Home appliances make chores around the house a piece of cake, but you know what’s not fun? When these appliances get damaged and break down. Here are things you should avoid if you don’t want your washing machine to break down and require washer repair.

Check For Loose Objects

Oftentimes, there might be loose change, pens, or other small objects in the pockets of your jeans and shirts. You definitely don’t want to throw these things in the washing machine without inspecting them first. Coins and pens can do serious damage to the chamber of the machine and it can lead to dents and cracks in it as well.

So, the next time you want to throw away your pants or shorts for washing, it won’t hurt if you take a few minutes to inspect the pockets beforehand.

Don’t Overload The Washing Machine

You might have heard about this a lot, but this is an extremely important tip to remember, which will prevent your washing machine from breaking down. Every washing machine has a maximum capacity, above which you can’t load it, otherwise, the performance won’t be great and your clothes won’t be clean.

You don’t want to put more clothes in the washing machine chamber than it can fit, because it can damage the motor of the machine and the tumbler speed may also be affected. If you have a huge load of laundry, then do it in batches, rather than shoving it all in one go.

Don’t Leave Clothes In The Machine

As soon as your clothes are done with their round of cleaning in the washing machine, it’s best to take them out right away. You don’t want to leave wet clothes in the washing machine because this can lead to a couple of problems.

First of all, your washing machine will get smelly over time. Secondly, wet clothes in the washing machine can lead to the formation of mildew and fungus in the chamber and that’s not what you want, because it can greatly damage the interior of the washing machine and the water dripping from wet clothes can also mess up the electrical system of the washing machine, if any wire is exposed, which is a huge problem in itself.

For front-loading washing machines, try to leave the door open, after doing a load of laundry, to let air in and ventilate the chamber.

You’re Washing Things That Shouldn’t Be Washed

Washing machines are great for getting clothes washed quickly and effectively, but that doesn’t give you a free pass to toss everything and anything in a washing machine, assuming that it will be “washed nicely”.

You can’t put shoes with ornaments, handbags with straps, lingerie, and other delicate things in the washing machine. These things can get stuck in weird places in the washer and it will be almost impossible to get them out. Handbags with beads and embellishments are a big no, as these things can get stuck in small crevices of the washing chamber and it can cause a lot of issues.

Delicate things like dresses with sequins and net/mesh are meant to be washed by hand. If you have no idea as to what things can’t be washed in the washing machine, then read the clothing tags. There are special instructions on it on how to wash a specific article of clothing or accessory.

Using Too Much Fabric Softener/Dryer Sheets

Fabric softeners and dryer sheets are normal to use in washing, because they reduce friction between the clothes which are tumbling about, reduce static and, not to mention, also make the clothes smell very nice after a wash.

But they shouldn’t be used as often either, because they can leave a slimy and greasy film on the walls of the washing chamber and this can lead to improper cleaning of clothes in the future, as well as damage to the inner protective coating of the washing machine.

You’re Overusing It

This might seem weird, but it’s true. Yes, a washing machine is meant to be used because it makes your life easier by washing clothes in a few minutes without you having to move a muscle, but it doesn’t mean that you can use it every day because well, it’s not an HVAC system.

There is a life expectancy for washing machines and the more frequently you use them, the more it will get damaged. This is why it’s recommended that you use a washing machine no more than twice a week, to increase its longevity.

Not Following Instructions

Do you ever wonder why there are so many different wash settings on a washing machine? Well, those are specified for different clothes and the type of wash you’re going for. You need to follow the instructions carefully and wash different clothes in a specific wash setting, in order to prevent serious damage to the washing machine or the clothes.

For heavier items like blankets and bed sheets, a heavier wash selection is perfect. For all other clothes, normal and gentle wash settings will do the trick.

Not following instructions is also one of the reasons of commercial appliance repairs Alexandria needed frequently because many staff members lack the training to use kitchen equipment properly.

Using Too Much Detergent

Too much of anything is not good. Sometimes, you need to stick to the mantra “less is more” and this applies to detergent as well. You might think that using a lot of detergent will mean cleaner clothes, but that’s not totally true.

In most cases, more detergent can actually ruin the clothes, because it’s not washed off properly and it can lead to grime and grease build-up in the washing machine, which can lead to more damage in the future. So, the next time you want to wash your clothes, keep it slow when comes to the detergent.

Look Out For Jerks & Shakes

This problem occurs either if the washing machine is overloaded or isn’t mounted properly. You might experience a few jerks when the washing machine starts to spin. It should go away after a couple of seconds, but if it doesn’t, then it means that there is too much load on the tumbler of the washing machine, and it should be stopped immediately.

You also want to check if the machine is leveled to the ground properly because this can also lead to shaking.

Forgetting About The Lint Collector

Last but not least, you want to clean out the lint collector of the washing machine as well. It’s usually a mesh pocket which is mounted on the wall of the washing machine. This collector is filled with lint and it needs to be cleaned out after every wash.

Not cleaning it out won’t necessarily damage the washing machine, but it will deposit back on the clothes and it will make them fuzzy and dirty again, leading to a waste of water and energy. So, make it a habit to clean the lint collector after every wash.

Conclusion

A washing machine is probably the most used appliance in your house and it definitely takes the load of work off you. But you also need to ensure that it stays in pristine condition and get it repaired from appliance repair Northern VA services when required so that you can use it for years to come.