Do You Own a Washing Machine? 10 Things You Should Never Do With It

A washing machine is a convenient tool for cleaning and keeping clothes looking fresh when the machine is used correctly. Of course, you want to maintain its tip-top shape for the longest time possible. However, the mistakes you make without realising can compromise the efficiency of the washing machine.

You made a huge investment when you bought the equipment, and when something goes wrong, it gives you a headache. You cannot blame the expected lifespan of a washing machine, which is pretty decent—generally around a decade.

The main culprit for common issues could be you. While a home warranty company puts you a step closer to solving the problems, there are things you must avoid to extend the lifespan of a washer.

1. Preventing Repairs & Neglecting Maintenance

As neat as it may look, a washing machine requires regular cleaning lest you pay the price with early replacement. Every month, it deserves a thorough rinse that is easy to accomplish on an empty cycle with vinegar. This method helps to eliminate bacteria and mould that can cause a foul smell in the clothes. Do not neglect the dryer either. Failure to remove fibres, lint, and dust, is a leading cause of fire accidents at home as reported by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association).

An important part of preventing costly repairs and ensuring the washing machine continues to perform efficiently, is to be mindful of whether you live in a hard or soft water area. Hard water is your machine’s worst nightmare because limescale buildup reduces how effectively it warms water and can harm internal components. If limescale is a problem in your neighbourhood, installing a water softener removes the minerals that cause scale to form. Not only will softened water prevent limescale, but it will also allow you to use less detergent and make your clothing feel softer.

When you are through with laundry chores, clean up the detergent and fabric softener to prevent limescale build-up that clogs up the dispenser. Quickly clear the clumps of hair stuck on the door seal, which is made of rubber. Wipe with a clean cloth to maintain the integrity of the seal. Older models featuring a lint filter require that filter to be rinsed after every cycle, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Other types that allow the lint to go to waste without filtering still need frequent cleaning. Adding some hot water for a few minutes makes the process a breeze.

Lastly, don’t forget to clean the exterior surface. When dirt and grime accumulate for a long time, they cause rusting and corrosion. If you need any repair, call a professional immediately to keep the appliance in good working condition.

2. Loading Too Much Laundry

Overloading is among the worst practices that shorten a washer’s lifecycle.

Many users are tempted to shove more towels and clothing into the machine, but the extra weight puts stress on the spinning mechanism of the drum, causing the machine to start wearing out quickly. The other issue with overloading is that it forces you to use too much detergent. Consequently, the rinse cycle takes more time and becomes a threat because each wash cycle reduces the lifespan of the equipment.

Even when there seems to be enough space for additional items, avoid overloading and allow the clothes already inside to be washed freely. Every model has a maximum loading capacity you must not exceed. The type of clothing materials on board matters as well, but most machines do not allow you to go overboard.

The life of your laundry machine depends on how often you run it. Stick to a maximum of eight loads per week whether it is a top-loading or front-loading unit. Remember that running full loads keeps your utility bill down.

3. Forgetting to Empty the Pockets

Before filling the washer with pants, sweatshirts, and dresses, be sure to remove tissues, paper money, and coins from the pockets. These items pose a danger every time they’re spinning around the dryer.

Empty the pockets even if you are in a hurry to prevent bits of soggy papers in the wash. Remove wet tissue by hand and tiny papers with a soft brush. If they remain after the clothes dry, use sticky tape to pull them out.

Other stuff that gets thrown accidentally together with laundry includes chewing gum. Unfortunately, most people notice the gum until it has already caused damage. Gum can stick permanently to your clothes or stretch across the dryer’s wall.

4. Mixing Colours

The quickest way to ruin your garments is by mixing the whites with a bunch of coloured apparel. Always run white sheets and pillowcases separately if you don’t want to end up with dirty greys. This is where the care label of each material comes in.

The safest method to avoid bleeding colours in the washer is to separate dark fabrics from light-coloured ones. Be careful with new clothes because they tend to lose the dye colouring and the light-coloured materials are quick to pick it up.

For that matter, never put a new purple shirt together with white underwear in a hot water cycle.

