Tag Archives: washer repair

Tips to Keeping Your Appliances in Tip Top Shape

With everyone looking for ways to save money and make the most of their appliances, having an appliance breakdown is something you don’t want.

Fortunately, you can do several things to ensure your appliance is always in tip-top shape. To help you out, here are ways to ensure that your washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, and other appliances are in great working order.

Washing machine

When you don’t clean your laundry efficiently, it results in stains and stinky garments.

This is likely due to overloading the appliance, which makes it harder for the water and detergent to work effectively. Using too much detergent can also cause the machine to clog, reducing lifespan.

To ensure that your appliance is in tip-top shape, fill it to around 80% capacity; your hand should be able to fit in the drum on top of your garments.

To avoid the washing machine from becoming unbalanced during the spin cycle, washer repair experts recommend that you distribute the clothes evenly in the drum. Remember that an imbalanced load might cause the machine to shake excessively, causing damage to the machine.

You also should reduce the quantity of detergent you use and clean your washing machine deep every few months to remove any residue from detergent or garments.

You should follow the detergent manufacturer’s instructions. Too much detergent might result in excessive suds and residue buildup, while using too little may leave your clothes unclean.

A “cleaning” or “maintenance” cycle is available on many washing machines. Run this cycle according to your machine’s directions, using hot water, a washing machine cleanser, or a vinegar and baking soda mixture. This aids in the removal of deposits and odors from the machine’s drum and other components.

Dishwasher

If your dishwasher isn’t washing pots and pans properly, it may be tempting to hand-wash them first – but this might waste a lot of water, which can be expensive.

Instead, keep your dishwasher in good working order to guarantee that your dishes come out shining. You also should be on the lookout for foul odors and gurgling noises that could signal a clogged filter.

To clean the filter, take it from the appliance, empty it, rinse it out, and scrape it with an old toothbrush. This will help it capture food residue and clean your plates all the time.

Oven

Most of us use our ovens daily, so seeing smoke billowing from them is frightening. Most of the time, this is due to food and grease residue, which has to be cleaned.

If you recently cleaned the oven, the smoke could be from excess cleaner left in the oven. In this scenario, the best thing to do is to remove the extra cleaner using a vinegar and water solution.

After fully cleaning your oven and stopping smoking, leave at least 3 inches of distance between food and heating elements.

Also, don’t put food directly on the oven racks because it shortens the time between deep cleans.

Microwave

Despite their small size, microwaves require more frequent cleaning than other appliances due to the possibility of tenacious stains and foul odors.

After using your microwave, wipe it clean with a microfibre towel to avoid any splashes or spillages from drying and becoming more difficult to remove

You can also use small amounts of vinegar to assist in removing food spills.

Using baking soda to remove odors from your microwave is also an excellent way to go about it. Combine water and baking soda in a big microwave-safe basin and heat on high for 5 minutes, being careful not to boil the solution.

Tumble dryer

Tumble dryers sometimes struggle to get hot enough or fail to heat up over time. This may not always imply that it needs to be repaired but rather that it needs to be cleaned out.

Poor circulation can lead tumble dryers not to heat up effectively. This is commonly caused by a buildup of soggy lint from fluff and fibers that fall off your clothing when flung around inside the appliance’s drum.

To keep your appliance in top working shape, make sure that you clean your filter after each cycle to allow the air to circulate properly within the dryer and effectively dry your clothes.

You also must clean the condenser box if you have a condenser dryer. You remove the box and empty the water into your sink.

Fridge freezer

Fridge freezers have a lengthy lifespan, but if yours is suddenly warmer than it should be, there could be an issue.

This could be due to something preventing the door from closing correctly, such as food lodged in the seal or a fridge freezer that is too full.

To keep your appliance in top working shape, avoid overfilling the device, as this can limit circulation in the fridge freezer, resulting in temperature changes.

You also should 0rganize your food products properly. Keep the necessary products together in labeled containers. This lowers the time the door is open, which helps keep the temperature stable.

Also, defrost the appliance twice yearly to maintain routine maintenance and eliminate the need for repairs.

If possible, have an appliance repair Springfield professional perform an annual maintenance check. They may find problems you overlooked and do more in-depth maintenance activities.

When hiring repair professionals, don’t hire just any professional. Hire an experienced one that knows what they are doing.

