In almost every household in America, people use washers and dryers. It is very important to know how to care for and maintain your washer and dryer, so they will last longer and work properly.

Washer Maintenance Tips

We recommend buying top load washers, just because in our experience they are last longer and more reliable, and their repairs are less expensive. But experience may be vary for you so read on your own all reviews and feedback online. Whatever your type of washer and model, the following maintenance tips for your washer can help extend its life.

• Empty the Washer of Wet Clothes As Soon As Possible and leave the door open

It is easy to do – washer must be unloaded asap because wet clothes create unpleasant odors and can cause

mold and mildew buildup if they sit for too long. Always leave the washer’s door opened so air can circulate

and dry remaining moisture. If the wetness is present, it can cause mold and mildew to accumulate, which can prevent the door from sealing properly during the wash cycle. And for a top loader, leave the door open after each washing to foster air circulation and prevent mildew.

• Do not Overload the Washer, and in some cases do not put too little of cloth

Oversized loads can lead to damage to the washer as a result of the machine being off balance. For most washer machines recommended to be loosely filled rather than packed tight. Also, we do not recommend putting too little of clothing either, firstly it is waist of energy and water, secondly some of the washer is more sensitive and they can flash some errors codes, if the weight will be too light.

• Keep the Washer Leveled

Make sure the legs on the washer is adjusted and the washer is leveled otherwise when the drum will be unbalanced when it spins. Spinning out of balance places a strain on parts and can significantly reduce the longevity of your washer. Most washers use adjustable legs with locking nuts for leveling. Also, very often that the washer that located on upper floors can shaking or be unbalanced because of uneven or moving floor. If the floor is uneven, you can adjust the legs but if the floor is slightly is moving then it will be hard to do about it. In many cases Samsung and LG washers have very sensitive sensors that may throw the error codes because of moving floor in the upper levels in the house

• Annual Maintenance on your Washes and checking all hoses

Once a year, check all the hoses and if you see cracks or breaks, unplug the machine, turn off the water supply on both hoses and replace them, preferably with metal hoses. Also run the washer on the hottest cycle using the normal amount of detergent. These tips will keep the machine and drain pipes clean and free from dirt, grease and hard-water salts buildup.

Dryer Maintenance Tips

• Always Clean the Lint Trap

Always clean the lint trap, otherwise the dryer can explode in flames if lint builds up in either the lint screen or the ducts. After every load, remove and clean the lint screen and use a long brush or hand vacuum to remove any globs of lint at the bottom of the trap.

• Clean the Dryer’s Duct/Vent all the way outside

At least once in a few years, you need to clean the vent/duct that goes from the wall on the back of the dryer and all the way outside of the house. Over the years it can accumulate debris, dust that would affect the performance of your dryer and could cause dryer breakdowns. If the vent/duct is too long and has many duct’s turns, we recommend hiring a professional. The dryer is taking too long to dry the clothing? that is because the duct/vent is clogged/restricted, even though you can see the air is blowing, in many cases it is not enough, it must be cleaned by professional

• Do not Overload the Dryer and keep your dryer balanced

Do not overload the dryer, the clothes need the circulation of hot air to dry, and over-stuffing obstructs this circulation and increases the drying time, and even damaged the dryer. Use the adjustable leveling legs to even out the dryer. If your dryer doesn’t have these, use uniformed-sized wood pieces to level it.

By just following these basic steps, you can save yourself some stress and money in the long run.