How to clean the washing machine with citric acid from scale without harm? How to descale a washing machine with citric acid.

How to clean a washing machine citric acid: 5 steps

Citric acid is a great way to clean your washing machine A washing machine is one of the most expensive pleasures even in our time. And if you don't take care of it, it will quickly break down. One of the most common ill-wishers for washing machines is tap water, as it may contain scale, rust and other chemical elements which will shorten the service life. In order to buy washing machine long time you have served the need to clean metal and plastic elements on which a lot of harmful bacteria accumulate and this accumulation creates an unpleasant odor.

Citric acid for a washing machine: why this method is the best

Almost at the same time as the production of a large number of automatic washing machines began, many housewives began to ask questions about how to clean the machines using citric acid or soda. In those days, special cleaning products had not yet begun to be produced, and there was no water softener.

Cleaning a washing machine from scale has 4 advantages:

Low cost in comparison with other special means;
Citric acid does not harm the heating element;
Good quality of heating element cleaning;
Cleaning with a lemon does not take a huge amount of time and does not harm.

Citric acid does not harm the heating element washing machine

Special chemicals not everyone dares to apply, since they are very poorly washed off from things and linen. Citric acid does not harm a person and it will take quite a bit to clean it, which means that the substance can be easily washed off with running water. If citric acid is used in small quantities, it will not harm plastic parts, heating elements, rubber seals and other components of the washing machine. But if you pour more lemon than required and boil water, then you need to know that in such conditions it corrodes the contents of the washer. Laundry should be fun, so proper care and processing, will increase its use.

How to clean a washing machine with citric acid

To eliminate plaque in a washing machine, which is designed for four kilograms, you will need about 60 g of the product. And since citric acid is sold in small bags, three to four bags are needed to clean a 4-kilogram washing machine. If this amount is exceeded, your washing machine may become unusable. You need to follow the step by step instructions.

To get rid of plaque, mold and remove bad smell do the following:

It is necessary to prepare two bags of citric acid and pour them into a special compartment, which is provided for the powder;
At the laundry hatch, carefully bend the rubber and check for foreign objects;
Next, you need to select the program that picks up the highest temperature in your washing machine and add it to drive the water out again;
If there is no additional rinse on the display of your washing machine, then after the completion of the programs you have set, you must select rinse;
At the end, it is very important not to forget to wash the drum in the middle, as pieces of cleaned plaque may remain there.

This recipe helps in cleaning the heating elements of the washing machine. But in the nutria of the drum, plaque also remains and it can be cleaned with the same tool. Cleaning the washer is a lengthy process, but re-processing the system is very important.

In order to clean the washing machine, you need three to four sachets of citric acid

To clean the inside of the machine with citric acid, proceed as follows:

It is necessary to pour citric acid into the drum, but the amount should not exceed one hundred grams;
We set the washing mode from sixty to ninety degrees, since a lower temperature may not be able to wash citric acid;
We start the longest mode that is available in your programs, then after ten minutes you need to stop the machine for about an hour in order for the citric acid to start reacting to plaque, and after an hour we start again installed program for further implementation;
If the washing process takes place with noise that should not be present during washing, then do not be alarmed - this is the reaction of citric acid to plaque and this very plaque gets into the drain, which means the cleaning is successful;
After completing the program you have chosen, the washing machine must be turned on for rinsing in order for the drum to be washed from the remnants of lemon and plaque.

Knowing the proportions and how much to put lemon powder, you can not only properly clean the equipment, but also use it to carry out a comprehensive cleaning of all parts, such as a heating element and a drum. You can learn more about how to rinse the washer, how many lemons you need to put, and how washing is done with this tool, you can learn from the video.

Is it possible to clean the washing machine with citric acid

Many housewives ask if it is possible to clean a home assistant with ordinary citric acid. It's not always in stock special agent, which is used for such cleaning. In principle, you don’t need to spend money on a special tool, but it will be much cheaper to purchase a couple of sachets of citric acid.

You can remove scale in the washing machine using ordinary citric acid.

Food grade acids are best for descaling, but lemon juice won't help here. Also, if you go to the store, you can find household acid or a special one for descaling. Household acid can be purchased at any grocery store. But a special acid is used in industry to clean mechanisms. The preparation of hydrochloric acid should be in proportion to millimeters of scale. If your prepared solution exceeds ten percent, then this can lead to corrosion of parts. And if the consistency of the saline solution is not powerful enough, then such cleaning will not help.

