A washing machine makes your life incredibly easier \u2013 provided you treat it and your laundry correctly. However, many common everyday habits can damage your clothes over time or shorten the life of the appliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are the 7 most common mistakes and how to easily avoid them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overdosing on detergent
Mistake: \u201cMore is better\u201d \u2013 using more detergent results in cleaner laundry.
Reality: Too much detergent creates excessive suds. This builds up on fabrics (making them stiff) and leaves a musty residue in the washing machine hoses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip: Strictly follow the dosage instructions on the packaging and adjust them to the water hardness in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Closing the washing machine door after washing
Mistake: The door and detergent dispenser are closed tightly as soon as the laundry is removed.
Reality: A damp, dark drum creates the ideal environment for bacteria, mold and unpleasant odors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip: After each wash, leave the door and detergent dispenser slightly ajar to allow the washing machine to dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only wash at low temperatures
Mistake: For environmental and energy reasons, people only wash at 20\u00b0C or 30\u00b0C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reality: While low temperatures save energy and protect fabrics, they do not destroy bacteria and grease deposits in the washing machine. Over time, the washing machine will start to smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip: Wash white laundry or towels\/bed linen at 60\u00b0C at least once a month (ideally with an intensive powder detergent) to disinfect the drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leave zippers open and buttons closed
Mistake: Pants and jackets simply fit into the drum as they were taken off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reality: Open zippers act like tiny saws and damage delicate fabrics. Closed buttons, on the other hand, are subjected to a lot of tension during the spin cycle and can tear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip: Always close zippers, but leave buttons on shirts and bed linens open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using fabric softener on the wrong fabrics
Mistake: Fabric softener is added to every wash for the scent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reality: Fabric softener coats fibers with a thin film. In sportswear, it clogs breathable membranes; in towels, it drastically reduces absorbency; and elastane (e.g. in jeans or leggings) loses its elasticity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip: Use fabric softener sparingly and avoid it altogether on sportswear, microfiber, towels, and wool. Alternatively, a little white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overfilling the drum
Mistake: The laundry is packed as tightly as possible in the washing machine to save on wash cycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reality: The water and detergent can no longer circulate evenly. The laundry is not washed properly and the washer’s shock absorbers and bearings wear out extremely quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip: As a rule, there should always be a distance of about the width of your hand between the laundry and the top of the drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Never clean the filter and seals
Mistake: The washing machine is considered a self-cleaning appliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reality: Hair, coins and tissue paper are collected in the lint filter (foreign object trap). Wet sludge accumulates in the rubber door seal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip: Wipe the rubber seal regularly after washing and clean the lint filter every 2 to 3 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The material was prepared by the editorial team using artificial intelligence tools. All information was checked and edited before publication.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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