As a rule of thumb, you should interview the various technicians and ensure they have the necessary experience to diagnose and fix the appliance.

Many homeowners try to save money by hiring the cheapest contractors. This is wrong because most cheap contractors are inexperienced and often end up causing more problems than were there.

The best way to do it is to take your time and find a moderately priced contractor who will give your appliance the service it deserves.

Tips to Saving Energy with Your Washing Machine

With rising energy costs, considering energy-efficient solutions when choosing home appliances, including washing machines, is becoming increasingly vital. If you already own the appliances, there are several tips you can put into place to ensure that your appliance consumes as little energy as possible.

Some of the tips given by appliance repair professionals you can put into place include:

Choose the right washing machine.

Choosing an energy-efficient washing machine is critical because it will result in lower energy bills. Before you head to the stores, take time to understand the energy efficiency rating because it indicates the appliance’s energy and water usage, which will be reflected in your bill.

The amount of energy consumed by a washing machine every cycle is indicated by its energy efficiency rating. The water usage is displayed on the energy label based on an average of 220 cycles per year for the Eco 40-60 cycle, a pre-programmed wash setting on the machine.

The energy efficiency rating system considers the energy used in a cycle, the capacity of the drum, and the amount of electricity used.

The label also shows the average power consumption, and the yellow EnergyGuide badge, which shows the expected annual operating cost. You should consider these aspects when choosing an energy-efficient washing machine because they will assist in saving energy and lower power bills.

When shopping for a washing machine, pay attention to the type you want. Two major types of machines you can buy are top and front-loading.

When choosing a washing machine, it is critical to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of both types. Front-loading washing machines use less water and power, produce better cleaning outcomes, and cause less fabric damage. The downside is that they are more expensive and require more maintenance.

On the other hand, top-loading washing machines are faster and more ergonomic, although they may use more detergent and be less energy efficient.

You should analyze both models and choose the one that best meets your requirements.

Optimize your wash settings.

Adjusting the washing settings of your appliance is critical for lowering energy usage and saving money on utility costs.

You should be cautious of the load size that you put in your appliance.

Reducing the loads and the amount of water used can help save energy significantly. You should decide on the best load size for a washing machine by reviewing the manufacturer’s manual. While this is the case, always ensure you fill the washer.

When loading your appliance, you should note that limiting the frequency with which garments are washed can significantly impact energy usage. Thankfully, you can implement measures to reduce this, including wearing clothing more than once before washing and only washing filthy items.

Choosing a proper wash cycle can be beneficial in terms of energy efficiency and cost savings, as well as ensuring garment longevity. A cold cycle is the most energy-efficient washing cycle that you can go for, with savings of up to 80% in energy use and cost.

When choosing a wash cycle, consider the type of clothes and the degree of soiling. It is also a good idea to reference the care label on the garment for particular recommendations.

You can use strategies to increase the efficiency of the wash cycle by washing full loads, using high-efficiency detergents, and avoiding excessive amounts of detergent.

The temperature of the water is critical to the efficacy of detergent and its ability to remove stains and bacteria from clothing. Water heating is expected to consume up to 90% of the energy in a hot water wash cycle. This represents a considerable portion of total energy expenditure.

As a result, it is recommended that you use cold water for the bulk of washing cycles, as this is the most energy-efficient alternative. If you prefer to wash in hot water, update to an energy-efficient, front-loading washing machine.

Other ways to keep the washing machine clean include:

  • Wiping down the drum and door gasket after each use.
  • Leaving the door open to allow air circulation and drying.
  • Running a cleaning cycle with vinegar or a washing machine cleaner at least once a month.

Keep your appliance in top shape.

Of course, you should take good care of your washing machine so that it functions optimally and lasts for a long time.

You should clean your washing machine regularly to prevent the accumulation of dirt, grime, and bacteria, which can cause unpleasant odors and even damage the machine.

Running an empty cycle on hot with two cups of white vinegar instead of detergent is one of the most effective ways to clean the washing machine.

To remove difficult stains or sludge, use a bleach-based mold cleanser or a nylon brush and vinegar to scrape the interior of the wash drum.

Other precautions include:

  • Wiping down the door and gasket after each use.
  • Leaving the door open between washes.
  • Using high-efficiency detergents.