Cleaning the washing machine with citric acid: reviews and recommendations

Descaling the washing machine with citric acid is carried out according to a certain method of action. Such cleaning can adversely affect the rubber elements of the drum. This technique should not be used too often, as the grease from the seals may wash out and cause leakage, and the parts will have to be replaced. In the case of a solution of citric acid in hot water, the temperature sensor may break. But according to the testimony of experiments, this happens very rarely.

In the process of cleaning equipment with citric acid, it is better to add a lime corrosive agent, only in this case, large scale elements that have been corroded by citric acid will not clog small parts.

Cleaning a washing machine with citric acid is easy, following a certain procedure.

This cleaning of the washing machine can be done at home, for cleaning at home you will need about 300 g of acid, which we put in the powder container, then we select a program for washing cotton fabrics, the temperature of this program should not be lower than sixty degrees and not higher than ninety. In this case, detergent is not needed, since there is no laundry in the drum. After completing the program you have chosen, you must turn on the machine to low temperature and scroll again. You can also find large pieces of scale in the water drain hose. You can remove them manually or use a sponge. Cleaning in this way can be carried out no more than 1 time in 90 days. Lemonka will clean the washing machine very simply and at no extra cost.

Washing machine prevention with citric acid

Preventive work on a washing machine should be carried out once every six months, but prevention will not hurt either. For prevention, citric acid can be replaced with an anti-scale agent or ordinary vinegar. Each automatic washing machine has a built-in filter for cleaning, it is located at the bottom and after carrying out the preventive maintenance it must be cleaned.

It is important to remember that scale crystallization is carried out at a temperature of 75 degrees.

Prevention of a washing machine with citric acid should be carried out once every six months

Masters give a recommendation not to exceed the temperature when choosing washing programs. When following these recommendations, the heating element will retain its performance and be clean. If we talk about prevention, then it can be carried out more often than was written above, but it is needed for those who use the washing machine very often. When using citric acid, not only scale is removed, but unpleasant odors are also eliminated.

Prevention in this way does not bring any harm - this has been shown in practice. Before carrying out the prevention and cleaning of the washing machine, other cleaning options can be considered. Instead of acid, you can add vinegar. Vinegar must be poured no more than two glasses. Then it must be mixed with hot water and turn on the wash without linen, but the washing process should be the longest that the machine has.

Instructions: how to clean a washing machine with citric acid (video)

Cleaning your equipment with this tool is quite economical and effective. The most important thing is to follow the recommendations that were indicated by us. And do not forget that after cleaning work, you must select a program for the minimum washing time to remove residues and rinse the washing machine. And your home appliances will do the rest for you.

The effectiveness of this cleaning method

Cleaning the drum of a washing machine with citric acid is different high efficiency. Acid well cleans metal parts and heating elements from scale, giving the unit almost pristine cleanliness. Cleaning does not take much time, does not require disassembly of equipment, does not harm internal components, copes with even the most serious deposits. Before we tell you how to descale a washing machine with citric acid, we will talk about the effectiveness of the technique.

Despite the simplicity of the method, cleaning the washing machine with citric acid is excellent. preventive procedure, which will allow the unit to serve for a long time and without breakdowns.

Making sure that citric acid copes well with scale is very easy - for this we need the most ordinary kitchen kettle. If the water in your area is hard, you will see scale on the bottom in the form of a white or creamy coating. These are water-insoluble salts that form when boiled. Their entry into the human body does not give much health. And in washing machines, they lead to the formation of various malfunctions.

The use of citric acid will completely get rid of even the most inveterate deposits. Let's process the teapot as follows:

We buy a lemon in the store - you need to pour it directly into the kettle;
Next, fill in the water - it needs to be boiled (in electric kettles we wait for the automatic shutdown);
We drain the water and enjoy the brilliant cleanliness of the inner walls.

Rinsing and cleaning the washing machine is carried out in the same way. Even the most hardened critics who doubt the possibilities of citric acid can be convinced by the example of a kettle that the method we have described gives simply excellent results.

Advantages of the procedure

Cleaning the washing machine with citric acid is very, very cheap - a large pack of lemons costs 30-40 rubles, and in some places it is sold by the kilogram (which is even cheaper). professional tools care is much more expensive. In addition, they need to be bought constantly, while washing with citric acid is done once every 3-4 months, not more often. Therefore, the first advantage is savings. Money which is what we are striving for.

Many housewives often overdo it with the amount of citric acid used. It is absolutely not worth doing this, otherwise an unscheduled repair of your washing machine will be inevitable.

