Fix-It Guy: 3 Tips to Double the Life of Your Front-Load Washer

One in every of my saddest duties as an equipment restore tech is breaking the information to a buyer that it’ll price over $500 to restore their front-load washer. I do know that more than likely they’ll purchase a new machine and the damaged washer will find yourself within the landfill. However a number of the commonest issues are simple to forestall. These three suggestions can double the service lifetime of your front-load washer, saving you cash and preserving it out of the landfill.

Tip 1: Keep away from Washing Heavy Objects

Entrance-load washers ought to final over 10 years, so customers are understandably upset when their machines final solely half that point. Typically, on the four-year mark, a buyer will inform me that their washer could be very loud and wobbly throughout high-speed spin: “My washer feels like a jet taking off throughout spin.” This all-too-common criticism is the loss of life knell of the front-load washer. The issue is both a worn-out rear bearing or a damaged spider help bracket. The identical observe causes each of those issues and it’s simple to keep away from.

First, try this video to see take a look at your washer for a worn-out bearing.

What causes your washer’s rear bearing to fail or the spider bracket to interrupt? Right here is one potential wrongdoer:

Toilet mats take up a lot water that they grow to be a lot too heavy in your machine to spin. Washing them wears out the components prematurely and cuts the washer’s life span in half.

Different objects that may result in the untimely loss of life of your washer embody:

• Blankets
• Comforters
• Sleeping luggage
• Weighted blankets
• Canine pads/mats

All the above are too heavy and past what your washer was designed to deal with. However nowhere in your washer’s proprietor’s guide will it say something about avoiding washing heavy objects.

My clients ask, “How am I supposed to wash my giant, heavy objects?” My recommendation: Make the trek to the native coin-operated laundromat as soon as a month; their massive, strong machines can deal with heavy-duty washing.

Tip 2: Maintain Washer Door Open Between Washes

Numerous front-loaders are thrown out annually because of an accumulation of black mould all through the machine — notably on the gray rubber door boot seal. Prospects complain, “My garments scent worse after they come out of the washer than once I put them in.”

Not solely does the black mould scent actually dangerous, but it surely additionally generally is a main well being drawback for many individuals.

Black mould is a standard drawback with all front-load washer designs. It’s so pervasive that there are quite a few class-action lawsuits towards front-load washer producers.

To forestall water from leaking out of the machine when it’s working, the door is manufactured to be water-tight when it’s closed. Sadly, many individuals shut the door after they end utilizing the washer. With the door closed, the within of the washer is a heat, moist, air-tight setting that mould loves. And the rubber door gasket is an ideal matrix for the mould spores to latch onto.

This video exhibits exchange the mold-covered door boot.

You’ll be able to simply keep away from the mould drawback with this simple tip: Maintain your front-load washer door open when not in use. This permits airflow so the rubber door gasket can dry out between makes use of.

Some individuals have complained to me, “I can’t go away my washer door open as a result of my cat will bounce contained in the washer.” You don’t want to go away it extensive open; it’s OK to go away it open by by as little as 1 inch.

The photograph above is of an LG washer that has a built-in magnet that holds the door open simply 1 inch when not in use. LG made this modification in response to a class-action lawsuit.

One other observe that helps is wiping out the door boot with a small towel after every wash — particularly the world on the backside of the rubber door boot the place water collects.

I additionally counsel utilizing Affresh washing machine cleaner as soon as a month. Operating a scorching cycle with one Affresh pill will stop mould from forming. Should you already see mould on the gasket, run the identical process twice in a row. It’s very exhausting to take away black mould stains, however the Affresh cleansing cycle will take away the mould and also you’ll solely have a mould stain remaining.

Tip 3: Clear the Glass Door Bowl After Every Load

Water leaking out beneath the door is the commonest of those three front-loader points. And it’s the simplest to unravel.

An accumulation of grime, cleaning soap, and hair the place the glass door meets the rubber door boot compromises the door’s watertight seal. Because of this, water dribbles out all through the cycle, making a puddle in entrance of the washer.

You’ll be able to repair this in below a minute. Simply take a moist washcloth and wipe the underside outdoors space of the glass door the place it meets the rubber door boot as proven on this video: How To Stop Front Leak. Drawback solved.

The silver lining to all three of those frequent front-load washer issues is that they’re simple to keep away from. Simply observe these tricks to lengthen the lifetime of your front-load washer: Keep away from washing heavy objects, preserve the door open when not in use, and clear the glass door bowl after every wash.

This text was initially printed on September 24, 2021.