For most people, their washer and dryer are two of the most used appliances in the house. While laundry isn’t a chore that most people enjoy, one thing is for certain: laundry with a washer and dryer is far easier than without one, so in most modern households, having functional laundry machines is a non-negotiable.
On average, a washer and dryer set lasts around 10 years. Although this is a long time (especially when you consider how frequently your washer and dryer is used), with a little extra care and maintenance, you can extend the life of your washer and dryer beyond that time frame. On the other hand, without proper care, your washer and dryer could break prematurely, resulting in expensive costs to repair or replace them.
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How can you best care for your washer and dryer?
Wondering what you can do to keep your washer and dryer in tip top shape? Let’s take a look at some easy maintenance tips for extending your washer and dryer’s life as long as possible:
Don’t use more detergent than necessary
Although this tip might be surprising (a little extra soap is usually not a bad thing), adding a surplus amount of detergent on a regular basis is actually harmful to your washer. Extra soap means more suds, which means that your washer has to work harder to rinse out your clothes. If your washing machine is frequently working harder than it should, it will wear out considerably faster.
Use the correct detergent
Another important tip is to make sure you’re using the right kind of detergent for your washing machine. Unfortunately, not all detergents work well with all machines, and the wrong type may cause your washer to work harder and wear out faster.
In other words, using special types of soap, such as Seventh Generation laundry detergent or homemade laundry detergent, might not be the best idea–and maybe hold off on the fabric softener too. You can find the recommended type of detergent for your machine within your washer’s manual.
Clean the washing machine drain hose
Did you know that you need to clean your washing machine’s drain hose? If you didn’t, you're not alone–most washing machine drainage hoses are either out of sight or difficult to find, but keeping them clean is important, not only for the longevity of your washing machine, but for preventing floods as well.
Washing machine drain hoses should be checked periodically (no less than once a year, but preferably more often) to ensure they aren’t becoming clogged and are still in good condition. If your hose isn’t clear when you check it, be sure to take the time to clean it and even replace it if it looks worn out.
Clean the dryer vent hose
Although you’re probably familiar with cleaning your dryer vent, you might not know that it’s important to keep your dryer vent hose clean too. If too much lint or other materials build up inside of the hose, your dryer will have to work harder to do its job, which may result in the need to replace or repair it prematurely. It’s also likely that your clothes will take longer to dry and your dryer will overheat quickly.
Luckily, cleaning your dryer vent hose is easy–simply grab your household vacuum and vacuum around the hose to remove lint, dust, and other debris.
Wash the lint trap
Although most people know that it’s important to empty the dryer’s lint trap periodically, it’s important to wash it too. Although most lint and other residue can be removed by wiping it off, washing and scrubbing the lint trap will help you remove extra residue that can make your dryer work harder than it should.
Final thoughts
Regular care and maintenance will help ensure that your washer and dryer function properly for as long as possible. By keeping them well cared for, you can protect your appliances and prevent having to pay for premature repairs and replacements.
Lastly, another effective way to protect your washer and dryer is to invest in a product protection plan. Be sure to install Mulberry’s free browser extension while you’re shopping for your next appliance. You’ll get three months of product protection for free simply by signing up!