Citric acid is environmentally friendly, because it is the most common food additive. At the same time, it is caustic, and it is added to products in limited quantities. To clean the washing machine, you need lemons quite a bit, a few tens of grams. Its use causes almost no harm. environment, as do the chemicals contained in store-bought products. And this is the second advantage - you can not only clean the washing machine with citric acid, but also take care of the purity of nature.

Citric acid for a washing machine is a cheap and affordable tool that is literally in every pavilion and store that sells food. Therefore, it is unlikely that any problems will arise with its search. It is also sold in supermarkets and hypermarkets, in city markets. If you have friends in food production, ask them if they use lemon - it is quite possible that they will be able to drag you a couple of kilograms of this product (this amount is enough to clean the washing machine for more than one year). The third advantage is ubiquitous availability.

Two more small advantages - lemon (or rather, its possible remnants) does not cause allergic reactions and effectively copes with mold and fungi. Be sure to try cleaning the drum with citric acid - you will like this method of cleaning.

Cleaning the washing machine with soda and citric acid gives a good effect - this powerful cocktail of two harmless substances is able to fight not only with scale, but also with persistent dirt, with a fungus. It also helps against mold, which literally eats up rubber seals and settles its spores in the laundry.

How cleaning is done

Lemon gave us citric acid, which we can use when cleaning the washing machine. True, it is not extracted from lemons at all, but is synthesized artificially, but the essence of the matter does not change from this. Let's talk about the recipe for our procedure and tell you how to clean the drum with a lemon - this is nothing new. Some people think that it needs to be added during washing, but this is not the case - the procedure is performed within one cycle without laying the laundry. Here is a step by step guide:

We prepare the washing machine for cleaning - we remove all things from it, inspect it so that subtle things do not get stuck on the walls;
Does not interfere with cleaning with a damp cloth rubber compressor and thoroughly wipe the glass;
We pour citric acid into the compartment for the washing machine - this is necessary so that it can flush the chute through which the detergent enters the drum. The rest of the compartments are left empty;
We close the loading hatch, start cleaning - if you decide to wash the drum for the first time in a long time, set the longest program with a temperature of +90 degrees. If you still carry out periodic cleaning and prevention shop means, turn on the longest program with a temperature of +60 degrees;
We are waiting for the end of the program - cleaning the washing machine with citric acid is completed, you can open the door and ventilate.

None additional measures no need to take. If you manage to look at the heating element, you will see that it has become shiny and clean - in some washing machines you can see it through the holes in the drum by shining a flashlight there and spinning the drum itself.

When choosing a cleaning program, make sure that it includes a rinse cycle - citric acid from limescale in the washing machine helps well, but needs to be completely removed.

If you intend to clean your washing machine with citric acid, you need to determine the dosage. We recommend pouring 120 gr. for 6 kg of laundry. lemons, for 5 kg - 100 gr. That is, for every kilogram - 20 grams of acid. It is not recommended to exceed the indicated dose, since excess lemon can have a destructive effect on the rubber seal. It is also not worth reducing the amount, since there can be a lot of scale on the heating element and pollution in the car.

Many people are not even aware of the presence of mold in their washing machine. But it can be extremely dangerous for a person. Fortunately, citric acid copes with it without much difficulty.

The selected program must be complete - with a final rinse. This is necessary to completely remove acid residue from the inside of the washing machine. Together with a lemon, the remnants of scale will be removed from it. We recommend running the washer on the Cotton 90 or Synthetics 60 program. It will wash for a long time, but it will completely remove all limescale, cope with other contaminants, clean the internal surfaces of the tank and drum.

As for the frequency of washing, everything is simple here - once every 3 months at a temperature of +60 degrees is enough. If the last cleaning of the washing machine was carried out a very long time ago or was not carried out at all, it is recommended to run it at a temperature of +90 degrees - in this mode, cleaning will be as effective as possible. It is not necessary to add citric acid during washing - this will not achieve any effect or even reduce the effectiveness of the washing powder.

If your area has very hard water, install a softening filter - this way you will protect equipment from breakdowns. Increased hardness manifests itself in the form of a barely noticeable film on the surface of clean, freshly drawn water from a tap, or in the form of a grandiose limescale in your kettle;
Even if the water in your area is relatively soft, we recommend that you carry out preventive cleaning of your washing machine with citric acid - in addition to plaque, other deposits may settle on the heating element and drum that require removal (including lint);
After cleaning the washing machine, we recommend looking under the rubber seal and into the filter - citric acid residues and scale residues may be found here. All these contaminants must be removed.