5. Wrong Settings

Stop second-guessing the temperature if you don’t want some of your clothes to shrink. Besides sorting out lighter and darker laundry, check the care label of each clothing item to see whether it requires hot, warm, or cold settings. This step is more important than separating the colours.

Natural fabrics, such as linen, wool, and cotton, are more prone to shrinkage in hot water than stable materials like polyester and silk. Note that cotton is stretched at the manufacturing stage, and that’s why it shrinks easily following the first wash. The results worsen when run on a hot cycle. Once again, read the label to know the correct temperature setting and the best program. For more detailed guidance on keeping cotton clothing in top condition, check out this post about preventing shrinkage in the dryer.

If you are not sure of the correct temperature setting for some clothing, use cool water, wash by hand, and air-dry them. A hot water setting is only recommended for removing heavy dirt and odours. For the dark materials and new ones, use cold settings to prevent colour bleeding and shrinkage.

Keep in mind the load size settings, whether they are large, medium, or small. When dirty laundry occupies three-quarters of the machine capacity, choose large, half-full is medium, while one-third is small. Avoid over-stuffing to allow enough room for the water.

6. Not Zipping Up and Adding Belts

Zip all zippers to protect sweaters, pants, and shirts from damage. Large zippers, much like coins, are slammed against the glass door by the unit’s agitation mechanism. The aftermath is ripping and snagging delicate items in the load. Since you cannot remove the zippers, the surest bet is to close them before washing clothes. Remember to turn the outfits inside out before tossing them in the washer.

Similarly, belt buckles can break the glass door. It is wise to remove belts from jeans before doing any laundry. While the glass door is tough, a metallic buckle spinning at around 1600 RPMs would damage it. When washing outfits with metallic buttons, reduce the spin speed to mitigate the risk of glass breaking.

7. Drying Forbidden Stuff

If you must dry anything apart from towels, bedding, and clothing, read the instructions on the dryer to know if they can cause harm in the process. Certain dryers cannot handle rubber, so any rubber backing is a danger to your machine.

Other things to never put in the dryer include dryer sheets, flammable materials, sandy towels, pet hair, and lingerie. While machine-washing sports apparel doesn’t damage the appliance, it might ruin the materials quickly. Most activewear is designed to wick sweat and has a coating to protect the wearer from harsh UV rays.

It is, therefore, not dryer-friendly because too much exposure to heat and friction damages the functional elements in technical fabrics. The heat also reduced the elasticity of gym clothes, leading to holes and tears. The best setting for washing sports clothes is a cold and delicate cycle.

8. Positioning the Machine on Uneven Platform

Washing machines spin at a very high speed, so they need a level ground to prevent breakages. That’s why it should be installed by a professional who can check the floor and make the necessary adjustments.

Rocking the appliance to detect movement is a sure way to assess the horizontal balance. To adjust the feet, loosen the nut with a wrench and lower or raise the whole unit until it is level. A spirit level gives an accurate indication of whether the machine is level.

9. Keeping Wet Clothes in the Washer for Too Long

Removed wet stuff from the unit right away. Leaving wet clothes for hours triggers the development of mould and mildew. The dripping moisture seeping inside might lead to unpleasant smells that will linger in subsequent loads.

Before it’s too late, transfer the wet laundry to the dryer immediately after the washing cycle. The last thing you want in your house is a foul-smelling machine that could be avoided by following a simple rule. It is an added advantage to leave the door open so the unit can air-dry before the next load.

10. Ignoring the User Manual

At one point, you have been guilty of using the same program no matter what you are washing. There are good reasons the manufacturer provides a user guide. They are to protect your clothes and increase the machine’s lifespan. Be aware of specific programs designed for different fabrics and conditions of the loads.

For instance, a pile of sticky t-shirts should run for longer in hot water, unlike some bed sheets that may not be visibly dirty. Before using a new detergent, grab the user’s manual to see how much you should pour. Always measure the amount of soap as detailed on the program, and use too much at your peril.

The above 10 mistakes can lead to the early demise of laundry machines. Treat the appliances well to have them last longer and run like new every day.

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