How do you descale the washing machine?

Washing machines use hot water to clean your clothes, and in homes with hard water, this can lead to limescale buildup. Just like with boilers and kettles, limescale gradually builds up on the heating elements of your washing machine. This can reduce your machine's performance, resulting in higher energy costs and less clean laundry.

Why is descaling important?

Limescale can significantly reduce the efficiency of your washing machine. The heating element has to work harder to heat the water, which requires more energy. Limescale can also build up on your clothes and make your detergent less effective. Descaling your washing machine:

• Improves the effectiveness of your detergent, resulting in cleaner clothes.
• Extends the life of your washing machine.
• Reduce your energy consumption.

Here are some steps to descale your washing machine:

1. Empty the Washing Machine : Before you start, remove all laundry from the drum. You will need an empty drum for the descaling process.

2. Choose the descaling agent : There are several options for descaling your washing machine:

Special Descaling Agents : Washing machine manufacturers recommend specific descaling agents that are safe for your machine. Use this at most once a month ¹ .

Vinegar : Fill a cup with vinegar and pour it into the main detergent compartment. Run the machine (40-60 degrees) with an empty drum. This helps remove limescale and keeps your washing machine fresh ² .

Soda : Add soda to the drum and run a cooking program at a minimum of 90 degrees. This will also reduce limescale ³ .

3. Run the Descaling program : Add the selected descaling agent to the main wash compartment of the detergent drawer. Then run a wash program with an empty drum at 40 or 60 degrees Celsius. After this program, repeat the same wash program without descaling agent to rinse away any residue.

4. Regular Maintenance : Depending on the amount of limescale, you can descale your washing machine once or twice a year. Hard tap water and washing at high temperatures are the main causes of limescale. Use the correct amount of detergent to prevent limescale build-up ⁴ .

With these steps, your washing machine will stay limescale-free and you can enjoy the extended life of this life-saving household appliance. Good luck!