Laundry tips

[Chimichangaz]

I'm getting a new washing machine this week and am looking for tips to help it last as long as possible and to perform at its best.

E.g. Have heard you should only use powder and not liquid, non-bio doesn't make any difference to sensitive skin, use vinegar to descale the machine regularly etc.

Are these true? Any other advice?

TIA

I do use powder as it contains bleaches that liquids don't so keeps the machine cleaner. I use bio too. I do a hot wash drum clean when my machine tells me to. I even cleaned out the drawer and the compartment it fits into yesterday!

We live in an area with very hard water so I use a descaling tablet in every wash.

My lesson learned the hard way:

Leave the door open when not in use, it prevents mould growing in the damp environment, as you are allowing air flow through the machine.

Don't overload the machine-this can make the belt snap.

Good tips, thank you all. Tidy does the descaling tablet work?

My last machine kept getting blocked with the fabric conditioner jets despite me cleaning the drawer regularly now and again

Have ordered a machine with a time delay so I can set it to come on either early morning or just before I get in from work - genius

Yes! I use the Lidl ones or Waitrose if I can't get them. They seem to keep the machine cleaner and I can use the normal amount of washing liquid whereas without I'd use more.

Absolutely right about the whole bio/non bio thing. But bio's tend to be more heavily perfumed than non bios and this is what causes irritation. If you've got anyone with sensitive skin or kids in the house, use extra rinse on the washer and it will rinse out the residue better.

Powders, either Bio or non bio, whichever you want to use, contain oxygen bleaching agents (same stuff that is in Vanish) that keeps the washer clean.

Don't bother with quick washes and do regular hot washes - 60 degrees for bedding and towels