How to clean a washing machine with citric acid
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Few people at home have clean tap water without impurities, so over time, when using a washing machine will form a scale.
Under the influence of high temperatures during the washing process on the heating elements, settles fine fabric fibers, powder particles that have not dissolved. all this also affects the growth of a peculiar “crust”. We bring to your attention the algorithm of cleaning a washing machine with citric acid at home.
Chlorine and citric acid in the cleaning of the machine
To clean and give luster to the heating element and drum, chlorine is added to the “citric acid“. Consider the proportions in which you need to combine the substances.
- Pour 200 grams of citric acid into a powder container.
- Measure 200 milliliters of chlorine and pour it into the drum of the machine.
- Close, set the washing machine on washing mode for cotton.
Do not use this method of cleaning more than once a quarter, so as not to damage the rubber parts in the device. Washing temperature should not exceed 60 ° C. After a complete wash cycle, you need to ventilate the machine well, if the smell is strong, turn on an additional rinse.
Cleaning machines with citric acid ��
Cleaning Procedure
In order to understand how to clean the machine from scale, you need to imagine the complex device of the washing machine in the form of a kettle with a drum. This means that you can clean the washing machine the same way you clean a kettle. Only in this case a different proportion of ingredients is used.
Citric acid in the washing machine should be loaded without laundry and detergents. Otherwise, the whole cleaning will be reduced to the fact that your laundry will acquire a lemon aroma. Washing things together with this acid is possible, and it will have a positive effect on the condition of the drum and the heating element. However, this should only be done in a situation where the water used is highly mineralized. In this way it will be possible to produce sediment immediately in the washing process. A good rinse after washing removes salts and not accumulates them inside the machine.
However, if there is a need to remove the already accumulated sediment, clean the washing machine in idle mode, that is, without laundry. In this case, nothing will prevent the acid from interacting with the salts and accumulated dirt.
To clean it is necessary to carry out the actions in the following algorithm:
- Instead of laundry detergent, pour the acid in the amount described above;
- then it is necessary to run the machine in hot water mode (the temperature should be at least 90 degrees);
- the running time should last at least 40 minutes;
- Drain the water with the acid and rinse the machine with clean water.
These recommendations are based on average conditions. But the dispenser does not tolerate idle washes, so put a few cloths in the tank. A little acid won’t do them any harm.
The effectiveness of the actions can be assessed by the turbidity of water, as well as by the condition of the heating element and the drum.
If you are not satisfied with the effect, then repeat the procedure after the machine will be completely cleaned from the previous acid treatment. You should also wash those surfaces that are not part of the internal mechanisms. Especially plastic and rubber parts, which suffer the most from the effects of aggressive media.
Why clean the washing machine
The most important elements of the washing machine are hidden inside the body. One of them. TEN (electric tube heater; sometimes you can see the wrong spelling. “ten”), it is a metal tube and is needed to heat water. The heating element is constantly in contact with water and over time is covered with solid deposits.
The heating element is an important element of the washing machine, and it is the element most susceptible to the formation of limescale
Even in soft water there are substances which, over time, build up a scale on the heating element. In medium or hard water, deposits buildup is faster, especially in high temperature washings. Thus, the harder the water used for washing, and the more often the “boil” or “bleach” mode is used, the higher the risk of scale formation.
What are the dangers of limescale? In the course of washing, the heating element heats up and transmits thermal energy to the water that enters the machine. When the metal tubes are encrusted, the heat transfer decreases and the machine parts overheat instead of the water. Over time, this leads to breakage.
It should be noted that advertised products do not clean the elements of the machine from scale, but perform a preventive function, softening the water. Therefore, if the plaque is already formed, to cope with it at home can either a specialist or a strong cleanser, such as citric acid.
How to prevent limescale buildup in your washing machine?
You can reduce the intensity of scale formation with the help of special magnetic filters, which are installed on the inlet section of the water supply. Such equipment reduces the hardness of the water entering the apartment. Softening filters are not only beneficial for the washing machine, but also for the plumbing. But these devices are much more expensive than a few sachets of citric acid. If you are not going to spend money on the purchase and installation of filters, do not forget to periodically perform preventive cleaning of the washing machine.
