They can cost a pretty penny, but if you look after them those big white goods should be cleaning and drying your clothes and crockery for years to come.
While the best and smartest models are good at taking care of themselves these days and can, while washing away the grime and grease, filter out some debris and detritus they can’t do it all on their own. So, here’s a few quick tips – to ensure your appliances remain the tops.
It’s all in the filter
If your machine is out of kilter, check the filter. Like in a car engine or a fish tank, the filter’s there to ensure everything is clean and running efficiently. The word efficiency is of course closely related to running costs too. Regularly checking and cleaning can prevent damage and costly repairs or replacements in the future.
Washing machines
A build up in your washing machine filter is likely to cost you dear. A clogged filter means your wash is more likely to come out extra wet, requiring further spinning of the machine and the electricity metre wheel. Cleaning the filter is simple too, so there’s no excuse to check it over once every couple of months.
Unplug the machine and turn off the water supply, lay a tray on a towel in front of the machine to catch any excess water when removing the access cover. Uncap the hose and let the water drain into the tray after which replace the hose cap. Then unscrew the filter and remove debris – coins, hairclips, Lego and the like – and rinse the filter before screwing it back in place.
Tumble dryers
A clogged filter in a tumble dryer is a potential fire risk. It also means longer drying cycles and higher energy bills.
Ideally, as part of a laundry routine, a dryer’s filter should be checked after each use to ensure it’s free of fluff, hair and other debris. If not each time, at least weekly and never less than monthly. It’s so easy too – remove the lint and debris build up, then pop it back in the dryer.
On condenser dryers, the condenser unit below the drum will also become clogged so this unit will need to be removed, cleaned and rinsed.
Dishwashers
A smelly dishwasher can often be the result of an ignored filter; same if it’s not cleaning and rinsing the dishes properly. This filter, found inside the bottom of the appliance underneath the blades, should be cleaned once or twice each month.
Remove it by twisting the top and pulling it out and rinsing away dirt and food debris and use a soft brush to help if necessary. It’s good practice to check the filter cavity too and remove any potential blockages – and while you’re at it, clean the bottom of the machine.
Commercial counterparts
They may be bigger and hardier, but these beasts also need love. Like their domestic cousins, proper cleaning and maintenance can help prevent them from breaking down, extending the lifespan of the machine, while keeping energy costs lower. That regular maintenance regime may just take a few minutes longer. After removing filters they should be soaked in a cleaning solution while you clean the inside of the machine – don’t forget the spraying arms which can also become clogged over time – and remove anything that shouldn’t be there! After around 30 minutes give the filters a scrub and a rinse and reinstall. If necessary remove the spraying arms too and give them the same treatment.
Prevent too much limescale build up by using a descaler and running the machine through a full cycle. Running an empty hot wash every week is also a tip for keeping your commercial washing machine firing on all cylinders, as is checking and cleaning the filters monthly, the inlet and outlet hoses and the soap dispenser. Also leave the door or top ajar when not in use.
Cleaning out the lint filters after every cycle with a soft brush to avoid a build-up of lint which blocks the machine is, like the domestic machine, important for the commercial tumble dryer. Also have your ducting/vents cleaned around twice a year to ensure a safe and efficient performance.
A stitch in time…
As with every appliance mentioned above check your instruction manual – it may sound obvious but it’s quick and efficient and not all makes and models are the same.
And finally, have a chat with us for any queries, but especially to plan preventative maintenance by our experts. For more information and to sign up to our servicing contract, call us today on 0151 236 7451.
