How to clean a washing machine from scale

Limescale is a very dangerous enemy of an automatic washing machine. If you don't take action, it can literally destroy your washing machine. To prevent scale from forming, you must either use soft water for washing, or add special detergents with each wash. But what to do if the machine was used, but no water softening agents were added and a layer of scale covered the drum and the insides of the household appliances, what should you do in this situation, how to clean your home assistant?

Special anti-scale products

Manufacturers of automatic washing machines strongly recommend using only special products produced by trusted companies to clean household appliances. It is better to listen to their opinion, because too aggressive agents can destroy the parts of washing machines, and too weak ones cannot be cleaned. We have prepared a review of the best special products that allow you to descale your machine and present it to your attention.

• Magic Power for washing machines. One of the best products for cleaning an automatic washing machine from scale from Germany. Thanks to the use of a unique formula, it is possible to clean even a large layer of scale from the heating element, tank, drum and other elements of the washing machine. The product is available in liquid form in 250 ml bottles and is highly effective. Price – 4 USD
• Topperr 3004 for washing machines. Another excellent product from Germany, recommended for use by leading German companies producing washing machines, in particular Miele and Bosch.It can be used to clean scale from the heating element of a washing machine; it is sold in 250 ml plastic bottles. The bottle is enough to clean the machine twice. Price – 4 USD
• Luxus Professional. An excellent domestic product that allows you to clean parts of not only washing machines, but also kettles, coffee makers, dishwashers and other equipment from lime deposits. After cleaning, the product leaves behind a pleasant lemon scent. The product is sold in 500 ml bottles. The bottle is enough to clean the washing machine 4 times. Price – 3.5 USD
• Bork K8P An effective concentrated anti-scale product from a well-known Korean manufacturer. One package of Bork K8P1 contains 4 sachets of powder, each sachet is designed for 1 cleaning. Before use, the product is diluted with some water and then poured into the powder tray. Price for 1 package – 14 USD. e.
• Top House. An inexpensive but effective product from Germany, designed to clean any household appliances from lime deposits. They can be used to clean not only washing machines, but also teapots, coffee machines, etc. Sold in a 500 ml plastic bottle for 5 uses. Price – 3 USD
• Anti-scale agent is universal. Removes scale from any equipment, as well as dishes. To better clean the internal parts of the machine, you need to pour dry detergent into the powder cuvette in the pre-wash compartment. The price per 100 g bag is 0.2 USD, for one cleaning of the washing machine you will need 2 bags.

Note! Antiscale is also available in liquid form, but our experts do not recommend using it to clean your washing machine due to its low efficiency.

Home remedies for scale

Any special product for cleaning washing machines from limescale costs money, and besides, it cannot always be found on the open market. And what should you do if you need to clean your washing machine now, and not run to the shops and look for a product? In this case, a home remedy against scale will come to the rescue. There are quite a few of these products, but which of them are truly effective and can clean your washing machine well?

Lemon acid. This home remedy is the absolute leader in dealing with scale. To clean a washing machine with lemon, you need to take 150-200 grams. product, pour into a powder receptacle or drum. Then run the longest mode at high temperature (at least 60⁰C) and wait for the end of the cycle. After the machine turns off, you need to clean the drain filter from any remaining scale, wipe the cuff, and check if there are any pieces of plaque on it.

Important! 200 g of lemon juice costs several times less than a bottle of the cheapest professional descaler for an automatic washing machine, which is based on the same citric acid.

Instead of citric acid, you can use nine percent table vinegar. A glass of such vinegar is poured into the compartment of the cuvette for powder and the machine is turned on automatically for the longest cycle at a temperature of 90⁰C. You can also set an additional rinse to better remove vinegar and its odor. It is precisely because of the pungent odor that such a product is not used often.

Coca Cola. At first glance, this seems like a rather unexpected home remedy for descaling. But in fact, craftsmen have been using this tasty drink for technical purposes for a long time.It can even clean washing machine radiators and industrial installations, let alone a household automatic washing machine. One cleaning will require approximately 5 liters of drink, which can be poured into the washing machine tub and turn on the soaking mode.

Mechanical cleaning is the most effective

To ensure that washing machine units are free of scale in the most severe cases, mechanical cleaning should be used. What are its advantages?

1. When we remove and manually clean any unit of a washing machine (for example, a heating element), we have the opportunity not only to scrape off the limescale deposits, but also to remove it from the machine. If we use chemicals, there is a risk that large pieces of scale will fall off the heating element and remain in the tank.
2. By disassembling and removing the units of the washing machine for cleaning, we have the opportunity to inspect them for damage and it is possible to immediately replace them, and at the same time replace rubber bands, sensors, wiring and other things.
3. When resorting to mechanical cleaning, you can also think about the local use of chemicals. For example, you can soak the same heating element in a concentrated solution of citric acid, after which it will shine like new.

Mechanical cleaning of washing machines begins with their proper disassembly. To get it right disassemble the washing machine It will require some skills and the appropriate tool, but overall this is a feasible task for a man whose hands grow from the right place. The difficulty of disassembly will depend on the parts of the machine that you want to clean. If you only need to clean the heating element, you can get by by removing the back wall of the machine. But if scale has settled on the moving parts of the drum, then the tank will also need to be disassembled.

You need to clean the washing machine units very carefully; it is unacceptable to use rough tools like a file, knife, or the like. Use a rough cloth or very fine sandpaper for cleaning. To remove scale better, first soak the heating element in a solution of citric acid, vinegar or Coca-Cola.

To summarize, we note that you can clean your washing machine from scale in different ways. The main thing is to do this regularly so that something as small as limescale does not lead to an additional burden on the family budget in the form of buying a new washing machine.

2 reader comments

1. 12/25/2016 at 21:44

   Alla:

   Hello! I completely agree with the author of the article about cleaning a washing machine with citric acid. I do this myself sometimes and am very pleased. It really works.

   Answer
2. 02/12/2019 at 12:36

   Natasha:

   Thanks for the advice. I'll try it and if I like it I'll use it.

   Answer