Another way to ensure that your appliance is always in top working condition is by regularly inspecting and replacing worn-out parts. You should inspect the drive belt, rubber door gasket, and counterbalance springs and change them as the manufacturer directs.

Always unplug the washing machine and remove the back panel to inspect and replace the drive belt. Similarly, unplug the washing machine and open the door to inspect and replace the rubber door gasket.

Unplug the washing machine and remove the front panel to inspect and replace the balancing springs.

You can do the inspection and replacement independently, or you can hire washer repair Northern VA professionals to help.

Many people wait until their appliances develop problems to pay attention to them. This isn’t good. The best way out is to schedule yearly inspections even if your appliance functions optimally.

When your appliance develops problems, regardless of how minor they are, don’t hesitate to fix them, hoping they will go away. Instead, move with haste and fix them before they worsen.

Tricks to Make Your Appliances Last For a Long Time

Home appliances help wash clothes, cook meals, heat and cool homes, and make coffee.

As much as you depend on your appliances to help with daily tasks around the house, you need to give them a little TLC every now and then to ensure they keep functioning optimally.

How do you do this?

Here are tricks given by appliance repair professionals:

Don’t overload your washing machine

With just a few simple maintenance tips, your washing machine will keep your clothes clean for years. First, don’t load it up too much because that will make the motor work harder.

At the same time, please don’t use the washer with only a few items in it. This is because this can throw the machine off balance and put stress on its drive, increasing the chances of it getting damaged.

You should load your appliance with just the right amount of clothes.

While at it, ensure you use the right type and amount of detergent. Don’t use too much detergent because too many suds can make the washer work too hard, which increases its chances of getting damaged.

Keep the refrigerator coils clean.

Even though keeping a refrigerator neat is important to make sure it cools its contents evenly, if you want to make it last longer, all you have to do is clean its condenser coils.

The refrigerant is cooled and condensed by coils found under the fridge behind a plastic grate or on the back of the refrigerator.

When these coils are full of dust, hair, and other junk, they also can’t release heat. This makes the condenser work harder to cool the inside of the fridge.

To avoid this, clean the coils in your fridge at least once a year. The best way to do this is by using a soft brush attachment on your vacuum.

Clean the dishwasher filter.

Did you know your dishwasher has a filter at the bottom that should be cleaned about once every six months?

Yes, it has, and you need to clean it. If you don’t want your dishwasher to smell bad. Failing to clean the filter also means that your glasses will be cloudy, and you don’t want this, do you?

To access the filter, you need to slide the bottom rack out and then turn it counterclockwise to take it out. Wash it in the sink and put it back together.

To reduce the gunk that gets to the filter, make it a habit to rinse the dishes before putting them in and only run the dishwasher when it’s full.

Delint your dryer

Even if cleaning a dryer vent of a year’s worth of lint isn’t your idea of a fun afternoon, you shouldn’t skip this once-a-year job.

If your dryer’s exhaust vent is clogged, the dryer has to work harder to dry your clothes. This puts stress on the motor and shortens the dryer’s life. Also, a buildup of dryer lint makes a fire more likely to start.

To keep the dryer in top shape, move the dryer away from the wall and remove the vent. Remove any lint that might have built up in the dryer vent and hose, and then put it back together.

Remove spills from your oven.

The range/oven is the workhorse of your kitchen. It gets a lot of use and gets beat up by spills, heavy cookware, and high heat. The best thing you can do for your kitchen’s heart is to keep it clean.

Whenever spills happen, clean them right away because they may be hard to get off the cooktop once they have burned. If your oven can clean itself, use it every few months to keep burned food from sticking to the walls.

Dedust the dehumidifier

Like other appliances that heat or cool air, ensuring good airflow around your dehumidifier means not blocking its intake or outlet.

If you use the filter often, you should change or clean it every few months.

Since dust, hair, and other things can get stuck in the coils, you should clean them once a year to ensure the dehumidifier works right.

You can do the cleaning yourself or let an experienced commercial appliance repair Alexandria professional do it.

Items That Should Never See The Insides Of Your Washing Machine

As much as a washing machine is a vital appliance in your home as it makes cleaning easy, you shouldn’t wash everything using it. This is because some items can cause damage to them, and you are forced to hire an appliance repair professional.

