The Critical Mistake We Make with the Washing Machine – How to Avoid It
If you lead a busy life, you are likely looking for ways to cut corners at home. One of the most common mistakes is constantly running the washing machine on the same mixed cycle at 40 degrees. It seems simple and fast, but in practice, it is a habit that can cause your appliance to smell like rotten eggs and damage your clothes.
If you lead a busy life, you are likely looking for ways to cut corners at home. One of the most common mistakes is constantly running the washing machine on the same mixed cycle at 40 degrees. It seems simple and fast, but in practice, it is a habit that can cause your appliance to smell like rotten eggs and damage your clothes.
Why does this shortcut cost you dearly?
Constant washing at a low temperature is not hot enough to destroy bacteria and mold spores that accumulate in the drum, the rubber seal, and the detergent drawer. In addition, short and fast programs are actually less efficient than long ones. To heat the water quickly in a short program, the heating element consumes a large amount of electricity at once, which increases your energy consumption and creates an accumulation of dirt and soap residue.
In contrast, long programs like cotton or eco-friendly cycles (Eco) use less electricity over time thanks to prolonged soaking and efficient spin stages. The extended operating time allows detergents to thoroughly break down tough stains and fats. Furthermore, regular use of fast programs prevents the machine's sensors from working, and these sensors are supposed to automatically adjust the amount of water and the number of rinses to save you money.
How to protect the machine and the clothes
To solve the problem, it is recommended to separate types of fabrics and not wash bath towels together with delicate items. Towels accumulate sweat and dead skin cells, and therefore require an intensive program at a higher temperature. If you tend to forget, you can use smart washing machines that display an alert on the digital screen or send a notification to your mobile phone reminding you when it is time to run a self-cleaning cycle.
The simplest solution for maintaining the appliance for years is to perform a light maintenance routine. Make sure to run an empty wash cycle once a month at a temperature of 60 to 90 degrees, with the addition of a cup of white vinegar or a dedicated cleaning agent for washing machines. This action will dissolve soap residue, eliminate bad odors, and keep your machine clean and fresh.
