6 ways to keep your washing machine squeaky clean this monsoon

Monsoon is here and how. Much as it was long awaited, it also brings its own peculiar set of issues. Traffic, the occasional bouts of sickness, and perhaps the biggest of all – laundry woes. Clothes not drying for days, staying damp and the need for frequent loads of laundry are just some of the issues brought on by monsoons.

This also means our washing machine ends up having to work overtime. Like other appliances, your washing machine too could use a little basic maintenance once in a while too. Here are a few ways you can keep your washing machine squeaky clean this monsoon, allowing it to function at its best.

6 steps to ensure a squeaky clean washing machine

1. Clean the drum

Detergents or hard water often cause scaling on a washing machine, which not only affects wash quality, but also leads to a foul smell inside. Therefore, it is a good idea to frequently rinse away any residual dirt and detergent in the machine. The way to do this is running an empty load of hot water mixed with baking soda and vinegar at the highest temperature setting of the machine, on the longest cycle. Once the cycle is over, use a clean towel and wipe down the drum, doors, and gasket to ensure your washing machine stays squeaky clean.

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2. Let your washing machine breathe

Always leave your washing machine’s lid open a tiny bit after each wash, especially during monsoons, such that it dries out and doesn’t develop an unpleasant smell. In general, thoroughly wipe the door gasket, as well as the drum after doing each load of laundry to help prevent mould.

3. Clean the lint filter regularly

After several wash cycles, the lint filter in the washing machine can get clogged. One should clean the filter at least once every week, by discarding the lint and then running it under tap water to ensure that all smaller lint particles are also discarded. In addition to prevention of mould and odour, it also helps ensure cleaner clothes.

It’s important to keep your washing machine’s outside as clean as its insides. While the drum and motor of a washing machine are considered its heart, the outer body as well as components such as the inlet and outlet pipes are equally important.

ALSO READ: How to prevent water damage from your washing machine

4. Don’t forget to clean the inlet and outlet pipes

The outlet pipe generally gets cleaned when running a cycle on an empty load with hot water mixed with baking soda and vinegar. However, if for whatever reason it doesn’t, and neither does the inlet pipe, one needs to detach them and soak them in hot water with some white vinegar. Another way is to use a high-pressure water spray to expel dirt and dust lodged in the pipes as well.

5. Periodically clean the outer body

Ensure that you periodically clean the body of the washing machine using a microfiber cloth. One can use a normal cleaning solution available in stores, to help get rid of limescale and dirt, which can cause the body harm in the longer run. Furthermore, always keep the washing machine covered when not in use, so as to prevent contact with water and moisture in the air, to help prevent it from rusting.

6. Buy an AMC for your washing machine

Now, we understand some of these steps may be easier said than done. Washing machines have a fairly complicated working mechanism, which one may unintentionally damage while taking the aforementioned steps to maintain it. The same may cause their appliance to burn a deep hole in their pockets.

This is where ZipCare’s AMC plan for washing machines comes in. This plan, in addition to cleaning of the inside drum on an empty load, the lint filters, and the outside body, also includes a basic function check, machine levelling as well as a cleaning of the area under, behind and around the washing machine, which may otherwise be inaccessible.

With these simple steps, you can ensure your washing machines stays squeaky clean and gives you fresh, clean clothes with each cycle, not just during the monsoon but otherwise too, and lasts you for years.