How To Clean Washing Machine Drain

While washing machines give you the convenience of fast and efficient laundry cleaning, you might encounter draining problems with regular use. Water may not pass through its pipe freely due to accumulated dirt from wastewater or excess water detergent over time. It would be best if you clean it to make it function efficiently. But how would you go about it? Keep reading to know the easy ways on how to clean washing machine drain.

Cleaning Washing Machine Drain

Use Hot Water. Pouring hot water will do the trick in eliminating anything that narrows the pipe of your drain hose. Excess detergents usually cause the blockage, and hot water could help clear it. But if you live in areas prone to snow, the blockage might be due to freezing. Pouring hot water would help it clear by melting the ice.

Use Commercial Drain Cleaner. If hot water is not sufficient enough, you can try using a commercial drain cleaner. It will dissolve anything that is obstructing the drain. It contains strong chemicals capable of breaking down blockages in pipes. Be extra careful when using drain cleaners because they might not be suitable for your washing machine. It is an effective way of how to clean washing machine drain.

Use a Snake Tool. To better see the drain, you can also detach it from the machine to see what has been blocking the water. After disconnecting the pipe from the machine, slip the snake tool inside. You can purchase a snake tool in hardware and some department stores. It is a long, solid wire that goes inside of the pipe with a handle at the end that rotates. It is an efficient tool to use as you learn how to clean washing machine drain. To use it, insert the tool inside the tube and feel for clogs as you go. When there is a resistance, turn the snake, so it coils the snake tool making it easy for you to take it out. To ensure that the drain is finally clear, run the pipe with water before reattaching it back to the washing machine. Be sure to connect the drain right and tightly because the loose drain will result in water leaking out of your washing machine.

Common Blockage Causes in Washing Machine Drain

Buttons, coins, and other small items that go with your clothes can cause the clogging of your draining hose. Double-checking your laundry clothes before putting it on your washing machine will help a lot. It is best always to check the pockets and make sure there is nothing else inside it.

Tiny strands of thread from the clothes can also block the draining pipes causing the water to be trapped inside the washing machine.

The continuous buildup of washing detergents is also one thing that may narrow the pipes, preventing the water from flowing from it. It is inevitable, so you must always check the hose for clots of washing detergents.

Washing Machine Maintenance Tips

When you are keen on maintaining your washing machine's cleanliness, you can help reduce damages and untimely repairs. Aside from knowing how to clean washing machine drain, it would be best if you also consider the following washing machine maintenance tips:

Never overload your washer. Too much load of clothes in one wash is never a good idea. It causes motor pressure that results in overheating. Aside from that, your clothes wouldn’t be that clean because of a limited spinning movement. 

Don’t use excessive detergents. The use of excess detergent causes the frequent clogging of the machine drain. The perfect thing to do is to wash your clothes in a small load with less detergent. Using more detergent than usual will not necessarily cut stains on your clothes but will only damage your clothes.

Clean the interiors. Regularly clean your washer, especially the interior parts, in order to remove detergent buildup, dirt from the tub, and water drain. It adds to the machine’s efficiency.

Understand the settings of your washer. Understanding the settings of your washing machine will help it perform well with various options. There are gentle and strong wash settings that work for delicate clothes and the greasy ones. It will protect the clothes and will lessen machine damage. Here's how to learn more about cleaning appliances.

Conclusion

 A clean drain pipe will make your washing machine more efficient. It is also part of proper maintenance to make it last for many years. You need not worry when your washer’s drain gets clogged; as long as you know how to clean washing machine drain, it can be easily solved. Washing machines make our life much easy and hassle-free, and so we have to maintain them properly. Happy washing!

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