Thus, there is nothing complicated in caring for a washing machine - you just need to regularly clean it with food-grade citric acid. And forget about expensive products like Calgon - lemon is more effective and cheaper.

According to statistics, the automatic machine most often deteriorates precisely because of the hardness of the water. In addition, they accumulate scale, powder residues, dirt, rust and more. In order for this mechanism to work properly for many years, it must be monitored and periodically serviced. Often it is enough to simply clean the washing machine with citric acid.

Housewives who try to take care of their equipment note that they use citric acid not only for troubleshooting, but also for prevention. This mixture is available to everyone and its effectiveness is no longer in doubt. Of course, some precautions must be followed (noted below), however, if done correctly, this approach will give excellent results.

After all, scale in the machine appears according to the same principle as in electric kettle. That is, during the washing process, salts in water are deposited on the surface of the heating element. At some point, this element of the machine stops heating the water. But that's not all, it consumes three times more electricity. As a result, due to large deposits, it completely burns out. Then you need to call the master, whose services are often affordable. Yes, and do not rely on the speedy correction of the malfunction, such a repair will delay your master for a long time. But it is not difficult to carry out preventive cleanings.

Cleaning involves not only the removal of salts, but also the cleaning of rubber elements, which is also common problem. Mold grows on them all the time. This is evidenced by an unpleasant smell from the drum cover. It is important to eliminate this, since the fungus is very dangerous for children and causes allergies in adults. Citric acid will help here too. But remember to keep the powder container and the lid of the machine open.

Cleaning Tips - Video:

Here are the clear benefits of using citric acid as a washing machine cleaner.

An easy process, but a very effective result.
This food product completely soluble in water. Therefore, it does not remain on clothes and is easily washed off from internal elements.
This method is very cheap.
For human health, this option is harmless.

And the main thing is that you can find this powder everywhere.

Why Citric Acid

Everyone knows that lemons clean such Appliances like samovars and teapots. But many housewives are afraid to clean their washing machine with it, fearing to further aggravate the situation.

Will this substance damage the part.
How much lemon powder is needed.
How often should this be done.

These and other thoughts often stop us from cleaning the typewriter. But, despite the fact that this method is the cheapest, it is quite simple and effective. Calling a master is expensive and takes a lot of time. Yes, and a lot of money is also spent on constant purchases of water softeners.

How to use citric acid when cleaning - video:

A product such as citric acid has whole line benefits. The most obvious is that it is harmless to humans in small quantities. It is also perfectly washed out of the machine, while almost all the recommended products designed to protect the device from scale remain on the clothes.

Acid perfectly corrodes solid deposits, that is, scale. Therefore, it is great for cleaning the heating element of the machine. She will do her job on a par with those sold in the store, specialized chemicals, as it is a class of carboxylic acids.

Precautionary measures

Before you learn how to clean the automatic machine with citric acid, consider some precautions that are important to follow. This tool in large quantities damages certain parts of the device. Therefore, fall asleep exactly as much as indicated in the instructions below.

So that it does not corrode plastics and rubber, do not turn on the machine on a mode that involves heating water to 90 degrees. Of course, this way the device will be completely cleaned the first time, but the acid will corrode and damage some parts.

Even if you have set a more gentle mode with minimal heating, you still should not fill up a lot of this product. It will again react and adversely affect the device.

Today, laundry detergent manufacturers are adding water softeners to their products. Using them, precipitation will be minimal. Raids in the device appear due to boiling water, but we rarely boil water in a typewriter. As a result, it turns out that cleaning should be only preventive, gentle and it is enough to carry it out once every 4-6 months, depending on how hot the water you use when washing.

Any means at application demands observance of a dosage. After all, otherwise the plaque will depart along with the elements of the machine. In order for the salt deposits to split, it is enough to set the temperature to a maximum of 60 degrees, no more.

You can prevent the appearance of plaque with the help of additional preventive measures.

If possible, use water softeners or powders with their addition.
Strictly dose the amount of powder.
It is better not to wash shabby and worn things, as their particles will settle on the details.
Water for each wash should not be hotter than 75 degrees.
Wipe the powder drawer and drum dry after washing. Keep them always open.

How to clean the machine, where to fill the acid and other nuances

The whole process of cleaning the washing machine with citric acid can be divided into several points. If everything is done correctly, then noticeable improvements will be already at the next wash.

