Knowing something about basic washing machine care and maintenance can end up saving you a lot of money over the years. If you enjoy doing things yourself anyway, there are even handy guides available like the one shown below.

Your washing machine is an expensive piece of equipment. You will want to do all you can to use and maintain it so that it will give you years of trouble free service. There are a few basic things that you can do to help lengthen the life span of your washer.

Washing Machine Care: Installation

By far the greatest problems that I see with premature wearing out of components in a washing machine is improper installation. Running a machine that is not level is probably the number one issue. When a machine that is not sitting level is run, it causes strain on all the functioning parts especially in the transmission area. This strain causes off center wear on bearings and glides and generally puts more strain on one area and less on others. This is especially true of integrated washing machines. When integrated with a dryer on top, there is extra weight and the off center condition can cause even more damage.

Cleaning Your Washing Machine

Keeping your washing machine clean will help prevent rust from appearing and also keeps smells and soap build up issues at bay. This is especially the case with front loader washing machines that tend to develop smells and mold more easily than basic top loading washing machines. Clean out the soap tray and wipe down the metal surfaces regularly. If the unit is a front loader, clean out the grooves in the door bellow and run the clean cycle on a regular basis.

Washing Machine Repairs

Finally, while a regular checkup is usually not needed for most washers, if you do hear or notice anything unusual, it is often best to call in your local repairman before anything is further damaged. Even if it turns out that there is nothing wrong, at least you can have the major components checked out while he is there. This is especially true of any unusual noises which usually indicate either something that is broken or something that is lodged in the works of the washer. You want to have the items removed or replaced before they do further damage to other parts of the washer.

Proper maintenance and timely repairs when required should make your washing machine last at the very least 15 years. Most will last much longer than that if well cared for.  If you enjoyed this article and have been considering some remodeling, you may want to take a moment to read about integrated washing machines and how they can fit into your home decor.