Which are these items? Here they are:

Memory foam pillows

You can wash most synthetic, cotton, and even down pillows in the washer, but you can’t do this to memory foam pillows usually can’t. This is because foam is too fragile, and the process can easily tear it. Even if you choose not to spin, the clothes will still be heavy and wet, so don’t do it.

Most of the time, you can wash the covers in the washing machine. But use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to clean the foam pillow. If you need to clean specific spots, use a microfiber cloth, a mild dish detergent solution, and a damp cloth to clean.

Loose bras

Washing a bra can ruin its shape and hurt its underwire. On top of that, the metal clasps can easily catch on other things in the load and tear them while the cycle is running.

Use a laundry bag when you wash your bras in the washing machine. If you want to be safe and don’t want any damage, wash by hand.

Swimwear

Even if the tag on your swimsuit says it can be washed in a washing machine, you should wash it by hand if you want it to last.

You should note that when you put the swimwear material through a wash cycle, the material will stretch and sag, which means it will lose shape over time. You don’t want this, do you?

Whether your swimwear is made of nylon or spandex, the material can easily get caught on other things in the load, like zippers or clasps, and get damaged. To avoid damage and disappowashingr, wash it gently is better by hand.

Embellished items

If your clothing has sequins all over it, it’s likely to get ruined in the washing machine.

Even if you turn the item inside out, many threads can still be pulled or caught during the cycle.

If the decorations are stuck on, that won’t help either because the heat can melt the glue.

Don’t put your embellished clothing items in the washing machine to avoid all the problems that can come about.

For the same reason, you shouldn’t put anything with lace or embroidery. Lace is too fragile and can be torn easily by other things. To protect your clothing, follow the care label and take them to a dry cleaner if you need to.

Delicate sweaters

This is probably the mistake that people make the most. If the item is made of wool, cashmere, or velvet, check the care label to learn how to wash it.

The high temperatures in a washing machine can make the fabric shrink, and rubbing against other things can make it look old.

You can wash your sweater by hand with a mild detergent or take it to the dry cleaners if necessary.

Even if the care label says you can wash the sweater in a machine, use a laundry bag to protect it during the cycle and make it last longer.

Suits

It makes sense to follow ties with suits, which should also not be washed in a machine. Most are made of delicate fabrics that can easily get ruined in the wash.

Even if the suit is made of cotton or polyester, it will still have interfacing, giving it its shape. Water can break down interfacing and make it bend out of the body, so don’t wash your suits in the washing machine. Instead, take them to a dry cleaner.

Parting shot

These are some of the clothing items you shouldn’t wash in the washing machine. You protect your clothing and engine by passing the right things in your washing machine, so you don’t need a washer repair Springfield professional.

Which Clothes Should you Not Wash In Washing Machine?

As much as you would want to make your work easy and throw all your clothes in the washing machine, it’s often impossible as some clothes might get damaged. In other cases, these clothes might damage the washing machine, forcing you to hire a washer repair professional to fix the machine.

Are you wondering which clothes you shouldn’t wash in the washing machine? Here they are:

Delicate fabrics

Delicate fabrics such as silk, lace, and wool are prone to damage when you wash them in the machine.

When you wash the fabric in the washing machine, the mechanical action of the machine can stretch, snag, or even tear the fabric, and you don’t want this, do you?

Delicate fabrics are also prone to shrinkage and color bleeding when you wash them in a washing machine using hot water, which can ruin the garment’s appearance.

The harsh detergents and chemicals used in the washing machine can also strip the fabric of its natural oils and cause it to become dry and brittle. Consequently, you have ugly clothes that you aren’t proud to wear.

To avoid damaging your delicate fabrics, instead of washing them using the washing machine, hand wash them. When you hand wash the outfits, you have control of the agitation and the temperature of the water, which protects the fabric from damage.

If you don’t want to hand wash the clothes, you can always dry clean them. Here you use a chemical solvent to clean the garment, rather than water and detergent that have been shown to damage the outfits.

Clothes with embellishments

You shouldn’t machine wash clothing pieces with embellishments such as beads, sequins, or buttons, as the mechanical action of the machine can cause the decorative elements to get loose or fall off.

The heat and water of the wash cycle can also cause the embellishment to become discolored or tarnished, which ruins the garment’s appearance.

Like the delicate fabrics, don’t use a washing machine to clean the clothes with embellishment. Instead, hand wash or dry-clean them to preserve the integrity of the decorations and maintain the overall appearance of the garment.

