How to look after your washing machine (and not let pet hair ruin it!)

Washing machines are our modern day saviours... where would we be without them?  Well, it would take much longer to get our laundry clean and smelling fresh, that's for sure!   When you think about what our washing machines do for us on an every day basis, they deserve a little bit more love than we probably give them.

Like any appliance around the house, you need to care for your machine to keep it running smoothly and to avoid that awful situation where your washing machine has a fault or stops working (argh, the horror!)  

Here are a few helpful tips and tricks to keep your washing machine running smoothly and working tip top for you:

Step 1. Leave the washing machine door open when not in use: 

Many people don't know this, but it is recommended that we keep our washing machine doors open after every wash.  This gives the moisture inside the drum of the machine the chance to evaporate and stops stale odours from developing. 

Washing machines are designed to hold in water, so if the front door stays closed between wash cycles, it ends up holding in all the moisture from the previous wash, creating an environment in which mould can grow leading to the nasty smells.   

Step 2. Load your washing machine correctly

how to protect washing machineHow many times have you given your washing a shove to fit an extra top or towel into your load?! (Umm, guilty as charged!)  Unsurprisingly, it is recommended that you don't do this. Instead, when loading your machine, loosely fill it to allow the water and the detergent to circulate properly. It’s advised to leave a hand’s span width to the top of the drum for better performance all round.

This tip not only ensures that your laundry is washed properly and thoroughly but it also ensure that you do not cause damage and extra stress to your washing machine motor and the tub bearings.  

Step 3. Protect your machine from pet hair

Pet hair is your washing machine's worst enemy.  If there's anything more difficult to remove than pet hair, it's wet pet hair! The mix of water and pet hair results in clumps that stick to fabrics and the sides of the washing machine drum - and can seriously clog drain pumps and filters.

Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver is the quickest and most efficient way of removing pet hair in the washing, and protecting your washing machine at the same time.  To use Vamoosh, simply add a sachet to your normal detergent and run your longest hottest wash.  Some people also use Vamoosh in an empty washing machine to give it a good clean and remove excess hair. 

Step 4. Give your dispenser drawer a good, deep clean 

Whilst Vamoosh can help remove pet hair inside your machine, your dispenser drawer needs a bit of TLC too from time to time.  Detergent and fabric softener tend to build up in your dispenser drawer and should be cleaned regularly to ensure it works well.  To clean, simply slide out the washing drawer and pop it in the dishwasher to give it a thorough clean. To clean the gap, it is recommended to use a bathroom spray, before spraying limescale remover into the gap where the drawer was. Use an electric toothbrush to remove any dirt.

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