself. Usually the heating part is located under the drum or slightly off-center. You need to take a flashlight, point it at the hole in the drum, and examine the heating element. In this case, you need to shake the drum a little to ensure uniform illumination. Often this does not work out right away - you need to experiment with the speed of swinging.

Use of chemicals

What is the best way to descale a washing machine? There is a special product for this - “Antinakpin”. It contains acid that dissolves the layer of deposits. After pouring the product into the device, you should turn on the “wash without laundry” function. The effect occurs quickly - a chemical reaction due to heating removes scale from the elements of the machine.

But this method also has disadvantages. If you add more powder than normal, the rubber parts of the device may deteriorate. And inhaling acid fumes is harmful. But this method is very simple and cheap. Just do not confuse it with softeners added when washing clothes. They definitely don't remove scale.

Lemon acid

If washing is carried out frequently, then cleaning should be done every quarter. And with rare use of the device, once every six months will be enough. How to descale an automatic washing machine with citric acid? It is necessary to set the washing mode “without laundry”, temperature 60-90 degrees, and then add citric acid (50-100 g) to the powder connector. This method is high-quality and affordable, and it will also help you get rid of foreign odors. This prevention does not cause any harm to the elements of the device.

Vinegar

Experts consider this method to be one of the most effective. How to descale a washing machine with vinegar? This procedure is performed according to the following instructions:

1. You need to pour 2 cups of vinegar into the car. Then add hot water and you can wash without laundry or powder for the longest cycle.
2. After 5 minutes you need to pause the program for an hour. This is required for the solution to penetrate into various corners of the tank.
3. After this, you must continue the washing program to the end.
4. To rinse off the cleaning solution, add water and turn on the short cycle wash function.
5. Dip a cloth in a weak vinegar solution, and then wipe the inside of the machine door. Seals should be treated especially carefully.

How to prevent scale from appearing

Housewives need to know not only how to descale a washing machine. Contamination can be prevented. Various magnetic water softeners are used for this purpose. They can be located both in the inlet hose of the device and at the entrance of the pipeline to the apartment. They are called filter softeners.

A magnetic water softener removes magnesium and calcium. The absence of these salts eliminates various problems. With this method, scale will not appear on the tank and heating element. The disadvantages of the method include its high cost. The softener has a price of about 1,500 rubles, which is much more expensive than Antiscale. But it is more convenient to use, and the filter lasts for about 50 years. Having spent once, you no longer have to worry about how to clean the heating element of a washing machine from scale.

In addition to magnetic ones, there are also mechanical cleaning filters. They remove rust and sand. This serves as protection against pipe blockages and saves household appliances from damage. Plumbing fixtures with such filters will work longer.

Technological anti-scale protection

How to descale your washing machine in other ways? One method is as follows: the more hot water the equipment requires to wash, the more scale deposits on its parts. Manufacturers of modern equipment take this fact into account, so they equip the unit with new washing programs. The water heats up only to 40-50 degrees, and dirt is removed perfectly. This way you can get rid of scale and save on electricity.

The heating element can work much longer or break down quickly. The reason for this may not be a defect - it all depends on the washing regime and loads. If you frequently wash worn-out items, their particles will lead to scale. Counterfeit washing powders also have a negative impact, leading not only to the breakdown of the heating element, but also to the entire machine.

Therefore, to save money, you should choose a softener filter or use Antiscale. Don't forget about the mechanical filter, which removes dirt particles. And when washing, you need to choose those modes in which the water heats up less.

Calgon

Calgon will help you quickly descale your washing machine. But this is a regular water softener. The composition contains soda and sodium triphosphate. The cost of a package weighing slightly more than 0.5 kg is over 150 rubles. You can take these substances and create a mixture yourself.

But as it turns out, this softener cannot be a reliable protection for the heating element; on the contrary, it worsens the situation. With constant use of the product, the surface of the tubular electric heater will become hard, similar to cemented. As a result, the heating element quickly burns out.

High-quality washing powders add softener and other components that provide gentle care for the machine. But experienced craftsmen do not recommend using Calgon. You can clean the washing machine from scale using more affordable and effective methods.

Soda

You can descale your washing machine with baking soda. This product will also help remove mold. Soda and water must be mixed in equal quantities. The prepared mixture must be used to treat the internal surfaces of the drum, including the rubber seal on the door, because this is where a lot of mold accumulates.