Leather and suede

As much as leather and suede appear tough, they aren’t. Both materials are delicate and can easily get damaged by machine washing. The harsh detergents and high water temperatures used in the machine-washing process can strip away the natural oils and finish of the leather or suede, causing it to become dry and brittle.

The agitator in the washing machine can also cause abrasions and scuffing on the surface of the leather or suede, giving the materials an ugly look.

The best way to clean leather and suede is by wiping them down with a damp cloth and a gentle cleaner designed to clean them. If the leather or suede is too dirty or needs a deeper cleaning, take it to a professional cleaner experienced in cleaning these materials.

Clothes with metal hardware

There are plenty of reasons you shouldn’t clean clothes with metal hardware using a washing machine. For one, the zippers, buttons, and snaps can damage the clothing during the washing process. This happens when the metal in the clothes rubs against the fabric, creating holes and tears.

The metal pieces can also get caught in the agitator or the pump, causing damage to the machine. In some cases, the metal can cause the machine to break down.

When exposed to water and detergents, some metal hardware can corrode or rust, discoloring the clothing and even leaving unsightly stains.

Finally, the noise comes about as the metal hardware bounces around inside the washing machine. The noise is not only disruptive but also annoying.

Hand wash the outfits to avoid the issues with machine washing the clothes with metal hardware. If you have to machine wash them, always place them in a mesh laundry bag before placing them in the washing machine.

According to appliance repair Fairfax professionals, when you do this, you protect the clothing and machine and prevent the metal hardware from corroding or rusting.

6 Things You Shouldn’t Put In Your Washing Machine

Just because something is a piece of clothing doesn’t mean that you should put it in the washing machine. This is because it might get damaged or, even worse, damage your precious and expensive appliance. Which pieces of clothing should you not put in the machine? Here they are as given by washer repair professionals:

Suits

If you have a premium suit, you shouldn’t put it in the washing machine when it gets dirty. This is because it will develop plenty of wrinkles that will be unsightly to look at. There is also the risk of damaging the premium material used in making the suit.

Instead of washing the outfit at home, take it to a dry cleaner, where it will be professionally cleaned.

Clothes covered in pet hair.

If you have cats or dogs in your house, you most likely have their hair on your clothes. A few hairpieces on the clothes aren’t a big deal, but if you have plenty of it, it’s unwise to put the outfits in the washing machine.

While the hair might come off after washing, it often sticks in the washing machine, where it might get transferred to other pieces of clothing you put there.

The best way to wash clothes covered in pet hair is using hand. First, remove all the fur if you have to wash them using a washing machine. One excellent tool you can use for the work is a lint roller.

Clothes with open zippers

If you run your finger along an open zipper, you will notice that each of the teeth catches your skin. This is the same thing that will happen to your washing machine.

When you run a cycle with unzipped zippers, they risk catching and damaging other clothing items, especially delicate ones. There is also the risk of the zippers scratching the insides of the drum.

To protect your washing machine and delicates, zip up all of your zippers to the top before you run a cycle.

For the buttoned clothes, leave the buttons unbuttoned to avoid putting too much pressure on the button thread during the cycle.

Swimsuits

Swimsuits are delicate; even if the label might say that the outfit is machine washable, it would be wise to avoid it and wash it by hand.

The reason for this is that the swimsuit material is at risk of stretching and sagging when subjected to a washing cycle, meaning that it will eventually lose its shape.

There is also the risk of the swimsuit getting caught on other pieces of clothing and getting damaged.

As mentioned above, to avoid this, gently hand wash the outfits.

Loose bras

Similar to swimsuits, bras are also delicate, so you can easily damage them when you put them in the washing machine.

In most cases, the wash ruins the bra’s shape, not to mention damaging the underwire.

There is also the risk of the metal clasps snagging and tearing other items in the load during the cleaning cycle.

To protect your precious bra, always use a laundry bag. You should put all your bras in this bag and throw them in the washing machine.

If you don’t have a bag, go the old route and wash the bras by hand.

Delicate sweaters

It’s not just the inner wears that are delicate. Sweaters can also be delicate. If you have a sweater made from wool, velvet, or cashmere, be cautious when placing it in the washing machine, as high temperatures can shrink the material.

