It is easy to bring your washing machine to an unpleasant odor, and cleaning it and eliminating the consequences is much more difficult. Nevertheless, everything is real: it is enough to take measures for cleaning and in future to follow the rules of operation.
Next, we will look at how to clean the washing machine from smell, dirt and scale, and what cleaning products to choose.
Complex mechanical cleaning of the washing machine
Many housewives, having discovered an unpleasant smell, simply start the machine in idle mode with the addition of a rinse aid or citric acid. This will solve the problem if it is not running.
If there is a question about cleaning the machine from dirt, one idle wash will not be enough. You should wash these items with your own hands:
- Rubber hatch seal.
- Drum.
- Water drain filter.
- Hose for draining water and nozzles.
- Case SMA.
- Powder intake.
- TEN (heating element).
Cleaning the drain filter
About how to clean the drain filter is written in almost every user manual. But if the instruction to the SM is completely lost, we will list in detail the sequence of actions:
- Find the location of the filter: it is located in the front lower part of the washer behind a small hatch.
- Having found the filter cover, unscrew it to the left side.
- Remove the filter and rinse under the tap.
Important! Before cleaning the filter, lay rags on which the remaining waste water from the tank will pour.
- Before installing the filter back, inspect the “socket”, which could also collect debris.
- Wipe all parts and screw in the filter.
Repeat this operation every 3 months and the drainage system will always be in order.
Cuff cleaning
Cleaning the washing machine from smell always involves cleaning the rubber seal. Rubber perfectly absorbs odors, and without constant cleaning, the pollution process is 2 times faster.
When choosing a cuff cleaner, pay attention to two simple options:
- A solution of copper sulfate.
- "Domestos", divorced in water.
If there are visible traces of dirt on the elastic, take ordinary baking soda and rub it with stains, leaving the machine for 10-20 minutes. Then wipe the baking soda with a sponge, wash the gum and wipe dry.
Attention! In order not to “accumulate” the smell on the cuff, make it a rule to wipe it after each wash. Do not close the hatch immediately after washing - give it time to ventilate.
Body cleaning
Perhaps this is the simplest thing that can be done if you plan to completely clean the washing machine, both from smell and dirt. The main thing is to choose the right cleaning product.
If there is little contamination, just wipe the machine with a damp sponge, and then wipe it dry.
If you find difficult stains, make a normal soap solution. If there is a special spray for cleaning windows and mirrors, it is also suitable for cleaning the sunroof glass in frontal SMAs.
Cleaning the powder tray
The detergent drawer is cleaned separately from the machine - for this it needs to be removed.
Having taken the fence, soak it in an aqueous solution of citric acid - it will relieve rust deposits. When the cuvette is wet, you can additionally clean it with a sponge or a technical brush, rinse and wipe dry.
The place where the powder intake is located also needs to be cleaned. If there is dirt that is difficult to wash, use soda.
Hose cleaning
Understanding how to clean the washing machine from smell, you can not ignore the hoses of the bay and draining the water. To do this, they must be disconnected: on the one hand - from the washer body (prepare a container for draining water), on the other hand - from the water supply and sewage.
Important! When disconnecting hoses from communications, do not forget to close the valves on the pipes.
If you do not know how to clean the hose, there are no strict recommendations for this process - you can use a toothbrush, a special bottle brush, and wire.
To completely eliminate blockages in the hoses, and hence the unpleasant smell from them, rinse them with warm water under the tap.
Auto Cleaning
Do not limit yourself to manual cleaning - automatic cleaning will also be useful.
To do this, send a glass of vinegar or soda to the cuvette. Next, select a program up to 60 degrees - this will clean the SM from unpleasant odors. Soda and vinegar also fight mold and fungus.
If you need descaling and limescale, you will need about 150 grams of citric acid. Pour acid into the cuvette and run a long wash at high temperature (preferably 90 degrees). Rinse two times.
Wipe the cuff and tank after washing.
Under standard conditions of use, two such cleanings per year will be sufficient.
The choice of cleaning chemistry
In addition to “folk” products, there are many professional chemicals for cleaning washing machines. Let's figure out what is worth using and what is just a marketing ploy.
First, let's talk about the tool that is heard by all the hostesses - "White". Household goods stores claim that she is an excellent fighter against bacteria, odors and mold. But you need to use this tool carefully. It contains chlorine, and for some parts of the machine it is extremely undesirable.
Before pouring a product containing chlorine, look in the user manual - if manufacturers allow this, you can try it.
Be careful: use a little bleach - about 1 cup - and choose a washing mode at 40-45 degrees, no more. An additional rinse will also be required.
After washing, ventilate the drum and the room in which the machine is installed.
Speaking of more professional cleaning products, pay attention to the following:
This was not a complete list of all available cleaning products, but it is quite enough to quickly and effectively clean the machine of dirt, odors, plaque and scale.
Now you know how to clean the washing machine from smell and pollution. The main condition is periodicity and regularity.
It is important not only to buy the powder, but also to use it from time to time.