How to remove scale from an automatic washing machine at home, how to clean the powder compartment, how to remove it from the heating element, hose, filter?

During operation, scale forms on the elements of the washing machine.
This occurs due to the release of limescale deposits from the water when heated. The rate of sediment formation is affected by the intensity of use, frequency of washing at high temperatures, and water hardness.

High-quality regular cleaning helps to cope with the problem. To learn how to remove scale from an automatic washing machine at home, read the article.

When to clean your automatic machine?

Descaling your washing machine should be done periodically. This will avoid voluminous accumulations that impair the operation of the device and contribute to equipment breakdowns.

The visible part of the drum, into which things are placed for washing, almost always looks shiny and clean . But this circumstance has nothing to do with the condition of the heating element and the outer part of the drum.

The recommended cleaning frequency is once a quarter; if you use the washing machine very rarely, it is a couple of times a year. The hardness of the tap water affects how often preventative maintenance should be performed.

If the water in the system is hard, and washing is carried out mainly on a long cycle with high water heating, cleaning of lime deposits should be carried out more often, once every 2 or 2.5 months.

More frequent cleaning than recommended with special or folk remedies can accelerate the wear of rubber and other parts of the washing machine.

How to avoid malfunctions?

We are not insured against the fact that the automatic washing machine does not have defects made at the factory, or its parts are not subject to natural wear and tear. Even the highest quality washing equipment is unable to work for a long time, because it is influenced by numerous factors:

quality of water,
electrical network,
operational features,
execution of the assembly,
various accidents.

But if you adhere to the rules for operating devices for washing clothes, and promptly carry out preventive measures to remove scale, etc., the machine will work much longer than the manufacturer guarantees. True, you will have to devote a little more free time to your washing machine, which is completely justified.

Experts assure that the ideal option is to partially disassemble the washing machine and inspect it for damage.

You don’t have to do this yourself - you can hire a technician to check all the main units.

Use of special means

In addition to simple home recipes, you can use special household chemicals for descaling. Such products do not harm the washing machine itself and effectively remove lime deposits. It is necessary to use household chemicals for descaling strictly according to the instructions for the product.

MAGIC POWER

To clean the elements of the washing machine that come into contact with water and are prone to scale build-up, you can use the German product MAGIC POWER. The product is produced in Germany.

There are two release forms:

gel;
powder.

Application is not difficult. If a gel is selected, the procedure is as follows:

Pour ½ to 1 bottle of product into the washing machine.
Start washing at +60°C.

The powder is effective, due to the acids it contains, even at a temperature of +40°C. How to use the powder:

Pour the powder into the washing powder compartment according to the instructions.
Set the washing mode by adjusting the temperature.
Start the wash.

The cost of the product depends on the form of release. For gel it’s 200 rubles per half-liter bottle, for powder – from 100 rubles per half-kilogram pack.

Topperr Express Cleaner

TM Topperr powder is intended for removing scale from washing machines and dishwashers. The drug is produced in small packages weighing 125 grams. Price for 1 pack – from 200 rubles.

Using this powder is very simple. Pour the entire pack directly into the drum and start washing at a heating temperature of +60°C.

Dr. Beckmann

The product is available in liquid form . In addition to removing scale, the drug helps eliminate mold and unpleasant odors.

The cleaner is poured into the powder compartment and the wash is started at +60°C. A container with a volume of 250 grams costs from 300 rubles.

How to extend the life of your washing machine

It is best to take all measures to soften the water. The process of installing cleaning devices has already been described above, and it is recommended to entrust such work to experienced professionals. In addition, a flask should be installed between the machine and the tap, inside of which there is a special salt added monthly. But this method will lead to success if you start using it from the moment of the first wash.

If you do not clean the filter, unpleasant odors caused by mold and rotting processes will soon appear. Prevention does not take much time - the filter is located below, under the front panel of the machine. The element can be unscrewed without any problems, cleared of blockages, washed with water and returned to its place.

The drum of the machine also becomes a source of odors if it is constantly damp. This leads to the conclusion that after each wash the unit is wiped dry. An excellent solution is to keep the hatch constantly ajar to allow ventilation.

How to clean the powder compartment?

Cleaning the washing machine must be carried out comprehensively. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the heating element, but also to the powder compartment. Deposits also form on its surface and in the niche where it is inserted.

This leads to:

hard water;
remnants of detergent that are not completely washed;
air conditioner residues;
dust and other pollutants.

Incompletely rinsed residues of powder, gel and conditioner can be easily removed in warm water using a small brush.