The instructions below are written for automatic washing machines. In addition, it is necessary to clean the equipment with a blank wash. Do not throw laundry into the machine if there is citric acid in the powder compartment.

Depending on the volume of the machine, pour from 60 to 100 grams of lemon into the powder compartment. If the machine holds a maximum of 44 kg, then 60 grams of lemon, but if more, then you need 100 grams. If measured with spoons, then 60 grams equals 2-3 tablespoons.
Then set the machine to the longest wash cycle, which includes rinsing and spinning.
Now important point relating to temperature. Some advise setting the maximum, and some the minimum. If you want to clean a small layer of plaque, then set the machine to cotton at 60 degrees. But if you have not cleaned the machine for more than 6 months and suspect that there is quite a lot of scale in it, you can raise the temperature to the maximum. Usually in cars it is about 90 degrees.
Now start washing and watch for sounds.
If you hear a loud noise after some washing time, then large pieces of plaque are moving away. Wait a couple of minutes, then pause the process and remove the plaque through the hole in the drain hose. Then start washing again.

As a result, dirty water, along with the remnants of scale, will go away. After opening the machine, wipe the pieces of scale and other dirt under the rubber band with a soft cloth. Please note that acid is most often sold in small packs, so buy several at once.

Now you need to rinse the dispenser. You will need instructions for your model of machine, you can find it at home or on the Internet. See the paragraph on how to completely remove the paper tray. detergents. It is often done this way.

Pull out the tray until it stops. If there is a blue part there, then press on it, and pull it towards you with force.
Support the entire tray at the same time.
If this part is not present, simply pull the tray towards you and down. Then pull it out by moving it left and right.

When you take out the part, get rid of the powder residue in the compartment by wiping it soft cloth. Be careful not to damage the rubber tube.

Now you need to clean the tray itself. Usually it has residues of powder and rinse aid and, as a result, a rusty coating. Then use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Add some citric acid. Pour the mixture with hot water, submerge the container in water and leave for half an hour, checking periodically.

Don't overdo the acid or it will damage the tray. After this procedure, it is advisable to wash the tray in a clean warm

Any device, without exception, in which water is heated for one purpose or another, suffers from the formation of scale. Of course, this also applies to the washing machine.

This feature of it is used with pleasure by the world giants of the chemical industry, offering a variety of means to combat scale, not at all for a nominal fee.

But it is not at all necessary to spend money on newfangled hyped novelties - traditional, time-tested and very affordable substances can easily cope with a similar task. In this article, we will talk about how to clean the washing machine with citric acid and what are the advantages of this method.

Citric acid - very active substance belonging to the family of carboxylic acids.

It affects the parts covered with scale in the most beneficial way: the crystalline coating is destroyed as a result of the reaction, becomes loose and gradually falls off.

To dispel the last doubts, we add: citric acid is included in the composition of many "promoted" branded anti-scale products.

In addition, she successfully copes with biological "aggressors" - bacterial and fungal plaque, mold.

Other food acids, for example, acetic acid, have a similar effect.

The thoughtful reader will probably want to ask the question: does citric acid harm plastic and rubber parts? Of course, this should be given attention, since such parts are present in sufficient quantities in modern washing machines. So, let's see how citric acid is safe.

Security

Citric acid will not adversely affect non-metallic parts if three conditions are met:

its concentration will be within reasonable limits;
the water temperature will not be too high;
processing will not be repeated too often.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that citric acid is of two types:

food;
technical.

The second is more aggressive and is used mainly in industry. In everyday life, you should use the food variety of citric acid - as it is safer.

Advantages of the procedure

First of all, we should talk about why, in fact, we need descaling. As you know, it is a crystalline plaque formed from the so-called hardness salts - magnesium and calcium carbonates. High temperature causes the molecules of these salts to decompose into carbon dioxide and insoluble oxide. The problem is that this substance has the property of a heat insulator.

Thus, it strikes from two directions at once:

impairs heat transfer from the heating element to water, as a result of which more time and money are spent on heating the latter;
causes the heater to overheat, which can lead to heater failure or shortened life.

