Washing machines are one of the essential home appliances in every modern household. Using a washing machine saves you a lot of time and effort, while your clothes come out cleaner and fresher.
However, using a washing machine is only effective when you understand the correct operating principles.
There are still many common mistakes when using washing machines that you need to change immediately if you don’t want to waste electricity and damage your clothes:
1. Not sorting fabrics properly
Don’t just focus on sorting clothes by color. Nowadays, many people make the mistake of not differentiating fabric types before washing. This can lead to unfortunate consequences as running a mixed load of clothes for the same duration may result in the woolen items not being thoroughly cleaned, while the cotton or synthetic garments are at risk of being over-washed and damaged.
2. Lack of attention when choosing detergent
Many people believe that any detergent will do, whether it’s for hand or machine washing. Therefore, driven by the desire for cheaper options, some individuals casually purchase hand-washing powder for machine use or a front-loader detergent for a top-loading machine.
This can actually affect the lifespan of your washing machine. The reason is that hand-washing or top-loader detergents tend to produce a lot of foam.
When the foam exceeds the limit, it will overflow from the tub, damaging the machine’s components. Moreover, rinsing the clothes will require more water as it takes multiple rinses to remove the excess suds.
While you save a bit on detergent, you end up using much more water to rinse the clothes, and the machine has to work harder. With the mindset of using cheaper detergent, people tend to add more, thinking that more is cleaner.
In reality, this also contributes to the machine’s fatigue and increased water consumption to achieve a thorough clean.
3. Not checking clothes thoroughly before washing
You may not realize it, but items left in pockets can damage the washing machine’s tub during operation. So, don’t be lazy; always check the pockets and remove any objects that could harm the machine.
For garments with zippers or buttons, it’s advisable to unzip, unbutton, or turn the clothes inside out as they can get caught or damaged inside the tub, leading to faster deterioration of the washing machine’s tub…
4. Loading the machine with an inappropriate amount of clothes
Overloading or underloading the washing machine not only affects the quality of your laundry but also impacts the machine’s performance.
When there are too many clothes in the machine, the detergent may not circulate adequately, and the clothes may not be agitated or spun effectively. As a result, the laundry won’t be thoroughly cleaned.
On the other hand, if you wash too few garments, they might get pushed to one side of the tub, causing an imbalance. This can lead to strong vibrations, knocking, and banging during the spin and drying cycles, which can be detrimental to the longevity of your washing machine.
5. Neglecting regular cleaning and maintenance of the washing machine
Electronic appliances should be cleaned regularly to prevent breakdowns and extend their lifespan.
For washing machines, it’s essential to maintain both the interior and exterior regularly. Over time, the tub accumulates various bacteria, mold, mildew, grime, and detergent residue. If left uncleaned, your clothes won’t come out as clean as they should.
The ideal interval for washing machine maintenance is after every 4-5 loads of laundry.
According to Nhịp Sống Việt
“Are You Loading Your Washing Machine Wrong? – The 7kg and 12kg Dilemma”
The weight limit on a washing machine, such as 7kg, 9kg, or 12kg, refers to the weight of dry clothing. This is an important distinction to make, as wet clothing can weigh significantly more than dry clothing. For example, a load of dry clothes that weighs 7kg can easily exceed the 9kg mark when wet. Therefore, it is crucial to adhere to the weight limit specified by the manufacturer to ensure optimal washing machine performance and avoid any potential damage.