Washing machine maintenance: descaling, filters and small habits

Washing machines fail slowly — a smell here, a longer cycle there — until a pump or bearing goes. A little routine care avoids most of it.

Every month or two

• Run an empty hot cycle with a machine cleaner or plain white vinegar to clear detergent residue and odour.
• Wipe the door gasket (front-loaders) and leave the door ajar to dry — this is where mould and smell start.
• Clean the detergent drawer.

A couple of times a year

• Clean the drain-pump filter (front-loaders): it catches coins, lint and hair, and a blocked one stops the machine draining.
• Check the inlet-hose filter mesh for grit, especially in hard-water areas.
• Look at the hoses for bulges or cracks — a burst inlet hose can flood a room.

Good habits

• Use the right amount of detergent — more is not better and leaves residue.
• Don't overload; it strains the bearings and washes badly.
• In hard water, an occasional descaling cycle keeps the heating element efficient.

Record the purchase date and any repairs. When a machine that's been reliable for eight years starts needing frequent fixes, the history tells you it's a replacement decision, not another repair.

Your Home Docket keeps all of this in one place — every appliance, its warranty, its service history, and a reminder before the next service is due, shared with your whole family. It's free. Create yours in a couple of minutes.