Soda can be used in another way. The product must be poured into the powder container and run a long wash cycle with hot water. If the dirt turns out to be very persistent, you can combine cleaning methods, for example, using vinegar and soda.

Cleaning the filter

It is important to know not only how to clean the washing machine drum from scale, but also how to treat the filter. To avoid breakdowns, work must be done regularly. Before the procedure, you need to place a rag under the equipment so as not to remove dirty water. You will also need a container where you can remove water using a drain hose, which should be lowered into it. The filter is located in a special hatch at the bottom of the machine. The procedure is performed as follows:

1. You need to open the hatch.
2. The filter must be removed after the water has drained. This is done by turning counterclockwise.
3. It is necessary to remove existing dirt, fluff, and hair. The filter is then installed in place.
4. The filter base also needs to be cleaned.

Other folk remedies

Other means can be used:

1. White must be added to citric acid. You need to run a long wash cycle at 90 degrees. With this method, room ventilation is recommended. You should also ventilate the remaining rooms. Chlorine vapors affect human mucous membranes.
2. Chlorine-containing products help get rid of mold spores. You will need 100 ml of liquid, which must be poured into the drum and run a wash cycle at a temperature of 90 degrees. The procedure requires half an hour of washing.
3. Cleaning is carried out with copper sulfate. You will need 50 g of the product, which must be filled with water (100 ml). The solution should be mixed and poured into the drum. You need to start the wash at 90 degrees.

All cleaning is done without laundry. These are the main methods regarding the question of how to descale a washing machine. Each of them allows you to save equipment by extending its service life.

Choosing washing powder

You need to choose high-quality powder for your washing machine. Each product contains surfactants - surface-active components that combine with fats and other contaminants, and also wash them out of clothes. This is the main substance that ensures washing of things. The rest consists of additives, dyes, flavors, fragrances, bleaches, anti-scale additives, and defoamers. The exception is children's powders, where there are less surfactants.

It is recommended to choose powders according to the type of clothing that is to be washed. For example, you should not purchase standard products for a down jacket. Usually, more expensive powders wash better, although their composition is not too different from cheaper ones.

Pollution prevention

Cleanliness of equipment is the key to the fact that it will work for a long time. You should not leave things inside for a long time. This can lead to the formation of fungus and mold, and the operation of the machine also deteriorates. Therefore, laundry should be hung or placed in a certain container.

It is important to ventilate the machine - this will remove excess moisture from it. Wet stains inside the equipment are wiped with a dry cloth. The machine must be cleaned every six months. Prevention doesn't hurt. It is advisable to carry it out every 2 months. To do this, you can use the above methods.

Each machine has a filter that becomes dirty after washing. It should be cleaned regularly. Scale crystallizes when water heats up to 75 degrees. If the temperature is up to 70 degrees, then the tank and heating element will be clean.

A washing machine, like any other household appliance, requires careful care. Regular descaling significantly extends the life of the equipment.

Olga Nikitina

Reading time: 6 minutes

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Sooner or later, every happy owner of a washing machine is faced with the problem of the smell of mold from the equipment, scale, clogged filters, etc. The life of the machine is affected by illiterate operation, hard water, and the use of inappropriate products.

And even if you follow the rules for caring for equipment, over time the question arises - how to clean a washing machine and extend its life?

It turns out that you can do without calling a technician and prevent equipment breakdowns and subsequent repairs to your neighbor’s apartment...