There is also the risk of friction between the sweater and the washing machines leaving the outfit looking worn and ugly, and you don’t want this, do you?

Wash your delicate sweater by hand using a gentle laundry detergent to stay on the safe side. If you don’t have the time for it, take your sweater to the dry cleaners.

Even if the labels on the sweater say that you can machine-wash the outfit, don’t do it. If you have to do it, appliance repair Springfield recommend that you place the sweater in a laundry bag that will protect the sweater from any form of damage.

Why Does My Washing Machine Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

Have you noticed a rotten egg smell coming out of your washing machine, and you are wondering why this is the case? The smell is brought about by several factors that include:

Dirty washing machine

When was the last time you cleaned your washing machine? If it has been long, the smell might result from a dirty appliance. According to appliance repair professionals, the best way to get rid of this smell is to simply clean the appliance and, in the process, get rid of mold, mildew, and grime that might have built up there.

To clean the washing machine, begin with opening the machine door and then set the unit to the hottest and largest load capacity.

Once the water begins to fill up, add one quart of bleach (about 4 cups) to the water inside the washing machine.

When the water fills up the washer, close the lid and turn it on to a long spin cycle. When the cycle ends, leave the machine for about one hour before turning it back on, and then put it on a standard wash cycle.

When the wash cycle ends, turn it to the hottest setting and largest capacity again, and then add 3 cups of white vinegar and a ½-cup of baking soda.

Once the washer is full, close the lid and turn it on to a long spin cycle again. Open the lid and wipe the washing machine out with a clean cloth when the cycle ends.

Finally, leave the washing machine lid open and let it dry out for a few hours before using it again.

Something is stuck in the door seal.

Washing machines have a large rubber door seal that goes around the door to stop water from getting out of the washing machine during a cycle.

Sometimes a piece of clothing such as a sock gets stuck inside the gasket, and it’s covered in mildew.

If you leave the piece of clothing here for a long time, it can start smelling like rotten eggs.

To get rid of the smell, you need to find out if there is anything stuck there and remove it.

Pull the door seal back and look inside for any loose clothing items. If you find any, remove them.

You should then thoroughly clean the door gasket with clean, hot soapy water, then leave the door open to let it dry and air out.

Clogged drain pump or plug

Most washing machine models will have a drain plug at the bottom that can clog up, leading to unpleasant odors.

To check the drain plug and filter, locate the drain plug, then turn the cap off. Have a towel in place as some water might leak out of it when doing it.

After removing the plug, reach into the hole and remove the drain filter. Thoroughly clean the drain filter and plug it in hot soapy water.

To remove any grime in the hose, pour a glass of hot water mixed with vinegar into the washing machine drum.

After cleaning all the parts, put them back into the washing machine. If you can still smell the rotten egg smell, you may need to run your washing machine on a cleaning cycle and check the sewer.

The sewer is clogged.

If you have tried all the above and nothing seems to work, the rotten smell might be due to a clogged sewer. Due to the clog, the smell can go through the drain hose and into the washing machine.

To solve this problem, locate where your drain hose is connected and remove the hose from the standpipe. If the pipe is smelly, give the entire area a thorough cleaning with hot, soapy water.

If the smell is due to the P-trap being faulty and allowing sewer gas to come up through the drain hose and into the washing machine, washer repair Springfield professionals recommend you pour a bucket of hot soapy water down the standpipe.

If the smell goes away, this is a sign that the problem was due to the P-trap.

If you do this and the smell doesn’t disappear, get in touch with a plumber to replace the p-trap.

Can You Run Washing Machine Empty?

With the ever-increasing water and electricity prices, the last thing you want is to run the machine with nothing inside.

Can you run washing machine empty? Yes, you can do it to clean it and keep it in tip-top condition.

According to washer repair professionals, when you run the washing machine empty and let the water off the interior, you clean any debris that might be there, ensuring that all the clothes coming from it are clean.

What is the best way to run an empty washing machine?

The best way to run an empty machine is to run it on a hot cycle with nothing inside. The hot wash means that you should run the machine at a cycle of at least 40 degrees, but for the best outcome, set it to the hottest option that you are aiming for.

The hot cycle is more beneficial if you regularly wash your clothes using the cold cycle. When the machine goes for a long time without coming into contact with hot water, bacteria and detergents accumulate inside.

