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At Ariel we believe that the better care you take of your washing machine, the longer it will last. So we’re sharing our best washing machine care tips to help you get the most from yours.
In this page:
If your machine starts to smell, don’t panic. It doesn’t need replacing. Just read our advice on eliminating odours here.
Rinse out any traces of detergent and softener in the dispenser drawer or they could cause blockages that can damage your machine and stop your clothes being properly cleaned. Some machines let you remove the drawer completely to make cleaning easier.
Never use chemicals or scourers to clean your machine - they could damage the paintwork or the plastic surfaces. Instead, clean with warm, soapy water.
If you put too much in your machine you could throw the drum off-balance which can lead to costly repairs. So make sure you leave a space at the top of the drum the size of a hand’s width. Your machine needs this space to provide the agitation needed for the best clean (see The three forces involved in cleaning). Overfilling can also cause garment residues.
Make sure your washing machine is level – if not, it won’t work efficiently and you increase the risk of it breaking down. If your machine hops around while it’s washing the chances are it isn’t balanced correctly. The easiest way to check is to use a spirit level – then adjust the feet as necessary until it’s straight.
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