• External cleaning of the machine
  Usually we just wipe the top surface of the equipment, not paying attention to everything else - “oh, it looks clean, who’s going to look at it with a magnifying glass!” As a result, after a month or two, the owner understands that a lot of effort will have to be applied to cleaning the surface - stains from bleaches, water and powders lie on the walls of the car in a dense layer.
  If you don’t have the habit of wiping your car from all sides immediately after washing, then prepare a sponge, a small brush (or a toothbrush) and dishwashing liquid. We dilute the product in water (5:1), apply it to the surface with a sponge, and clean the rubber seal and door with a brush. We wipe everything with a damp and then a dry cloth. At the same time, we take out and clean the detergent tray.
• Cleaning the filter
  If you use the machine for a long time without regular cleaning, the filter becomes clogged. The result is an unpleasant smell from the car, poor water circulation, or even a flood. Therefore, we place the container next to the machine, open the bottom cover of the panel, drain the water from the hose, take out the filter and clean it outside and inside. Then we return it to its place.
• Cleaning the drum
  An unpleasant smell from the car indicates the need for such a procedure. How to fight? Pour bleach (glass) into the drum, turn on the “idle” wash cycle for a few minutes, selecting the hot water mode.
  Next, we put the machine on “pause” and leave it “soaked” for an hour. After we finish washing, wipe the inside of the equipment and leave the door open. Such cleaning once every 2-3 months will eliminate the appearance of odor and mold in the car.
• Cleaning your car from mold using baking soda
  No matter what they say, mold can and should be fought. True, this must be done regularly, not forgetting about the rules of prevention. Mix soda with water (1:1) and carefully treat the surface of the car from the inside, not forgetting about the rubber seal - this is where mold most often hides. The procedure should be repeated once a week.
• Cleaning the car with citric acid
  The method will help cope with limescale, odor and mold. Pour 200 g of citric acid into the drum or tray for chemicals, set the long wash mode and temperature to 60 degrees. When scale and acid come into contact, a chemical reaction occurs that destroys limescale. During cleaning, do not fill the drum with clothes - the machine should be running idle. There's no need to spin (we don't put laundry in), but an extra rinse wouldn't hurt. The method should be used once every 3-6 months.
• Cleaning the car with citric acid and bleach
  In addition to citric acid (1 cup) poured into the tray, we also pour a glass of bleach directly into the drum of the machine. Washing modes and temperatures are the same. The downside is the strong smell. Therefore, windows should be opened wide when cleaning so that the steam generated by the chemical combination of chlorine and salts does not affect health. As for the car itself, after such cleaning the car will not only sparkle clean, but also be cleared of lime and dirt in the most inaccessible places. The procedure should be used no more often than once every 2-3 months to prevent acid from corroding the rubber parts of the machine.
• Cleaning the drum from odor
  Instead of a chemical antibacterial agent, we pour oxalic acid into the drum and run the machine “idle” for 30 minutes (without laundry). The quantity and modes of washing are the same as in the method with citric acid.
• Cleaning the car with copper sulfate
  If the fungus has already firmly established itself in your equipment, then you won’t be able to get rid of it using conventional means. A solution of copper sulfate will help solve this problem quickly and effectively, and even as a preventive measure it will not hurt. To clean the machine, rinse the cuff of the washing machine with the product and leave without wiping for a day. Afterwards, wash all parts with diluted detergent and clean water.
• Cleaning with vinegar
  Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the machine and set the machine to a long wash cycle and high temperature. Naturally, we start the car without laundry and detergents. After 5-6 minutes, we pause the machine and leave it to “soak” for an hour, after which we finish washing. The remaining product can be washed off with a short wash. After you drain the water, you need to wipe the rubber seal, drum and door from the inside with a cloth soaked in vinegar water (1:1). And then wipe dry.

The service life of a washing machine directly depends on proper care. Scale is a terrible enemy that can damage even the most expensive equipment. Today we will determine the reasons for the appearance of limescale, talk about how to clean a washing machine from scale, and consider ways to extend the performance of the unit.

Reasons for the appearance of scale in the washing machine and possible consequences

Cleaning is truly necessary and inevitable. If you take a closer look at a machine that has been in use for a year or two, you will see a coating of dirt on the metal and plastic elements, particles of which have already crystallized and cannot be removed with a rag. The reasons for the appearance of plaque are as follows:

• Tap water initially comes in “dirty” and hard. It contains a lot of calcium and magnesium salts, which form a hard crust on the heating element. It increases over time, which disrupts the thermal conductivity of the device; accordingly, more time and energy are spent on heating.
• Washing powder contains a large amount of chemical impurities.
• The machine most often operates in the quick wash mode at high temperature.
• The unit lasts for 3-4 years, and prevention of deposits has never been carried out.
• There are interruptions in the water supply in the system, and work is being carried out to repair the water supply.
• Accumulating in hard-to-reach places, scale causes wear of parts, increased energy bills, and deterioration in the quality of washing. Over time, small particles break off and clog the drain filter. The expected outcome is a breakdown of the machine.

How to determine the extent of the problem:

• Shine a flashlight into the hole at the bottom of the drum. The heating element is located in the center.
• While lightly pumping the drum, inspect the heating element. This will help you determine if the heating element needs cleaning.

