Recently, my mother had to pay almost $300 to have her dryer, which was maybe ten years old, repaired. The technician then told her that if she had maintained her camera correctly, she would not have to pay for her visit. But my mother is far from being the only one who does not clean her appliances properly. Many people spend years without washing their washer or dryer.
On the other hand, cleaning your appliances is not only aesthetic. It makes them more efficient and, as we have just seen, increase their lifespan. In this article, I’ll give you some tips on how to clean your washer and dryer properly. Since each device is unique, some of my suggestions may not apply to your products.
The washer
In 2020, a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, Charles Gerba, demonstrated that a single load of underwear could bring up to 100 million E. coli bacteria into the water. As a result, every time you wash clothes after washing, it is stuffed with feces. Blech!
If you have a front washer, you can wash your appliance every month or more if you need it. First, put the cycle as warm and long as possible (bacteria do not like to be scalded, usually). Then add two cups of white vinegar and a quarter cup of baking soda.
When the cycle is over, take a scouring sponge with a quarter cup of water and rub the inside of the drum. To prevent bacteria from forming with the water, you have just spilled, wipe it with paper towels.
If you have a traditional washer, you must follow a similar procedure, although longer. Please set it to the longest and hottest cycle, and add four cups of bleach. Please turn on the washer, then, after a few minutes, stop it. Let stand for about an hour while the bleach is working. Then, please turn on the washer again so that it completes its cycle.
When the cycle is over, start another load, but this time using four cups of vinegar. Before spinning (when the tub is still full of water), open the door and rub the inside that is not immersed with a sponge soaked in the mixture of water and vinegar. The washing machine must not be running. When done, close the door and let the cycle finish until the end. Finally, to prevent bacteria from forming, wipe the interior in the same way as with a front washer.
The dryer
Did you know that according to a US study, 92% of residential fires came from clothes dryers? Accumulations of stuffed animals mostly form the lights. Most dryers have a filter in the front. You must clean it before each use.
At the back of your dryer is also the hose that allows heat to escape. Over time, it tends to get clogged, which can increase the risk of fire. To clean it, push your dryer off the wall, disconnect it, and remove the hose from the outlet. If you see that it is full of stuffed animals, throw it in the trash and get another one. It’s an excellent long-term investment, mainly if it can prevent you from going on fire.
If you see just a little dust, you can take a vacuum and clean the dirt. Be careful not to puncture the hose. If so, you will have to buy another one. When replacing your dryer, check that the tube is not crushed.
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