As you can see, the need for descaling is quite obvious. Now about why it is worth using citric acid for this purpose. There are several reasons:

This substance has a penny cost. At the same time, as already mentioned, it is not inferior in effectiveness to fashionable branded products that have a price several times higher.
Citric acid is washed out much better than branded products, so you can be sure that it will not remain in the device at the end of the procedure.
For the human body, this remedy does not pose any danger, while branded analogues can cause allergies and other unpleasant effects. Thus, even if citric acid partially remains in the car and subsequently ends up on clothes, nothing bad will happen. But the consequences of the presence of modern chemistry on clothes can be very deplorable for both the skin and the respiratory tract.
Citric acid acts on rubber and plastic parts less aggressive than many other means. For example, acetic acid can damage such elements even at relatively low concentrations. It has been noticed that when using some anti-scale agents, the light-transmitting filling in the loading hatch of machines with horizontal loading became cloudy. When using citric acid, this never happens.

When using citric acid, there is no need to take any special safety measures, as is the case, for example, with hydrochloric acid.

Dosage

As mentioned above, citric acid can only be considered safe in reasonable doses, so this should not be neglected. This amount of product is considered optimal: for a standard machine, designed for loading laundry weighing 3–4 kg, - 60 g. A tablespoon holds about 15 g of bulk substances, so 4 tablespoons of citric acid will be required.

It will be very easy to collect a given amount of acid if you purchase it in a packaged form in small sachets. The exact weight is indicated on the bag and is usually 15 or 20 g. Thus, you just need to buy and pour into the machine, respectively, 4 or 3 bags.

Do not take lemon juice for citric acid - this is far from the same thing.

Cleaning procedure

Cleaning a washing machine using citric acid is done as follows:

Acid is loaded into the powder container in the required amount.
The automatic washing program is activated, which includes rinsing and provides for heating the water to a temperature of +60C. This is the normal mode for cotton fabrics. At this temperature, citric acid will not harmful effects on polymer and rubber parts, but at the same time it can easily cope with a slight coating of scale on heating element. In the event that the last cleaning was carried out a long time ago and there is reason to believe that the “fur coat” of scale is especially thick, you can apply a program with more high temperature up to the maximum. But keep in mind that in this case there is a small probability of failure of the temperature sensor.
During the procedure, scale fragments, falling off the heater and moving along the drain hose, can make unusual sounds, so you should not panic when you hear them. If the machine behaves very strange, you should turn it off and remove the pieces of scale from the tank that caused the failure.
At the end of the cycle, the washing of the machine can be considered completed. It is not necessary to supplement the washing program with a spin phase.

Now you need to look under the edge of the rubber cuff and inspect others hard-to-reach places for the presence of pieces of scale. All these areas should be wiped with a soft cloth. FROM special attention all kinds of holes should be inspected, especially hidden ones, for example, under the same rubber band.

You also need to clean the strainer installed in front of the pump (it is connected to drain hose).

The powder container should be rinsed and dried.

It is not necessary to immediately repeat the rinsing, even if you think that the scale has not been completely removed. To keep acid exposure to non-metallic parts to an acceptable minimum, clean the machine no more than once every 4 months.

It will be useful for the user to listen to the following tips:

Together with citric acid, any of the scale-dissolving agents can be loaded into the machine. Then you don’t have to catch its fragments from under the cuff and from the filter.
It also makes sense to add bleach to the acid - in a ratio of 1: 1. She will clean the car from the inside from dirt to a shine. True, you need to be prepared for the fact that for some time you will have to endure the characteristic unpleasant chlorine smell.
It is important to understand that inside the machine there are places that are hard to reach for acid. While the water in the tank is actively mixed by a rotating drum, stagnation is observed in the drain hose. Mold often settles here, which the described washing method most likely will not work on.
Citric acid can be used not only in a special way, but also during normal washing, adding to washing powder. The optimal amount is 15 - 20 g.

If a putrefactive odor is clearly heard from the machine even after the procedure, you need to do this:

On the back side unit, unscrew the screws holding the cover, and then remove it.
Inspect the hose connecting the tank fitting and the drain pump. Often it is transparent - then the mold will be immediately visible. If the polymer does not transmit light, the hose must be disconnected (fasteners are removed with pliers) and inspected from the inside.
If mold is found, the hose is carefully treated from the inside with the same citric acid.
Similarly, inspect and, if necessary, disinfect the hose on the other side of the pump. To do this, remove the front cover from the machine.

Once again, we recall that it is impossible to carry out acid washing often. Objectively speaking, this is not necessary, since the scale is deposited at temperatures from +80C, and the washing machine in most cases washes at +60C.

if the water hardness is within the normal range - every 6 months;
if the water has increased hardness - every 4 months.

If the user frequently flushes, then he will have to deal not only with damage to the polymer and rubber elements, but also with leaks due to the washing out of the lubricant from the seals.