Chemicals for descaling

To choose a descaler for washing machines, you need to study the whole variety of professional chemistry. The following drugs have proven themselves to be excellent:

• Bubble Ice powder, liquid Astonish, Filtero.
• Antiscale is poured into the drum, after which the longest-term program is launched. The downside is that if the dosage is exceeded, parts of the machine may be damaged, and the seals will begin to leak. In the process, acid evaporates, which can also negatively affect the health of household members.

• Calgon contains sodium polyphosphate, which reduces the hardness of tap water, which reduces the degree of lime accumulation on the heating element. However, it should be remembered that this remedy cannot eliminate already built-up calcium-magnesium deposits. It has been noticed that after long-term use of Calgon, the service life of the machine only decreases. We have already written about how to replace calgon.

• Magic Power is a product from Germany that has established itself as one of the best products for cleaning all hard-to-reach equipment parts.

• Luxus Professional is successfully used to clean limescale deposits not only from automatic machines, but also from irons, kettles and other equipment. After it, all equipment has a light lemon aroma. You should strictly adhere to the dosage and instructions for use.

• Top House - suitable for any appliances, successfully removing scale. 1 jar is enough for 5 cleaning procedures.

• Among budgetary, but less effective means, we note Topper 3004, Bork K&P, Breeze, etc.

Traditional recipes for limescale in washing machines

Proven folk recipes will help you effectively descale your washing machine at home.

Impact of lemongrass

Removing scale with citric acid is as easy as pie. It acts as a solvent for hard plaque, in addition, it kills the smell of mold and dampness. To influence the heating element, you need:

• Pour 50-100 g of lemon into the powder compartment.
• Set the temperature to 90 degrees and turn on the mechanism.
• When heated, the acid enters into symbiosis with solid particles on heating element and other parts, dissolving them. The wash starts without items and without a spin function.
• Set the machine to pause for an hour and a half, then resume the process and bring it to completion.
• To prevent scale from appearing in your washing machine again, repeat the procedure 1-2 times every 6 months. This method is not only effective, but also completely safe. As a bonus, it has an antifungal effect and eliminates unpleasant odors.

Cleaning with vinegar

Vinegar is an excellent scale remover. No worse than lemon juice, vinegar will help dissolve lime and other types of dirt.

• Pour 2 cups of vinegar into the powder compartment.
• Run the longest possible program with high temperatures.
• Click "Start", wait 25 minutes, pause for 1 hour, and complete the procedure.
• To remove all residual particles, you need to turn on the rinse.
• The downside is the strong vinegar smell, which not everyone likes.

Using baking soda and vinegar

Baking soda in combination with vinegar can help remove scale and dirt inside. Here are the rules for cleaning contaminated equipment with baking soda:

• Combine a quarter glass of water and a couple of tbsp. spoons of soda, and move the mixture into the powder compartment.
• A glass of vinegar is poured directly inside.
• Select the longest washing program and run the machine idle.

Important! It is necessary to strictly follow the indicated dosage, since a large amount of vinegar or its increased concentration leads to damage to the elements of the mechanism.

Bleach + lemon

Cleaning a washing machine from scale with bleach has significant disadvantages in the form of a strong chlorine smell. To avoid poisoning from chlorine fumes, you need to ventilate the room while working. If you replace bleach with bleach, the smell will not be so poisonous. The cleaning process follows the scheme described in other recipes. Pay special attention to repeated rinsing.

Mechanical cleaning

If you don’t want to clean your machine with folk remedies and household chemicals, then mechanical action will help to effectively remove plaque from the internal parts. What is the advantage of this method?

• If the part is removed and you clean it outside the machine, then there is no risk that large pieces of scale will not dissolve and will remain inside.
• During the dismantling process, you can at the same time check the parts, determine the degree of wear and possible malfunctions. We advise you to change the rubber seals that do not cope with their assigned functions during each disassembly.
• After mechanical exposure, you can use homemade cleaning methods: usually lemon juice or vinegar.

