As an electrical repair technician, one of my saddest duties is to break the news to customers that repairing their front-mounted washing machines will cost more than $500.I know they will probably buy New machine The damaged gasket will eventually enter the landfill. But some of the most common problems are easy to prevent. These three tips can double the lifespan of front-mounted washing machines, saving you money and keeping them away from landfills.
1. Tip: Avoid washing heavy objects
Front-mounted washing machines should last for more than 10 years, so when their machines can only be used for half the time, consumers will feel uneasy, which is understandable. Usually, at the four-year mark, customers will tell me that their washing machine is loud and shaking when spinning at high speed: “My washing machine sounds like a jet plane taking off when it spins.” This very common complaint is The death knell for front-mounted washing machines. The problem is either the rear bearing is worn or the star bracket is damaged. The same approach can lead to these two problems, and it is easy to avoid.
First, check this video to learn how to test the gasket for worn bearings.
What caused the rear bearing of your washing machine to fail or the spider bracket to break? This is a potential culprit:
Bath mats absorb so much water that they become too heavy for your machine to rotate. Cleaning them will wear out parts prematurely and cut the life of the washing machine in half.
Other items that may cause the washing machine to die prematurely include:
- Blanket
- Quilt
- sleeping bag
- Weighted blanket
- Dog mat/mat
All of the above are too heavy and beyond the design capacity of the washing machine. But there is nowhere in the user manual of the washing machine that says to avoid washing heavy objects.
My client asked: “How should I clean large and heavy items?” My suggestion: go to the local coin-operated laundromat once a month; their large, sturdy machines can handle heavy washing.
2. Tip: Keep the washing machine door open between washings
Due to the accumulation of black mold on the entire machine, countless front loaders are thrown away every year-especially on the gray rubber door seals. The customer complained: “My clothes smell more smelly when they come out of the washing machine than when I put them in.”
The smell of black mold is not only very unpleasant, but also a major health problem for many people.
Black mold is a common problem in the design of all front-loading washing machines.It is so common that there are many Class action Oppose front-mounted washing machine manufacturers.
In order to prevent water leakage when the machine is running, the door is waterproof when it is closed. Unfortunately, many people close the door after using the washing machine. After the door is closed, the inside of the washing machine is a warm, humid, and airtight environment, which is a favorite environment for molds. The rubber door gasket is the perfect substrate for mold spore locking.
This video shows how to replace the door cover covered by the mold.
With this simple tip, you can easily avoid mold problems: keep the front-mounted washing machine door open when not in use. This allows air to circulate, so the rubber door gasket can dry out between uses.
Some people complained to me: “I can’t leave the washing machine door open because my cat will jump into the washing machine.” You don’t need to leave it wide open; you can open it only 1 inch, as shown in the picture below:
The photo above is an LG washing machine with a built-in magnet that keeps the door open by only 1 inch when not in use. LG made this change in response to a class action lawsuit.
Another helpful approach is to wipe the door cover with a small towel after each cleaning—especially the water-sumping area at the bottom of the rubber door cover.
I also recommend using New washing machine cleaner Once a month. Running a thermal cycle with an Affresh tablet will prevent mold from forming. If you have seen mold on the gasket, run the same procedure twice in succession. It is very difficult to remove black mold stains, but the Affresh cleaning cycle will remove the mold and you will only be left with mold stains.
3. Tip: Clean the glass door bowl after each loading
Water leakage under the door is the most common of the three front loader problems. And it is the easiest to solve.
Dirt, soap, and hair that accumulate at the contact between the glass door and the rubber door cover can damage the waterproof seal of the door. Therefore, during the entire cycle, water will drip out, forming a puddle in front of the washing machine.
You can solve this problem in a minute. Just wipe the bottom outer area of the glass door with a wet towel, which is connected to the rubber door sleeve, as shown in this video: How to stop forward leakage. The problem is solved.
The silver lining to all three common front-loading washing machine problems is that they are easy to avoid. Simply follow the following tips to extend the life of the front-mounted washing machine: avoid washing heavy objects, keep the door open when not in use, and clean the glass door bowl after each wash.