You can generally eliminate the formation of scale by installing a hydromagnetic system (HMS) on the water supply in front of the washing machine and other appliances.

Electricity this device does not consume - with the help of magnetic fields, it provokes the crystallization of magnesium and calcium salts, so that those from the solution turn into a fine suspension of mechanical impurities. This suspension is captured by the HMS or a filter installed separately.

Conclusion

Skillfully and often advertised branded household chemicals are increasingly obscuring us from simple and affordable, so to speak, folk remedies. So citric acid as a means of dealing with scale runs the risk of being undeservedly forgotten. Meanwhile, as shown in this article, it has a number of advantages that owners of washing machines should pay attention to.

All household appliances need care, and cleaning is considered an important part of it. The procedure is also necessary for the washing machine. It allows you to extend the life of the device, improve its performance. At the same time, not everyone knows how much citric acid to pour into the washing machine. The rules for cleaning are described in the article.

Why is it required?

Some people think that keeping the washing machine clean requires constant operation and washing. Where can plaque come from if there is always water and washing powder inside, and all the dirt from things is removed into the drain? This opinion is erroneous, and such an attitude can cause breakdowns.

Cleaning is required due to the risk of scale formation. It occurs because of the magnesium and calcium salts that are in tap water. Components settle in household appliances and pipes. In the car, the most vulnerable part is considered to be the heating element - the heating element. If plaque appears on this part, then it will not work normally.

Heating water to the desired temperature is carried out with the expenditure of a large amount of electricity. Due to scale, the device gradually fails, and as a result, replacement and expensive repairs are needed.

There are other reasons why cleaning is necessary. Some washable items have lint deposited on the drum and other parts of the machine, including the heating part. Hoses can also become clogged and clogged, which leads to malfunctions in the operation of the machine - the lack of a full drain, an increase in the duration of the wash.

Effective cleaning allows not only to eliminate pollution, but also to carry out disinfection. In water and on clothes there can be bacteria that die only at elevated temperatures, prolonged thermal exposure. And if washing is performed at a gentle temperature, then microorganisms are not destroyed and begin to multiply, which causes mold or unpleasant odors.

How to remove scale from the heating element of a washing machine? For this, both professional and folk remedies can be used. Is it possible to clean the washing machine with citric acid? This tool is effective. Procedures with its help can be performed regularly. Citric acid is able to qualitatively clean scale and mold.

Purification Benefits

Citric acid for washing machine considered to be an effective cleaning agent. This is due to the following benefits:

This tool is affordable, it can be purchased at every store.
The acid dissolves quickly, rinses well and does not linger in the drum and on other elements of the device. But even if its components linger in the device, they will not spoil it and will be harmless to people if they get on the products during the next wash.
This economical method cleaning, since the product costs little, and its consumption is small.
Citric acid does not adversely affect the heating element and other elements of the machine, since it is not considered aggressive. The tool is not able to damage and corrode the materials from which the main parts of the device are made. But this advantage works only if the proportion and rules of use are observed. Therefore, it is important to follow the rules and know how much citric acid to pour into the washing machine.
It is easy to use, as no special skills and knowledge are needed. Normal cleaning is performed in a short time.
Citric acid perfectly removes plaque and scale, as it interacts with magnesium and calcium salts, dissolves the deposits created by them.
The product perfectly eliminates not only scale, but also other contaminants and unpleasant odors.

According to reviews, the scale on the heating element of the washing machine is removed easily and simply. Citric acid can be used regularly for cleaning, not only for automatic machines, but also for normal look technology.

disadvantages

According to reviews, cleaning the heating element of a washing machine has not only positive sides, but also negative:

If the dosage is increased or cleaning is carried out frequently, then this can damage some elements of the device, for example, rubber cuffs or hoses. Makes things worse hot water.
Acid does not eliminate old and severe pollution. In these situations, it is necessary to use more powerful specialized tools.

It is easier not to eliminate mold, but to prevent its formation: for this, it is necessary to keep the machine open during idle time so that it is ventilated. It is also necessary to provide ventilation, wipe the gum and the powder tray. With timely care, you can protect yourself from the appearance of the fungus.

Although citric acid is considered accessible means to remove scale, nevertheless, experts believe that it is better not to bring the device to a state where such cleaning is required. You just need to use water softeners, do not add too much powder, use less high temperatures when washing, and after that you need to wipe the machine. This provides long work device.

