How to clean the washing machine with citric acid?
Any remedy to remove limescale from the insides of the washing machine, advertised on TV, is not cheap. Hard water from the tap spoils expensive appliances, leading to breakdowns of electrical appliances. But a wise hostess will always find an alternative to expensive, advertised on TV remedies. So, to remove limescale from the inner surface of the washing machine you should use regular citric acid, which is sold in every grocery store, and is often available in spices in every housewife.
Attention, do not confuse citric acid with concentrated lemon juice!
Pour 2-3 tablespoons of citric acid into a container for the powder and turn on the normal mode of washing, setting the switch to 60 or 90 degrees. It's a good idea to use this method once a quarter. But observe the rule of "golden mean": cleaning should not be abused, so as not to damage the rubber pads of the washing machine.
When carrying out the cleaning procedure, the machine must be empty. After completing the process, put the washing machine on a rinse for a final removal of the scale particles. Large particles of limescale can still show up inside the drum, and can also clog the drain hole. These particles form if you have never preventively cleaned the machine, but you have been using it for quite a long time. Simply remove the visible elements of limescale deposits by hand. The drain valve should be unscrewed and also cleaned.
Advantages of the method
- This option to remove lime scale is absolutely harmless to human health.
- Citric acid is sold almost everywhere.
- The family budget will not suffer, since the remedy is cheap.
Why does limescale appear, and why is it dangerous?
Scale in the washing machine appears on the same principle as in the electric kettle.
When washing, the salts in the water are deposited on the surface of the heating element of the washing machine. At some point the salt deposits become too significant. The heater simply stops heating the water. It starts to use too much electricity in order to warm the water during the washing. As a result, the heater itself overheats because of the large amount of scale enveloping it. As a result, it eventually burns out.
In this case, you will help only a master, engaged in repair of washing machines. His services are not cheap. Yes, and it will take him a lot of time. A "mountain" of accumulated laundry is guaranteed. But regular washing machine cleaning for preventive purposes is not too time-consuming.
Getting rid of mold
Another problem faced by housewives is the formation of mold on the rubber elements of the washing machine. Mold is a harmful fungus that is not easy to get rid of. An unpleasant rotten odor when opening the drum lid indicates the presence of mold growth. The fungus may cause allergic reactions and is also dangerous for small children. Therefore, if there are signs of mold, it should be urgently got rid of. And here citric acid will come to the aid of the hostess.
The insides of the washing machine from the fungus will get rid of poured into the container for the powder citric acid. The temperature mode of washing in this case is set at 90 degrees. Run the machine "idle", without laundry. Wipe the outside elements with a sponge soaked in a chlorine-containing product. If the powder container is also covered with mold, it makes sense to soak it in bleach for 30 minutes, then rinse well under running water and wipe dry.
A preventive measure against mold is as follows: Always keep the lid of the washing machine open. The same applies to the powder container.
Precautions
Regularly inspect the washer-dryer for the presence of mould, and at the first signs perform the manipulation described above. It is recommended to wear rubber gloves for all cleaning operations, to avoid chemical burns to the skin of the hands.
Alternatives
If you do not have at hand the proposed remedy, but there is an urgent need to descale the washing machine, the old-fashioned way can help you. The solution of 9% vinegar is also able to rid the washing machine of unnecessary deposits. The principle is similar: pour a glass of 9% white vinegar in a container for the powder and run the machine washing at a temperature of 60 degrees. Do not forget the additional rinse after the procedure. An extra rinse is able to get rid of the acrid vinegar smell inside the machine. Naturally, all precautions must be observed. Start the machine without laundry, in "idle" mode.
The old-fashioned way does not inspire confidence in everyone. If you just belong to this category of people, then you are left to use only store remedies, which are available today in a large range. All kinds of additives to powders, which prevent the appearance of scale, are sold in any department of household chemicals. Only their price sometimes "bite" and not everyone can afford. Observe preventive measures, and the washing machine will serve you for many years.
