How to clean a washing machine with citric acid
Freelance author specializing in writing about education, pedagogy, and useful and interesting tips and tricks.
Few people at home in a tap flowing clean tap water without impurities, so over time when using a washing machine will be formed scum.
Under the influence of high temperature when washing, small fabric fibers, powder particles that have not dissolved. all this also affects the growth of a peculiar “crust”. We bring to your attention the algorithm of cleaning a washing machine with citric acid at home.
How to prevent limescale buildup in the washing machine?
It is possible to reduce the scale formation intensity by using special magnetic filters, which are installed on the inlet section of the water pipe. Such equipment reduces the hardness of the water coming into the apartment. Softening filters benefit not only the washing machine, but also the plumbing. However, these devices cost much more than a few bags of citric acid. If you are not going to spend money on the purchase and installation of filters, do not forget to periodically perform preventive cleaning of the washing machine.
Reduce the intensity of scale formation will help folk remedies. table vinegar and baking soda. Pour 2 cups of 9% vinegar into the detergent compartment, set the temperature to 60 ℃. If you decide to use baking soda, you should pour half of the pack in the powder compartment and put the remaining half in the drum. Run a long idle wash with no laundry and no detergent. After 10 minutes, pause the program and leave the machine with a full tank for an hour, then turn it on again and finish the washing cycle. At the end of the program turn on the fast wash without laundry and without powder. To consolidate the result, wipe the door and the recesses of the rubber gaskets with a weak vinegar solution (1 hr/m3 ). л. per 1 L of water). Preventive cleaning with vinegar can be done once a month.
Vinegar and baking soda are excellent aid in preventing limescale buildup on washing machine parts
Limescale and descaling chemicals
The scale in a domestic washing machine is made up of insoluble magnesium and calcium carbonates (CaCO3 and MgCO3) that settle on the parts. They determine the water hardness level, and their concentration affects not only the scale formation process, but also the chemical effectiveness of the detergent.
In accessible places, the salt deposits can be removed mechanically, but it is difficult to get to the heating element.
So for its removal in hard-to-reach places the chemical method with citric acid is used. It dissolves CaCo3 and MgCo3, and will not corrode metal surfaces.
During the reaction, calcium citrate (Ca3(C6H5O7)2 is formed in the CM, which dissolves well in water and is removed with it when draining. It is safe for humans and is even available in tablets to replenish the calcium reserve in the body.
Theoretically, to clean the washing machine from 100 grams of scale would require 125 grams of citric acid. This chemical fact must be kept in mind when evaluating the effectiveness of the cleaning performed.
Odor killers
There is often a foul odor in the washing machine. It is formed because of the plaque on the walls inside the drum and other parts. It can be lime deposits as well as settled fungi, bacteria and mold. A regular procedure of cleaning the washing machine with citric acid will help to avoid this. It is quite effective to use intensive rinsing as an additional mode, in the process of which all the detached dirt particles and flakes are washed away.
After completing the rinse and after you have cleaned everything inside with a soft rag, the drum and the heating element will shine like new, and the unpleasant smell will no longer bother you.
If the smell does not disappear after cleaning with citric acid, then it is recommended to involve an ordinary whitewash or other bleaching agent in the cleaning procedure. It should be poured into the drum, and then turn on the normal washing mode without laundry at high temperature. Upon completion, the drum should be washed with plain water and wiped clean.
Often the cause of the disgusting smell from the washing machine is also the cause of poor quality detergent. So it makes sense to pay more attention to laundry detergent and choose only high-quality product.
Why clean the washing machine with citric acid?
Follow the step-by-step instructions on how to clean a washing machine with citric acid is not difficult. The question arises: why is it necessary? Most often, the water that runs through the pipes has a high percentage of salts and impurities. When the water is heated, the salt in the water settles on the surface of the heating element, and limescale is formed. The same happens with dishwashers and electric kettles.
If the appliance is not descaled in time, the time required to heat up water will be extended. Consequently, the electricity consumption will increase. Ignition of the heating element is not excluded. For this reason, preventive maintenance of automatic washing machines must be carried out in a timely and qualitative manner.
The citric acid can be used to effectively descale the heater and drum of a washing machine. As the water heats up, the acid reacts with the limescale and destroys it. Limescale flakes fall off the appliance parts and are flushed out with the water.
