How to get rid of rust in a washing machine

How to get rid of rust in a washing machine If there is a need to remove rust from a washing machine, then you cannot hesitate, otherwise the corrosion process will put an end to further washing and clean clothes. Yellow spots, red stains, brown smudges inside or outside - all this should be a reason for a quick response and elimination of the plaque that is corroding the metal body. But you need to act wisely, otherwise it’s easy to aggravate the situation and completely ruin the machine. To avoid mistakes and unpleasant consequences, it is better to find out in advance what and how to remove noticed rust. All details are in the article.

Removing rust from the outside of the case

The easiest way to notice an unpleasant guest is from the outside when rusty spots appear on the external surfaces of the washing machine. To remove traces of corrosion, you need to remove the corroded layer using toothpaste and a brush.. It is enough to apply the product to the damaged areas, gently scrub them with bristles or a sponge and rinse with water. Next, we inspect the “scene of the incident” and assess the damage caused: if the consequences are too obvious, it’s worth thinking about restoration.

Restoration at home will allow you to cover up the remaining pits on the body with special white enamel or zinc primer. They can be purchased at hardware stores, specifying to the seller that the washing machine will be repaired. Then we proceed like this: rust on the outside of the case

We seal the space around the restored area with masking tape or plastic film;
We clean off any remaining rust on the body with fine-grain sandpaper;
remove metal residues and other dust with a dry cloth or paper napkin;
we treat the space with a degreasing compound, for example, “NEWTON”;
shake the can of paint or primer and spray 30-35 cm from the machine;
if necessary, apply a second layer after 20-30 minutes;
leave for another half hour until completely dry.

Don't forget about safety precautions and wear safety glasses and gloves. As soon as the paint layer has dried, remove the film and tape. It is allowed to carefully smooth the joint with the finest grit sandpaper.

Removing rust from inside the body

If rust has attacked the drum or other internal surfaces of the washer, then the instructions on what to do look different. Completely different cleaners are also used - vinegar or citric acid. They must be applied to areas affected by corrosion, left for 1-2 hours alone, and then thoroughly rubbed with steel wool. Another option is to dilute a slurry from soda and water, lay it in a layer on the rusty areas, remove it with a sponge after half an hour and rinse with water. Special chemicals will also help, but they must be used strictly according to the dosages given in the instructions.

You can remove rust from inside the machine only at the initial stage: if the drum, crosspiece or other structural elements are heavily rusted, only replacing the parts with new ones will help.

In the fight against corrosion, the main thing is to prevent its spread in a timely manner. To prevent it from progressing, it is necessary to treat all stains with anti-corrosion compounds, cleaners or improvised means such as vinegar, peroxide or citric acid. For severe lesions, soda is used. For small spare parts, another method works - place the item in Coca-Cola for 5-10 minutes, which, due to its phosphorus content, will quickly eliminate unpleasant damage.

Chemistry to help

factory rust removers The list of ways to remove rust from a washing machine is long. Conventionally, it can be divided into specialized and improvised. The former are more effective, but have a relatively high price and the need to go to a hardware store. Let us give examples of factory means.

Concentrated "NEOMID 570" against rust.
Rust remover "PROSEPT RUST REMOVER".
Rust converter "Eltrans" with zinc.
Rust neutralizer "YasKhim".

It is forbidden to try to remove rust with washing powder - it is easy to scratch the body of the machine and provoke the growth of bacteria and microbes in the scratches.

Among the available cleaners, we always use baking soda, acetic or citric acid, which are always available in the kitchen. The principle of using solutions is no different from treating with chemical liquids: apply to the damaged area, leave for 30-40 minutes, remove the layer of softened rust, clean with a sponge and water. For particularly stubborn corrosion, you will need a wire brush and sandpaper.

How to prevent rust?

If the washing machine has rusted once, then it is worth analyzing the conditions of its maintenance and operation. If you don't change anything, there is a high probability that the situation will repeat itself. So, the appearance of yellow and brown spots is influenced by:

High humidity. Many people mistakenly believe that the best place for a washing machine is the bathroom. In fact, a room with humid air, constant presence of water and steam provokes the occurrence and spread of rust.
Bad water. Too hard water in the water supply also often causes corrosion. Therefore, it is recommended to install filters and use complex softeners.
Water in the drum.The drum should be dry at the end of the cycle. Leaving wet things in it, not opening the door for ventilation and forgetting to wipe with a dry cloth, you risk getting rust.

In the fight against humidity, the main thing is to notice its appearance in time. At first, it’s easy to deal with corrosion even with the help of soda or toothpaste, but in a neglected state, even household chemicals will not help - only a complete replacement of parts.