HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR WASHER & DRYER: TIPS & CHECKLISTS

When you overload your washing machine, it can keep your laundry from receiving a thorough cleaning. This is because the washer tub does not have enough space for your clothes to move around. Additionally, overloading your washer can unbalance your machine, placing extra wear and tear on it.

Another important preventive maintenance task is cleaning your washing machine. Remove all items in the washing machine, then add an Affresh^®1 washing machine cleaner tablet to the tub. Run a clean washer cycle or a normal cycle with a hot water setting to cleanse your washer. This cleaning is recommended every 30 days or every 30 wash cycles—whichever is sooner.

After every load, inspect your front-load washer’s door seals for moisture and residue. Make sure to wipe them dry and clean these seals regularly to help ensure proper performance of your washing machine. You can also leave the door open between washes to help it dry out.

Between initial installation issues, wear and tear or poor water quality, your washer’s hoses and connections can deteriorate over time. Inspect these hoses and connections for bulging, cracking and fraying every five years to prevent damage to your washing machine.

With a machine cleaning wipe, clean the dispenser, agitator, interior and exterior of the appliance. To reach the dispenser, pull the drawer out until you feel resistance. If your agitator has a removable cap, remove it and clean the inside. For washing machines with a filter, clean it regularly to ensure proper drainage. Remember to use mild soaps or cleaners when attending to outside surfaces and to clean around the door.

Drip pans are useful for washer maintenance as they help avoid flooding your laundry room floor by catching leaks from your washing machine. If you have installed a drip pan underneath your appliance, inspect the pan each time you run a load to ensure that no water is escaping the washer.

To avoid soil and detergent buildup, intersperse a hot or warm water cycle in between your cold cycles. Make sure to leave the washer door open after washing to help dry the interior. As soon as cycles are finished, remove your load from the washing machine to help keep it clean.

To make sure your dryer is both drying and functioning properly, avoid overloading clothes in your dryer. If there is not enough room to circulate air within the dryer drum, your dryer may malfunction or break down.

While it’s important to roll the lint off the screen after every cycle, you can also deep clean the trap every 6 months or as needed. By thoroughly cleaning your dryer lint trap, you can provide better airflow to your appliance. Vacuum the interior, exterior and moisture sensor strips of your lint trap (if possible), or use a brush against the dryer vent to pull up any remaining lint.

Every six months, you should clean the laundry detergent and fabric softener buildup on your lint screen. Wet a brush with hot water and liquid detergent, then scrub both sides of the lint screen. Rinse thoroughly, then dry with a towel. Failure to deep clean your lint screen can cause longer drying times and affect your appliance’s performance.

The drum of your dryer can acquire a filmy residue over time. Remove any internal debris, then wipe down the drum. If electric, use a soft cloth dipped in warm water and dish soap when wiping. If gas, use a liquid, nonflammable household cleaner. When finished, use a wet sponge or towel to remove excess cleaner; then tumble a load of towels to dry the drum.

Unplug your dryer, then with the help of another person, create about a foot of room between the back of the dryer and the wall behind it so you can clear debris from the internal vents. Unscrew the vent clamps that attach the vent to the back of the dryer, and clean the debris from the vent—either by using a dryer cleaning brush or a vacuum. Start your cleaning by removing large lint pieces by hand, then follow up with your brush or vacuum.

Locate your dryer's exterior vent outside your home and repeat the vent cleaning process: remove large pieces of lint by hand, then use a brush to dislodge any other debris while using a vacuum to remove it. Finish by reclamping the vent back to the dryer and turning your appliance back on.

To help ensure that there is no excess dust in the dryer after cleaning the vents, run the appliance on an empty cycle for 15 minutes.