8 Ways To Keep Your Laundry Room Running Like A Champ
When it comes to keeping your dryer humming over the long haul, consistency is the rule of the day. With a little regular - and simple - upkeep, your dryer will pay you back with toasty clothes for days.
1. Beware The Trap
First things first - clean out your lint trap after each use. This daily maintenance is the easiest thing you can do to keep your dryer running and your house safe. Lint build-up from dryers is the leading cause of house fires. Make sure to clean out the dryer exhaust vent (located behind your dryer) on an annual basis, or 2-3 times a year if you do a ton of laundry. BONUS: Cleaning out the exhaust vent also keeps the humidity from lingering in your dryer, which allows your clothes to dry faster.
Matt Long, Appliance Solutions Sales Manager, and appliance expert, has seen the results of dryer neglect first-hand. "That's where you start getting issues with your dryer," Long said. "If that lint build-up becomes compacted over time, then your dryer can't breathe. If your dryer can't breathe it's going to stay damp, and your clothes won't dry. Eventually, the build-up is going to start blowing fuses or breaking the heating element."
Quick Tips for Washer Maintenance:
2. Use Washer Cleaner Tablets
We recommend using Affresh Washer Cleaner tablets each month to remove odor-causing residue in your washing machine. Affresh can be used in all washing machines, including traditional top loaders and high-efficiency models. (You're welcome!)
3. Check Water Hoses
Make sure your water hoses (preferably braided stainless steel hoses) are firmly connected to the washing machine and that the hoses are in good condition. We recommend replacing your water hoses every 8-10 years.
4. Use the Right Detergent
Each model has a different suggested detergent, so make sure to look into what is best for yours. Most energy-efficient (HE) washers require a low-sudsing detergent.
5. Clean the Washer and Dispensers
Wipe down the door, rubber door sealer, drum, and gaskets. This tip won't necessarily keep your washer from breaking, but it will keep your washer from giving off unpleasant odors that seep into the laundry.
6. Try to not Overload
Resist the temptation to overload the machine. Loads of laundry that are larger than the suggested amount can seriously damage your washer. Smaller loads mean lower impact and cleaner clothes.
7. Let it Breathe
Leave the door open when the machine isn't in use. This simple tip helps prevent your washer from stinking up the joint. We know you don't live in a barn, but this is the only time when not closing the door after a load is OK. Whirlpool front load washers feature an innovative option called FanFresh, which keeps clothing fresh inside the washer by tumbling the drum occasionally to keep the clothing from settling. FanFresh can also dry light items without running them in the dryer, by circulating air inside the washer drum.
8. Avoid Letting Clothes Sit
Always take out wet clothes after a cycle. Leaving wet clothes sitting in your machine can spark the growth of mold and mildew. Dryer repairs and replacement parts can be expensive. In some cases, people have found that it makes more financial sense to purchase a whole new machine, so keeping your current dryer clean and healthy will pay off. In the market for a new dryer? Ask us how you can save up to $500 on a new gas dryer!
Shop all Laundry here!
We’re also great at laundry appliance repairs; request a service call here.