If your kettle has white crust inside it, so does your washing machine. Scale builds up on the heater element and around the drum, making the machine work harder and the laundry smell stale.
Signs your machine needs descaling
- White or grey flakes on clothes after a wash.
- A musty smell from the drum or the drawer.
- Hot washes taking much longer than they used to.
A simple monthly routine
Run an empty hot wash — 60°C or the “tub clean” programme — with a descaler made for washing machines, or two cups of white vinegar in the drum. Do not use vinegar every week; once a month is plenty.
Clean the parts that trap dirt
- Pull out the detergent drawer and wash it under the tap.
- Wipe inside the door seal on a front loader, including the folds.
- Clear the drain filter every one to two months.
- Leave the door open after washing so the drum can dry.
When DIY is not enough
If the machine has not been cleaned in years, scale can be too heavy for a monthly routine to shift. Our general service descales the heater and drum properly and checks the parts that usually fail next.