How to prevent limescale from appearing in your washing machine

• The salt elements that make water hard and crystallize into limescale are activated at temperatures of 75 degrees or more. Operating the machine at temperatures below 75 degrees will significantly reduce the risk of equipment damage.
• Carry out cleaning activities periodically, at least once every six months. If the device is used intensively, clean it once every 2-3 months.
• Buy water filters. This is a useful purchase as they can protect your washer from unnecessary deposits and limescale. They soften water, which is useful for both equipment and households. Also, due to the fact that the filter is installed at the inlet, softened water reaches all equipment. We have already published an article about.
• Don't skimp on detergents and powders. If the amount of chemical impurities in the composition is too high, the condition of the heating element worsens significantly. It is better to choose products that have a softening effect on water.

Household appliances with proper care will serve the whole family for a long time. How do you deal with scale in your washing machine? Write about it in the comments below.

Video: Cleaning the heating element of a washing machine from scale

Limescale in a washing machine is one of the common causes of malfunction of this equipment. The main factor in the development of this problem is the use of low-quality water with various impurities and chemicals for washing. It is impossible to completely protect yourself from the problem and protect the washing machine, but there are available methods that allow you to independently solve the problem that arises when operating an electrical device.

Store products

Scale has the form of a hard limescale deposit that forms on a heating device. In this case, it is a heating element. When using electrical equipment, limescale also covers the inside of the drum.

The easiest way to remove scale is to use store-bought products. The following tools have proven themselves to be effective:

Anti-scale anti-scale

Such products as Merloni, SVOD-TVN, Bubble Ice, Filtero, Astonish are also considered effective; they can be used no more than once a year. When choosing such products to combat limescale, you should read the instructions before using them. Substances such as “Calgon” and “Alfagon” are known, but they only soften the water and do not remove limescale, so it is recommended to use them only to prevent the deposition of lime on the heating element.

Folk remedies for fighting scale

The household uses several safe methods to deal with scale in a washing machine without store-bought products. Simple, but proven and effective methods and available means come to the rescue.

To care for household appliances, housewives use substances such as:

• table vinegar;
• lemon acid;
• citric acid with bleach;
• vinegar and soda;
• Coca Cola.

To descale electrical equipment using any of these products, you should familiarize yourself with the features and rules of their use.

Cleaning with vinegar

Using vinegar, you can remove limescale and fungus. It often forms when the washing machine is used for a long time without regular cleaning. You can recognize it by the unpleasant smell coming from the drum.

To clean your machine with vinegar, follow these instructions:

1. First you need to check the drum for the presence of things, then you need to pour 50 ml of vinegar into the detergent compartment.
2. Set the washing machine to the longest mode at 90° C.
3. When water is filled into the machine and vinegar is diluted in it, press pause and leave for a while so that the heating element stands in the water for a while.
4. Then start the device and wait for the wash to finish.
5. Open the door and clean the rubber seals with a cotton pad soaked in vinegar.
6. To be safe, you can start the washing machine again, setting it to fast mode at a temperature of 30 C. This time you do not need to add anything to the powder compartment; this wash is necessary in order to clean the machine from any remaining vinegar.
7. After completing the wash, leave the door open to allow the drum to dry thoroughly.

Don't forget about safety measures. Wear rubber gloves when working with vinegar.

Cleaning the washing machine with vinegar

Coca Cola

Coca-Cola is a good washing machine cleaner. It’s easy to use – just completely fill the powder tray with the drink and pour one and a half liters into the drum.

After this, you can start the device by selecting the highest temperature. If you clean your equipment mechanically, place the heating element in Coca-Cola drink overnight.

Application of citric acid

Allows many housewives to quickly clean the washing machine of limescale.

Using this machine cleaning product, you must perform the following steps:

1. Make sure that the drum is empty, there are no clothes or linen in it, and close the door.
2. Pour 4 tablespoons of citric acid into the powder tray.
3. Turn on the household appliances, set the highest temperature and the longest washing mode.
4. Do not spin; you can use an additional rinse to wash the citric acid out of the drum.
5. After a while, it is advisable to pause the machine so that the heating element can stand longer in the citric acid solution. However, this step is not mandatory.

Filling the powder compartment with citric acid

The method has an important drawback - using a large amount of citric acid can damage the rubber elements of the electrical device.

Citric acid with bleach

In order to obtain a more effective composition, you can mix citric acid with bleach. To clean the washing machine drum and heating element from lime, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Place 2 packages (25 g each) of citric acid in a powder container. Pour 200 ml of bleach into the empty drum of the washing machine.
2. Set the wash to intensive mode at 90° C.
3. At the end of the wash, set an additional rinse.

