Practically every household relies on a washing machine nowadays… but what if your appliance stops working, leaving you with a full laundry basket with no place to go? Well, these simple checks can help you avoid such a disaster before that happens!

By regularly keeping a close eye on certain parts of your washing machine, you can keep it running smoothly and nip any potential faults in the bud before they become a disaster. Read on and discover how you can keep your washing machine in working order with these checks!

Door seal

The rubber door seal around your washing machine’s door frame is vital for preventing leaks and keeping the door securely sealed during cycles. Unfortunately, rips and tears can gradually occur, eventually leading to a leaky washing machine. By quickly inspecting your door seal every once in a while, however, you can find any potential rips or tears and replace the seal before water starts leaking out in torrents! Plus, replacing your door seal is super quick and easy. So, even if yours does have a little wear and tear, you can get a new one fitted in no time.

Pump filter

Your washing machine’s pump filter serves to protect the interior pump from a build-up of debris, lint and other potential obstructions. However, if you don’t regularly check and clean the filter when necessary, the debris on the filter can lead to insufficient drainage which will cause your appliance to suffer. Fortunately, all you need to do is take a look at the filter after every wash and clean it if needed to prevent any potential drainage problems – or replace it if the filter happens to be damaged in any way!

Hoses

The inlet hose and drain hose are another pair of parts on your washing machine that can develop faults if left unchecked and unmaintained. Again, checking these parts is fairly simple. All you need to do is take a look, make sure there aren’t any rips, tears, leaks or other such damage, and also make sure the hoses aren’t blocked. If blocked, you can simply clear the hoses manually (an unravelled coat hanger should do the trick!). If damaged or torn, they will need to be replaced… but don’t worry! Hoses are easily replaceable, and doing so will get your appliance leak-free and running smoothly again.

Drum paddles

Without drum paddles, your washing machine would no longer work or do its job properly. This is because the paddles ensure your clothes turn inside the washing machine with the rotating drum. Without properly functioning paddles… well, you won’t get much laundry done, that’s for sure! So just make sure you take a look at the paddles every now and then, and replace them if you find that they are cracked, damaged or faulty in any way.

General cleanliness

Finally, the last thing to keep a close eye on with your washing machine is the cleanliness of the appliance in general. After all, your washing machine won’t be able to do a very good job of cleaning your laundry if it isn’t clean itself! So, whenever your washing machine is emitting unpleasant smells or seems like it could do with a clean, run a cycle and clean any dirty crevices with some washing machine cleaner and descaler. Your appliance will be back to getting your clothes spotless and smelling fresh before you know it!

Now that you’re fully prepped to carry out the necessary maintenance checks for your washing machine, it’s important to ensure you’re not making any disastrous mistakes with your tumble dryer too! Check out our blog post on 6 things you should never put in the tumble dryer. It might just save your appliance!

Tags: Washing Machine, Washing Machine Advice, Washing Machine Tips