Work order:

Pull the container out of the hole.
Remove the removable part in the air conditioner compartment from the cuvette.
Rinse in water.
Read also: How long should a refrigerator run when first turned on and what is the operating cycle?
Using baking soda and a brush, scrub the container on all sides.
In case of significant lime deposits, it is possible to use bleach for cleaning.
Pour hot water into a bowl of suitable size, into which the removable container fits entirely, and dilute the packet of citric acid.
Place the cuvette in the bowl and leave for at least 1 hour. Maybe longer. If there are significant scale deposits, the cuvette can be left soaked in citric acid for several hours.
Clean with a brush, paying attention to all joints.
Wipe the cuvette.
Install the removable part for the air conditioning compartment.
Place the cuvette in place in the grooves.

It is convenient to use an old toothbrush with a small working head to clean the container.

The video will show you how to clean the powder tray from scale and mold:

External gloss

Household appliances must not only be in good working order, but also clean on the outside. This is especially important for the device, on which the cleanliness of linen and clothes depends. After cleaning the insides, they move on to adding a gloss to the outside. This does not take much time for neat users - they regularly wipe the surfaces of the case with a cloth, so the machine remains tidy. This is especially important if the equipment is in the kitchen - even greasy stains may appear on it from time to time.

For external cleaning, you will need regular dishwashing detergent and a sponge. The detergent composition is dissolved in water and the body is wiped with it. Then wipe with a dry microfiber cloth to avoid streaks.

It happens that if you do not take care of the cleanliness of the case for a long time, dust eats into the plastic. In this case, you need to apply soda slurry to the contaminated surface - let it sit for 2-3 hours. Then wipe with a sponge and rinse.

To keep the hatch door shiny, spray it with glass cleaner and wipe it - again use a microfiber cloth.

Cleaning the drain hose and filter

If cleaning is limited to just running the washing machine on a vigorous cycle (with hot water and descaling agents), the washing machine is not yet fully cleaned.

The filter and drain hose through which water leaves the device into the sewer can become clogged with various debris - lint, hair, scraps of paper and pieces of exfoliated scale.

Procedure for washing the filter:

prepare rags, a water container, napkins and brushes;
open the protective panel, which is usually located on the bottom of the façade;
lay enough rags on the floor in this place to absorb water;
turning the filter counterclockwise, unscrew it and remove it;
clean it of debris and rinse it in water.

Flushing the hose is carried out as follows:

through the drain filter, the remaining water from the machine can be drained into a prepared container, for example, into an empty jar;
the hose is disconnected from the drain point (sewer pipe);
Taking into account the design features, disconnect the hose and wash it.

It is recommended to clean the filter and hose at least 4 times a year, more often is better.

How to clean the filter in a washing machine, video instructions:

Is it possible to use calgon when washing baby clothes?

If there are too few things, there may be an imbalance, too much - overload. Open the powder drawer and pour a sufficient amount of detergent into the main wash compartment. You can’t pour in fabric softener, or sprinkle in Calgon or similar products.

Interesting materials:

What are adjacent sides of a rectangle? What is semantic integrity? What is Soak Off Gel Rubber Base? What is etiquette? What is the actual business substyle? What is asparagus and its beneficial properties? What are sports socks? What is a comparison in literature? What is the average salary? What is urgent histology?

Prevention of plaque

It is almost impossible to completely prevent scale formation in a washing machine. Preventive measures include the following:

Install filters at the entrance to the house (apartment), which would purify the water from mechanical and other pollutants, and also soften its composition. One of the filtration options is a magnetic filter that can change the crystalline structure of water.
Periodic cleaning of the washing machine from scale using one of the methods.
Refusal to wash old items, as well as those from which lint and threads are separated. When washing, such particles quickly stick to the heating element and accelerate the formation of scale.
Refusal to machine wash heavily soiled items - in solvents, building mixtures, etc. These substances can also stick to the heating element and contribute to the fouling of the heating element with lime.
Frequent washing at high temperatures with a long processing cycle also contributes to the formation of scale.

Damage from scale

Limescale causes significant harm to the washing machine, namely:

A heating element covered with scale deposits loses thermal conductivity, as a result of which its coil overheats and the part fails;
The appearance of dirt inside the machine leads to clogging of the drain system, which leads to its breakdown;
Scale deposits on the internal parts of the machine reduce its service life by at least half.

Important: the use of inappropriate cleaning products or improper cleaning of the automatic machine provokes the appearance of scale with even greater force. Before carrying out work on cleaning the washing machine, it is necessary to consult with specialists or study the manual for performing such work in order to do everything correctly. It does not matter which car is going to be cleaned - Bosch, Indesit or another brand.