The method has its disadvantages. This is a sharp and strong smell of bleach, which is not only unpleasant, but also very harmful. To avoid breathing it in, you should open the windows in the house during the procedure.

Instead of bleach, you can use chlorine-containing products - “Duckling”, “Komet”, Whiteness. The smell of these products is not as concentrated as pure bleach. It is important not to exceed the recommended amount of chlorine, otherwise it may damage the rubber seals.

How to clean the powder compartment?

The powder tray quickly becomes dirty, and over time you can notice limescale deposits on it. To clean this component of an electrical device, you need to dilute one and a half glasses of table vinegar in 5 liters of water.

The powder compartment is carefully removed from the washing machine and placed in the prepared vinegar solution. Leave it for a day, and then use a soft sponge to carefully wash off any remaining dirt.

You can also clean this piece of household appliances. For such care, you need to take these two components in equal quantities and prepare a product with the consistency of gruel. Rub the powder compartment with the prepared paste, leave for a day, and then gently wipe with a sponge. At the end of the procedure, it is rinsed with running water.

Mechanical cleaning

The mechanical method of descaling a washing machine is not as popular as using special products. It requires disassembling equipment into individual elements, so it is most often used by professionals.

Mechanical descaling

Removing the formation mechanically has its advantages:

1. Each element of household appliances - the drum and the heating element - is cleaned separately; all limescale does not remain inside the machine.
2. By disassembling the device into individual parts, it is possible to assess its condition, notice the malfunction and carry out repairs.

When mechanically cleaning, do not use a knife, file, sandpaper, or metal brush to treat the surface of the heating element or drum.

Why is it important to fight scale?

When water is heated, salts, trace elements, and microparticles of rust that fall from water pipes settle on the components of the washing machine. Timely descaling will protect the washing machine from damage. When limescale deposits form on the parts of household appliances, the efficiency of the heater decreases and energy consumption increases.

A layer of limescale on the heating element

In addition, the limescale that has covered the heating element slows down the rotation of the drum. Such changes in the operation of the machine can lead to serious damage to it. Proper care of household appliances is not only about removing the already formed layer of salt deposits, but also preventing the problem.

How to prevent scale formation?

To prevent lime from settling, it is important to observe the following preventive measures:

1. Install a magnetic transducer on the hose through which water is supplied to the washing machine. It prevents the deposition of salts contained in the water on the heating element.
2. When washing clothes in the machine, in addition to the powder, it is necessary to add special products that soften the water and prevent the settling of limescale. In many powders, such substances are already included in the composition by manufacturers.
3. It is necessary to keep not only the inside of the device clean, but also the outside. Experts recommend wiping the rubber seal regularly - at least once a week - using dishwashing detergent. It should be diluted in water in a ratio of 1:10 and the part should be wiped with a sponge.

The use of preventive agents against scale

Now, knowing what means you can use to remove scale from your washing machine or prevent its formation, you can extend the service life of your household appliances.

As usual, you were going to load the washing machine with laundry, but it refuses to work? Most likely, it has been necessary to clean the washing machine of dirt for a long time. Many people have to deal with this situation.

Even if it seems that there are no reasons for the malfunction of the device, the problem lies in the contamination that has formed on the tubular electric heater (heater) or in the drum. Let's try to figure out how to clean a washing machine from scale, and whether such a breakdown can be prevented.

Cleaning the powder and conditioner reservoir

The reservoir for powder and conditioner is a removable container that is filled with detergents. As a rule, little attention is paid to it during operation of the washing machine, although over time the tank becomes dirty and covered with plaque. As a result, all this dirt, combined with fungus, comes into contact with the laundry. To clean the container yourself at home, follow these steps:

1. Remove the container.
2. Take a sponge or an old toothbrush (you can use it to get to the most inaccessible places), laundry soap and try to clean off all the stains.
3. If the surfaces are covered with plaque or scale, use a toilet bowl cleaner or ordinary chlorine. It is necessary to fill the container with 20-30 ml of the selected product and leave for a couple of hours.

Tip: To avoid having to clean the tank from mold and stubborn dirt, rinse it after every third washing procedure for preventive purposes.