Causes and consequences of scale formation
Scaling inside the household appliances is a deposition of chemicals that occurs under the influence of heat.
To form such a layer, crystals of calcium and magnesium carbonate or bicarbonate are required in the water.
The process of scale formation in the washing machine is as follows
- The water entering the appliance is heated by the heating elements.
- The calcium or magnesium carbonates and bicarbonates present in it decompose into carbon dioxide and insoluble sludge.
- The latter adhere to the surfaces of the heat exchanger, gradually increasing the thickness of the layer.
If powders or phosphate-free liquid detergents are regularly used for washing, this accelerates the formation of limescale.
The consequences of salt deposits gradually put the washing machine out of operation, adversely affecting its performance:
- The thermal conductivity of the metal deteriorates. This means that the water heating time increases and the power consumption increases considerably. The heating element burns out due to continuous operation over a longer period of time;
- Deposits on the heating element and tank walls cause additional friction of the elements and wear them out;
- Pieces of plaque flake off the surface and get stuck in the outlet valve. Gradually it fails;
- Deposits block air flow to metal and rubber parts, causing rust and mold to form.
Alternative folk remedies
Using improvised means, which are available in the household, you can effectively clean the machine from the scale.
How to remove with vinegar?
Vinegar contains a high percentage of acetic acid which can break down lime scale and remove dirt.
For preventive cleaning, it is necessary to carry out the following work:
- Close the drum of the washing machine, first making sure that there are no items in it.
- Pour 2 cups of regular vinegar into the laundry detergent compartment.
- Set the mode “cotton” or other that allows you to set the temperature at least 90º C and ensure a sufficiently long wash (at least 1.5 hours).
- Start the cycle.
- After work is finished, open the door of the drum for airing.
You can use a “pre-soak” setting to make sure all the scale is removed.
How to clean the washing machine from scale with vinegar, prompt
Vinegar Baking Vinegar for Old Plaque
The cleaning effect can be increased by using more than just vinegar and baking soda. To do this, you need to prepare a special solution of the following ingredients:
Order of cleaning:
- Pour the prepared solution into the laundry detergent compartment.
- An additional 1 cup of vinegar is poured directly into the drum.
- Set the long wash cycle at maximum temperature.
- Start the washing process.
A similar recipe will help cope with old lime scale.
Whiteness: the risk is not always justified
One of the home ways to clean the heating elements of washing machines is the use of bleach or other chlorine-containing compositions.
- Close the door.
- Pour ½ to 1 bottle of undiluted bleach into the powder compartment.
- Set a long washing mode at a high temperature.
- After the end of washing, it is recommended to run a rinse mode to better rinse out the remnants of the product and break off limescale.
After the end of cleaning to eliminate the smell of chlorine, you can run a quick wash by adding a glass of table vinegar in the powder compartment.
How to clean a washing machine with Belize, video instruction:
How much citric acid to clean a 5 kg washing machine?
It is necessary to periodically rinse the inside of the machine with a special agent. This will prevent the formation of limescale on the parts of the washer. You can use commercially available household chemicals, or use citric acid. Let’s figure out how much “limonka” you need to clean a 5 kg automatic machine.
About the advantages and disadvantages
Citric acid as a remedy for limescale has several advantages:
- Availability and reasonable price. Crystal powder is available in almost any store and will suit even the most frugal;
- effectiveness. The effect of citric acid used to clean the washing machine is noticeable: unpleasant odor, mold, scale and rust disappear;
- ease of use. No tricky dosage schemes, long and multi-step processes are required to achieve the result. It’s quite simple.
Citric acid can corrode rubber in a washing machine. This can be attributed to the minuses, if we do not take into account some points:
- rubber seals (door gasket) often suffer from fungus, which also has destructive properties;
- correct dosage and not too frequent use (mandatory rinsing after the procedure) avoids problems with rubber;
- Rubber seals can be removed before cleaning or replaced with new ones if deteriorated.
Citric Acid for Washing Machine
Another relative disadvantage. a specific acidic smell from the drum and the washed clothes. A couple of washing cycles. the smell disappears, but not everyone likes it. Although the unobtrusive lemon aroma is far from being the most unpleasant thing that a washing machine drum can smell like!