The accumulated grime might start affecting the clothes that you wash as they might start coming out with lingering smells.

You remove bacteria when you run the hot cycle, so your clothes always come out clean and smelling fresh.

Washing machine professionals also recommend running an empty cycle on your machine before you start using it for your clothes or bedding. This is to ensure that there is no dust, oils, or any other residues inside the machine or its pipes.

Don’t use any cleaning products when running the empty cycle. If you want, you can give the cycle some power by adding two cups of vinegar into the detergent drawer.

You can also pour half a cup of bicarbonate of soda into the machine’s drum before setting it to the hottest cycle and letting the cleaning happen.

Other washing machine best practices

Besides running an empty cycle to keep the washing machine in top shape, there are plenty of other things you need to do to maintain your machine. These things include:

Put the detergents in the right place

The detergent you use can make or break your machine, so you should be cautious about how you use it. If using a liquid detergent, measure it with a measuring cup or dosing ball and place the entire ball in a washing machine drum after your clothes.

If using a powder, measure it using a scoop and pour it into the correct compartment of the detergent drawer. It’s also wise to add the washing tablets to the detergent drawer or the washing machine drum before you put your clothes.

Just like the washing machine tablets, pop the capsules at the back of the drum before the clothes and run the cycle.

Remove the clothes at the right time.

Some homeowners leave clothes in their washing machines, sometimes even overnight. This is wrong as the moisture from the wet clothes can lead to a buildup of mold in the drum or even on the clothes.

To avoid this, always remove the clothes from the washer as soon as the rinse cycle is complete, then dry the clothes naturally outside.

Remove everything from the pockets.

Plenty of washing machines have been reported getting damaged by coins, nails, and other materials after they have hit the insides of the washing machine. As you can tell, this leads to expensive repairs, and you don’t get to use your machine for some time.

To avoid this, always double-check your pockets and remove any materials there. From the tissues to plastic toys, remove all of them. You don’t want a stray tissue leaving your entire load covered in white fluff, do you?

Hire a professional when issues come about

Your washing machine will develop problems such as blocked water pipe and others. While you can fix some of these issues by yourself, always avoid doing so as the chances are high that you will cause more problems than were there.

To be safe, always hire an appliance repair Alexandria professional to fix any problem, regardless of its magnitude.

What Should You Not Do With A Washing Machine?

Are you wondering, what should you not do with a washing machine? Well, there are plenty of things. Here are some of these things as given by appliance repair professionals:

Leaving wet clothes inside

With the hectic lives we are all leading, it’s easy to be distracted by other tasks while doing laundry, and we forget a load of clothes in the washing machine. Sometimes we are distracted or even on days that the clothes develop mildew and foul odor.

These are not only bad for your clothes, but the machine as well, which is a double tragedy.

To avoid this, set a timer or reminder on your phone to get a notification when the load is done.

Don’t overload the machine.

When you are in a hurry, it’s easy to want to load the machine with as many clothes as it can carry, so you are done fast. Don’t do this.

You should note that washing machines are designed to wash a certain weight of clothes, and when you exceed, you increase the chances of damaging the machine where the drum spins get damaged, but you also fail to clean the clothes properly.

To avoid damaging your appliance, you shouldn’t overload it. When doing the loading, ensure there is a space between the top of the load in the drum and the top of the drum itself. The space should be around the width of your palm.

Instead of cramming everything into one load to save time, use the quick washing setting for two decent-sized loads. In most modern machines, this will cut the washing time by half so you can wash many clothes without overloading the machine.

Forgetting to sort

Forgetting to sort your clothes not only damages the clothes, but the machine as well. Failing to sort your laundry leads to color bleeding, clothes shrinking and unwanted pocket items floating around during a washing cycle.

To avoid this, sort your laundry before putting it in the washing machine. It’s during sorting when you will find that you have a black permanent marker in your pocket. It’s also when you will prevent the whites from turning grey as you separate the clothes into the colored and whites, and run two loads.

Choose the wrong setting.

Although you can wash most of your clothes using the normal setting and come out perfect, there are a few clothes with special instructions you should be cautious about as they can get damaged when you wash them at the wrong temperature.

Most clothes are made from cotton that shrinks when you wash them for the first time. If the water temperature is wrong, the shrinkage worsens.

