As a household appliance, washing machines typically have long warranty periods, sometimes up to 12 years! 

They are pretty resilient machines, but that doesn’t mean they should be treated like they cannot be spoiled. Even though we don’t go out of our way to ruin this trusty and hardy modern day convenience, we can sometimes ruin them (to our own great loss) of negligence. 

Here’s how you may be spoiling your washing machine (and how to fix the problem): 

1. Being too generous with detergent 

When it comes to making sure that stains are gone and bacteria is busted from your laundry, more laundry detergent isn’t always a good idea. The extra detergent that’s not rinsed away by your machine’s typical rinse cycles would cause suds to build up. With excess suds, your machine’s drainage could be blocked which leaves dirty water to stay inside, which is a terrible idea for the longevity of your washing machine. 

At the same time, it’s not a good idea to use too little detergent, as that may cause scales to build up in your washing machine. What you need to do is measure the amount of detergent required based on your laundry load size. There are usually instructions on the approximate amount to use, spelled out on the back label of your detergent; plus there are measuring lines on the detergent bottle cap as well. 

2. Leaving washed laundry inside for too long 

If you leave your washed laundry in the washing machine for too long, mold and mildew could eventually grow and cause your clothes to have a bad odor. This, however, is really dependent on how your clothes smell. If you’ve left your laundry overnight without hanging them out to dry or tossing them into the dryer, you might get a bad smell the next day or you might not. And if it smells funky, sometimes all you need to do is initiate another round of washing with vinegar to resolve the issue. No biggie. 

The real problem comes when you do so with a washing machine that’s not been cleaned for a long time, or if you have a habit of using too much detergent as stated in the previous point. Excess detergent and fabric softener acts as a fertile ground for mold and mildew to grow. If that’s already happening in your washing machine, then leaving your laundry in there for too long may not be the best idea. 

3. Not cleaning your washing machine properly 

Most washing machines come with tub cleaning modes. But that may not be enough for the longer term, because care is also needed for your machine’s filter and detergent drawer. The filter stops lint, dirt, soil and other intrusive debris from harming your machine’s pump. As such, it becomes easy for germs to thrive there if the filter is left uncleaned. The same works for its detergent drawer, as leftover detergent powder and germs over time need to be dealt with for the well-being of your laundry. The door seal for front-loader washing machines is another area that’s often neglected, which makes it home to mold and mildew buildup too. 

Sounds like a lot of work to maintain a washing machine, doesn’t it? Since it’s difficult to clean parts of it that can’t be seen, PREZ Washing Machine Cleaner would be a good addition to your household cleaning toolkit. It cleans the drum thoroughly, easily, and effectively—all you need to do is add it into the tub and run the tub cleaning process. That’s the biggest and most important part of your machine, cleaned effortlessly! 

Stay clean, and happy washing!