Your washing machine is probably one appliance you take for granted. It washes clothing and other linens for you and your entire family day in and day out. The day you have a breakdown and have to go without, you may feel like you have to wait forever while your laundry piles up or while you have to lug your clothing to a laundry mat.
Stop taking your appliance for granted and pay attention to any odd noises, bad smells or other signs that there is a problem with your washing machine.
Read below for common washing machine issues and what you can do about them.
Bad Odors
If your washing machine is smelly, think about what your clothing probably smells like being washed in that stinky machine. Clean up your machine by doing the following:
- Run the machine on the Clean Washer cycle (or on the hottest cycle) while the machine is empty. You can use bleach or vinegar in the detergent bin to give the basin an all-over clean.
- Wipe down the inside of the machine with a microfiber cloth soaked in vinegar. Wipe the washtub down to remove any hard water, calcium buildup and other substances stuck to the inside of the washtub, such as stickers.
- Pull back the rubber gasket inside the door and wipe down the inside to remove any mold or mildew that has built up inside. If need be, pour some vinegar or bleach inside and allow it to soak for a few minutes before wiping the area down.
- Wipe down the detergent bins, which can also accumulate mold and mildew.
Clean your machine at least once a month to keep it clean, and be sure to keep the door open so the machine can dry out in between washes.
Lack of Drainage
If you have water inside your machine that isn’t draining, you could have a clog somewhere. Follow these steps to correct the problem:
- To start, remove as much water from inside the machine as possible. You can bail the water out using a bucket or bowl.
- Open up the panel at the bottom of the machine and locate the drain pump.
- The drain pump is a space in which small objects can wedge themselves. Inspect the pump, looking for anything that may be stuck.
- If you don’t notice anything, replace the drain pump just to be sure it isn’t faulty.
- Check the lint trap inside the machine as well to see whether it is clogged with lint, hair, change or other objects that could cause a problem for your machine.
After replacing everything on your machine, test that it works by running a quick cycle.
Leaking Water
If you notice water around your machine, don’t panic just yet. The problem could be a few different things. To identify the issue, do the following things:
- If you have a front-loading machine, check the seal to be sure it isn’t broken, cracked or worn out. Replace the seal if need be, and observe whether doing so repairs the problem.
- Inspect the pump to be sure it is in working order, and replace it if necessary.
- Take a look at the water inlet valve to see whether the valve or hose is damaged. Replace the hose or valve if you notice any signs of damage or corrosion.
Try to figure out where the water is coming from to narrow down where to look for the leak.
If you experience problems with your washing machine that you can’t or don’t want to address yourself, call a professional appliance repair company such as Capital City Appliance Service to resolve these issues for you. Don’t let a broken washing machine get in the way of your day-to-day life. Call a professional to have the work done for you.
