Washing Machine Maintenance: Tips to keep your machine running smoothly

Check and empty your clothing pockets of foreign object such as coins, hair clips or tissues before adding washing to the machine as they can damage the door seal and drum. In particular, hard sharp objects such as coins, safety pins, nails, screws or stones can also cause extensive damage to the appliance.

You should also check the drum and clean the door seal of your machine regularly in case small objects have become trapped. Use a wet cloth and non-abrasive cleaner to remove any residual detergent or debris from the rubber door seal.

We recommend using a fine laundry net for small items such as socks or gloves and for machine-washable bras as they may become caught around the door and damage your laundry or machine.

Clogged filters can lead to drainage and water problems. These will show on your machine as 4E/4C and 5E/5C errors.

Clean the drain pump filter

Your washing machine's drain pump is responsible for pumping water out of the main drum so that it can be drained away. The drain pump filter protects the pump by filtering the water that drains out from the drum. However, over time, lint builds up in the filter and small items such as coins, hairclips or hair can become trapped. If the filter is clogged, your washer might not drain properly so your clothes may be wet when the cycle finishes or the cycle may take longer than expected to finish. In some cases, the washing machine might not spin properly or may by noisy or vibrate excessively. To stop the filter getting clogged and to ensure the smooth running of your washing machine, it is important you clean the drain pump filter regularly or at least five or six times a year.

Find out how to check the drain pump filter.

Clean the mesh filters on the water supply hoses

Washing machines tap into your home's water supply, drawing both hot and cold water into the machine through the hoses attached at the back. Inside these hoses are two filters that are used to strain out any sand, silt or other impurities that can sometimes make their way into the mains water supply. Keeping the supply clean is important for ensuring that your washing machine runs smoothly and lasts longer. Therefore, it is important that you clean the mesh filters regularly or at least once or twice a year.

Find out how to clean the mesh filters on the water supply hoses.

Drum Clean, also known as Drum Clean+ or Tub Clean, is a cleaning cycle designed to remove detergent residue and build up. The Drum Clean cycle should be run every 40 washes or sooner if your washing machine indicates that it is required. It requires no detergent or cleaning agents. Follow the steps below to start a Drum Clean cycle.

Find out how to clean the door and drum on your washing machine.

A build-up of detergent or fabric conditioner may cause the drawer to leak. Cleaning the detergent drawer regularly will remove any detergent or fabric conditioner residue. You can remove the detergent drawer on your washing machine quickly and easily, then run it under the tap to rinse out any residual detergent. Then, use a soft brush and a damp cloth to wipe out the recess before replacing the detergent drawer. 

Find out how to clean the detergent drawer on your washing machine.

Leaving damp clothes in the drum for long periods of time increases moisture and mould build-up. Moisture can result in damp and bad odours. Make sure to remove damp clothes from the drum immediately and leave the main door and detergent drawer open for fifteen to twenty minutes after the wash has finished to let air to circulate.