Most of our regular weekends are spent checking off household chores on our to-do lists. This includes mowing the lawn, general cleaning, and doing the dreaded laundry. Now, imagine how difficult it would be to accomplish these without our handy appliances. No lawnmower, no vacuum cleaner, and no washer or dryer to get you through. Tedious isn’t it? With that being said, the importance of keeping these appliances running smoothly cannot be stressed enough. Doing the laundry manually can take up a ton of time and energy. You definitely don’t want the washing and drying machines to break down all of a sudden and turn Sunday into laundry loathing day. In this article, we give you tips and tricks for properly cleaning and maintaining washers and dryers.
Clothes Dryer
Cleaning the exhaust vent – Lint builds up in the exhaust vent after a while. This is very dangerous because it blocks the proper airflow and can cause the dryer to overheat. In worst cases, the dryer will ignite into flames because lint is highly flammable. Remember to detach the vent from the back of the dryer to clean up any lint build-up.
Keeping the outdoor exhaust duct clear – Leaves, twigs, dirt, and other debris can easily get caught in the exhaust duct. This is especially true if there is no hood or cover to keep the duct from collecting dirt. Make sure to clear any of these obstructions to ensure proper airflow during drying cycles.
Avoid overloading – You might be tired of reading this over and over again overloading is one of the worst things you can do to your dryer and your energy bill. Going beyond the advised load weight really is damaging to your appliances. This makes the dryer work harder than it should and keeps it from running efficiently. It also forces your dryer to use up more energy.
Cleaning the drum – Clothes dryer drums are either made up of either plastic, stainless steel, or porcelain. Thorough cleaning isn’t necessary but it is a good idea to give the drum a wipe every now and then. Use a microfiber cleaning cloth and a bit of alcohol to clean off the residue.
Washing Machine
Inspect the hoses – Every now and then check if the hoses connected to the washer have bulges or cracks. Do this to detect early signs of damage and to prevent making a sopping wet mess in the laundry area.
Use low-sudsing detergents in the right amount – Today’s energy-efficient washer models use less water than older models. Because of this, just enough low-sudsing HE detergent should be used. This rinses easily and won’t leave residue on the machine.
Cleaning the dispensers and drum – Residue from detergent, fabric softener and bleach can appear after a long while. If you notice these, simply run an empty load with some hot water and two cups of distilled vinegar. Add half a cup of vinegar before letting the cycle finish.
Don’t leave laundered clothes for too long – After a washing cycle, immediately place the newly laundered clothes in the dryer. Keeping it in the washer for too long can trigger mold and mildew growth.