To prevent your clothes from shrinking and ensure you are cleaning them at the right temperature, read the label to find out the right temperature you should clean the clothes. You should also use the manual to find the best program to clean the clothes.

If you are worried about your clothes shrinking or losing their shape, wash them in cool water by hand, then dry them on the washing line or airer.

Failing to clean the washing machine

Many homeowners think that the washing machine is self-cleaning, so they don’t need to clean it, but this isn’t the case. Over the months and years of cleaning, the insides of the washing machine get dirty, mold builds up, and this can lead to the machine smelling bad.

To keep your appliance running in top condition and smelling fresh, make it a habit to run a service wash at 90 degrees at least once every month. You can run the wash using a detergent, a specialist washing machine cleaner, or any natural product such as vinegar.

Besides doing this, refer to your manual and see what else is recommended.

You can do the cleaning by yourself, but if you aren’t confident in your skills, you can always hire washer repair Springfield professionals to help out. The cool thing with hiring professionals is that besides running the service wash, they also inspect the appliance and fix any issues that might be present.

Of course, when hiring professionals, hire experienced technicians that know what they are doing. You don’t want someone that will damage your expensive unit, do you?

How Do You Fix An Unbalanced Washing Machine?

An unbalanced washing machine not only fails to clean the clothes properly, but it also makes a lot of noise that makes the washing experience unpleasant. In some cases, the unbalanced load damages the machine.

Have you noticed that your washing machine is unbalanced and are wondering how do you fix an unstable washing machine? There are plenty of ways to go about it, and the beauty is you don’t need to hire a washer repair professional to help you out.

Level the feet

When the washing machine feet are unbalanced, they cause a lot of vibration that is off-putting, so if your appliance is vibrating too much during a cycle, the first place to check is the appliance’s feet.

If some of the feet are too short, turn them to “loosen,” and they will come downward and contact the floor. The vibration should stop when all four feet come into contact with the ground.

Remove the shipping materials.

If you recently installed the washing machine and it’s already vibrating, the chances are high that it’s due to the shipping materials still in place.

In top loading washers, there is usually a shipping bolt at the bottom center of the machine that you are supposed to remove, and if you don’t remove it, the washer tends to vibrate when running a cycle.

Top-loading washers also have three shipping bolts, metal clamps, and spacers at the back of the washer. Some models even have other materials that you need to remove before you run a cycle.

You should refer to the installation instruction for your appliance and ensure that you remove all the shipping materials before using the machine.

Check for overloading

If your appliance doesn’t vibrate and the vibration just started after placing a new load, chances are this is due to overloading. Remove the clothes and run the cycle with a smaller load.

To avoid this problem from coming about in the future, never load the dishwasher more than it’s designed to carry. You also should avoid stocking large items that get spun on one side, causing loud knocking and shaking of the machine.

Leave these items out and hand wash or dry clean them instead.

Watch out for damaged components.

If your appliance is old, chances are the unbalance is due to damaged parts. Some of the damaged parts that will cause vibrations include:

Suspension springs: Both top and front-loading machines have springs that hold the tub to the base or suspend it from the top. Ensure that these springs are connected, and none is distended. To maintain balance, don’t replace only one of the shocks—replace all.

Snubber ring: The snubber ring is made from plastic or felt, and it provides a cushion for the tub of the top-loading unit. When it wears out, the tub contacts the metal base.

Telltale signs that your snubber ring is worn out are dust on the plastic snubber or clumps. If you have the skills, you can replace the ring but if you have never done it before, let the work be done by a professional.

Driver bearings: Some front-loading washing machines have ball bearings between the motor shaft and tub spindle. If the casting wears out and one or more of the bearings get dislodged, the tub vibrates.

Fixing the driver bearings requires high skill levels, so if you have never handled a similar problem before, let an expert do the work. If your unit is old, disassembling it might be too costly, making it logical to replace it.

Check for laundry caught below the tub.

Sometimes the laundry can be caught below the tub or between the agitator and the inner tub, causing the washer to operate off balance with every load you run. According to appliance repair Northern VA professionals, this problem can be brought about by plenty of factors such as a penny, a button that fell off a shirt, a sock, or any other article of clothing.

If you can’t find the source of the problem, you may have to remove the front or top panel and sometimes even the agitator.

To get rid of the problem, remove the offending item and clean out any debris. You should then replace the agitator and panel before rerunning the machine.