Cleaning the drain pump filter

The filter requires due attention, since its clogging causes various malfunctions in the operation of the device, for example, leading to a malfunction of the pump that drains water. Cleaning the filter in an automatic washing machine is not difficult, it takes a minimum of time:

1. This part is located on the front side of the washing machine. Look at the very bottom for an inconspicuous hatch that closes with a lid.
2. First, place a cloth under the filter to wash the floor - water will come out of the hole.
3. Drain all the water from the drain hose by placing its end in a basin.
4. Remove the cover from the hatch and remove the filter. It usually unscrews counterclockwise without difficulty.
5. Clean the filter from accumulated debris, rinse it and the inlet from dirt and mold.
6. Replace the filter and close the lid.

Cleaning the washing machine drum

You can consider yourself lucky if your washing machine has a function for automatically cleaning the drum from scale and deposits. Otherwise, you will have to carry out this procedure yourself. To do this, you can use the following tools:

• citric acid;
• vinegar;
• soda;
• detergent.

Citric acid

The method is used to combat mold, scale and unpleasant odors. To clean the washing machine with citric acid, pour 100 g of powder (1 - 2 packs of citric acid) directly into the drum or detergent container. The water temperature should be the highest, preferably at least 90°C, then the effect of this procedure will be maximum. When limescale comes into contact with acid, the plaque breaks down through a chemical reaction. This procedure should be carried out approximately once every 3 months, depending on the hardness of the water, but not more often.

Important! When cleaning, do not fill the drum with laundry or activate the spin process - this applies to all methods. It is recommended to use several rinsing procedures.

Vinegar

Most housewives trust this universal cleaning product, which can cope even with stubborn stains. To clean the washing machine drum from deposits, pour a glass of regular vinegar inside and run the washer. Choose a mode that lasts at least an hour and a half at high temperature. It is important to stop the procedure for 10 minutes after starting the procedure for an hour so that the vinegar penetrates into the crevices of the drum, and then continue washing. When cleaning is complete, wipe the drum with a soft, dry cloth.

Soda

Baking soda also helps get rid of mold and scale. This procedure can be repeated at home every week. Mix baking soda and water in equal proportions and use the resulting mixture to wipe the inside surfaces of the washing machine drum, not forgetting the rubber seal on the door. It is in the folds of rubber that most mold often hides.

Soda can be used in a slightly different way. Pour the product into the powder container and run a long wash cycle with hot water.

Tip: If the dirt inside the washing machine drum turns out to be too persistent, you can combine several methods, for example, cleaning the washing machine with vinegar and soda.

Application of chemistry

There are special cleaning agents available on the market, but they must be handled very carefully. Chemicals in the form of powders are poured into a container. Then the wash starts in idle mode. It is very important not to overdo it with the amount of powder and not to choose a washing cycle that is too long - it can damage the rubber parts of the washing machine.

You can get rid of the smell, which appears for many reasons, using dishwasher tablets. You will need 3-4 tablets - put them inside the drum, start the wash and after 10 minutes, pause it for an hour and a half for the product to take effect.

Cleaning the washing machine heating element

When descaling your washing machine, you need to remember about the heating element, because when this part fails, the washing machine stops starting. However, if you decide to use citric acid or vinegar to clean the drum, then the heating element will also undergo “water procedures” at this time. A huge amount of scale accumulates on the heating element, so you need to clean the heating element in the washing machine at least once a month. According to reviews, vinegar has a more aggressive and effective effect, so using it is sufficient to completely clean the device no more than once a month.

If you are going to descale your washing machine with lemon, you will need 3 bags. Pour 2 of them into the drum, and 1 into the powder container. Then everything is as usual: start washing on a long cycle with high temperature.

Prevention of scale and dirt formation

To ensure that the device lasts a long time, follow the recommendations:

1. Do not leave washed laundry in the tub - hang it out immediately after washing or transfer it to a basin.
2. Ventilate the detergent reservoir and tank regularly by leaving the door open.
3. Clean regularly with home remedies or chemicals (ideally once every 3-4 months).
4. Clean the filter.
5. Do not set a washing cycle with a temperature above 75 degrees - limescale crystallizes and forms scale.

Conclusion

Now you know how to clean the inside of an automatic washing machine from scale, and you understand how important this procedure is for the long-term operation of the household appliance. If you carry out the procedure regularly and follow the preventive instructions of specialists, caring for the device is easy and quick, it does not emit unpleasant odors, does not cause inconvenience and copes with its functions perfectly.