Eliminate bad odor

According to reviews, cleaning the washing machine with citric acid can be performed when the drum is dirty or bad smell. In this case, the procedure is as follows:

The agent is poured into the drum. If such cleaning of the washing machine with citric acid is carried out, how much should it be poured? The amount of this tool will be the same as in the previous procedure.
You should choose a program that will have a temperature of 60-90 degrees and a significant duration. With a short procedure and low temperature, the agent does not dissolve and does not work.
You need to turn on the wash and detect 10-15 minutes. After that, you need to stop the process for 40-60 minutes by clicking on the pause. If this function is not available, then you need to disconnect the machine from the network, and then connect it again. The stoppage is required so that the dissolved acid is inside the drum and acts on dirt and deposits, rather than being washed away almost immediately.
The program starts and some noise or hum may appear with the stop. Sounds indicate that dissolved dirt and plaque rush into the drain. And this is a confirmation of the effectiveness of the procedure.
When the main wash cycle is completed, an additional rinse must be turned on. This will completely remove cleaning agent particles, loose dirt and scale from the drum.

According to reviews, cleaning the washing machine with citric acid improves the performance of the appliance. If the plaque is thick and old, then one procedure may not be enough. In this case, a second cleaning is required. If even then the necessary results did not work out, then you should try to remove and boil the heating element.

It often takes 5-10 minutes of normal boiling for the treatment to be effective. You can add acid in a ratio of 1-2 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of water. But care must be taken not to damage and disable the heating part. After cleaning, drying and installation are required.

Scale check

Unnecessary cleaning is not required. To determine if it is needed, you need to check for scale. To do this, open the device door, shine a flashlight into the drum. The beam must be directed to lower part, since the plaque is located precisely on the heating element. If nothing is visible, then it is necessary to rotate the drum in different directions, increasing and decreasing the speed.

Usually scale appears at high temperatures, so if washing is carried out at a temperature of 60-90 degrees, then there is usually plaque. It also occurs at high water hardness, which can be determined by the sediment that remains during settling. And if scale appears on other commonly used appliances (iron with steam, electric kettle, steamer), then it is very likely to be in the washing machine.

In order for citric acid for a washing machine to be effective, some rules must be observed:

You should not use lemon juice instead of powder, as it is not concentrated enough and does not remove plaque.
It is advisable not to wash at temperatures above 65-70 degrees, since it is in these conditions that limescale appears.
Should not be raised maximum amount acid powder: its increased concentration can lead to damage to some parts of the device. The product in this case will act aggressively and may partially corrode plastic or rubber, which will affect the functioning of the device.
It is important not to raise the temperature, as intense heating, especially prolonged, enhances the negative effect of the product.
Much more effective is not descaling, but the prevention of its occurrence. To prevent the formation of plaque, it is necessary to use specialized products that are added during washing. They destroy metal salts and soften water. There are washing powders that reduce the risk of scale formation. A high-quality filter allows to reduce hardness, the cartridge of which retains magnesium and calcium salts and prevents their penetration into household appliances.
Do not fill the drum with laundry. Although citric acid is used to remove stains as folk remedy, but in large volumes needed to remove plaque, it destroys tissue fibers and changes their structure.
During cleaning, the scale is destroyed, and its pieces fall off and fall into the drain, which leads to a hum. An increase in noise or vibration of the device probably indicates that a large element is stuck in the hole and disrupted the flow of water. In this case, you need to stop washing and eliminate the blockage: the drain hose is disconnected and the stuck piece of plaque is removed.
In order to prevent contamination of the heating element and other parts with the villi of products, it is better not to wash old and dilapidated things in the machine, especially from wool and materials with pile or fleece.

Other means

In addition to citric acid, other means can be used:

"Antinakipin". It contains acids that dissolve scale. The product is poured into the drum, in which there should be no laundry. You need to turn on the washing mode. It is important to follow the dosage indicated in the instructions, as a high concentration makes rubber hoses and gaskets unusable.
Vinegar. Pour 2 cups of detergent into the machine and run a long wash with very hot water. After 5 minutes, the wash is interrupted for an hour so that the solution acts on all parts of the machine. Then the wash continues. Finished with a short wash cycle.
Soda. The product allows you to remove scale and mold. baking soda fall asleep in the detergent drawer and include a long wash at high temperature. The inside of the drum and the rubber cuff on the door are wiped with a soda solution.

Thus, citric acid allows you to perform high-quality cleaning of the washing machine. It is enough to follow the rules of procedure to extend the life of the device.