Reduce the intensity of scale formation will help folk remedies. vinegar and baking soda. Pour 2 cups of 9% vinegar into the detergent compartment, set the temperature to 60 ℃. If you decide to use baking soda, you should pour half of the pack into the powder compartment and put the remaining half in the drum. Run a long dry wash with no laundry and no detergent. After 10 minutes, pause the program and leave the machine with a full tank for an hour, then turn it on again and bring the washing cycle to an end. At the end of the program, switch to the dry and detergent-free quick wash. To consolidate the result, clean the door and the recesses of the rubber seals with a weak vinegar solution (1 hr). л. per 1 litre of water). Vinegar can be used as a preventive measure once a month.
Vinegar and baking soda are great for preventing limescale buildup on washing machine parts
How to clean a washing machine with citric acid
Let’s find out why you need to clean the washing machine with citric acid and how to do it. Sometimes the owners do not pay proper attention to the cleaning of the washing machine from the scale. They believe that it is enough to use the machine to flush and clean the inside. However, this is the wrong approach.
If the washer is not descaled, limescale deposits form on the washer parts. The longer a washing machine is in use without cleaning, the thicker and harder the scale becomes. At some point, the machine cannot withstand the overloading and breaks down. The heating element. heating element THEN is usually the first one to break down. In this case, the damaged part has to be replaced.
How long the washing machine can go without cleaning?
This depends on many factors: the brand of washing machine, its condition, the hardness of water. If the water in the region is soft, then the machine will last longer without failure. Scale builds up very quickly in hard water areas.
Clean the washing machine not only for descaling, but also for disinfection. The inside of the washing machine is warm and humid. It is a breeding ground for mold and all kinds of bacteria. The presence of fungi and bacteria in the washing machine can be recognized by an unpleasant smell. The characteristic smell and plaque can even remain on things after washing.
If you wash frequently with 90 degree hot water, there will be no mold or bacteria. But this kind of routine will ruin your clothes and wear out your washing machine more quickly if used frequently. Therefore, it is usually washed at a temperature of 40. 60 degrees. So, it is necessary to use agents that destroy pathogenic microorganisms inside the washing machine.
How to clean a washing machine with citric acid
All home appliances need regular cleaning. One of the most important and expensive appliances is a washing machine, so you need to take the most responsible care of it. Only then will it perform its functions for a long period. One of the easiest ways is to clean your washing machine with citric acid.
Why Clean a Washing Machine with Citric Acid?
Follow the step-by-step instructions on how to clean a washing machine with citric acid is not difficult. It begs the question: Why is it necessary?? Most often, the water that runs through the pipes has a high percentage of salts and impurities. When the water is heated the salts contained in the water are deposited on the surface of the heating element and scale is formed. It’s the same with dishwashers and electric kettles.
If you do not clean the appliance from limescale in time, it will serve to increase the time for heating water. Consequently, the power consumption may increase. It is also possible that the heating element burns out. For this reason, preventive maintenance of automatic washing machine should be performed in a timely and qualitative manner.
With the help of citric acid, it is possible to effectively clean the heater and drum of the washing machine from scale. When the water is heated, the acid reacts with the scale and destroys it. The flakes of limescale fall off the parts of the appliance and are washed away with the water.
How to know when it’s time to clean?
It is difficult to visually assess the presence or absence of limescale on the heating element of the washing machine, this element is deep in the appliance.
There are circumstantial signs, the detection of which indicates the need for cleaning:
- the washed light-colored cloths have a grayish tint or the fabric has an unpleasant odor. In this case, the detergent remains the same;
- during a washing cycle the machine makes some unusual sounds: rumble, crackling, light banging. Most often, the sounds occur when selecting a temperature above 60 degrees;
- the water inside the appliance does not heat up. You can determine this by putting your hand to the hatch glass during operation;
- to achieve the same quality of washing as before, the amount of detergent has to be constantly increased;
- the total washing time has increased, the machine takes a particularly long time to heat the water.
Citric acid can also be used to clean the dishwasher read here.
