What is that smell? Are you taking care of your appliances, like your washer, properly?  

Thanks to our friends at HGTV magazine, they have offered up some excellent advice on getting the whitest whites and cleanest laundry out of your washing machine. Does your washer have a funky smell? Are you over stuffing it full of laundry? Stop the insanity and get the most out of your laundry appliances by following these tips:

1. Do Consider a Top Loading Washer.

Its been approximately 10 years since the front loading washers made a big splash in the marketplace, but now, high-efficiency top loaders are gaining speed. These appliances sport high-efficiency operations, low water usage and bigger capacities. One our favorites include the Maytag Bravos XL® HE Top Load Washer with PowerWash® System.  Get the Best Cleaning in the Industry enabled by PowerWash® system, plus the sanitary cycle with oxi helps eliminate 99.999 percent of common household bacteria. The allergen cycle reduces 95% of common household allergens like pet dander and dust mites.

2. Don’t Overstuff the Washing Machine

Over stuffing your front loading or top loading laundry appliances is a major No-No. If you fill your washer to the brim, not only will your clothes not get clean, but you risk putting extra stress on the motor and can wear it out. Of course, we want you to call Home-Tech for repairing your appliances, but we also want you to get the most you can out of them. Our advice: fill top loaders three-fourths full and front loaders two-thirds full. These are the manufacturers suggested fill levels to get the cleanest clothes while having your appliances operate at their best.

3. Don’t Let Your Washer Do the Waddle Dance Across the Floor.

While watching your washer do the shimmy shimmy shakes is entertaining, it is not good for your appliances. Front loaders and top loaders can both wobble. First, evaluate your loading technique. Are you shoving all the heavy clothing, like jeans or pants to one side of the basin? Second, is your washing machine on level ground?  If you have tried to remedy the wobbles without success, these may be signs of a future breakdown. In this case, call Home-Tech for laundry appliance repair service.

4. Do Check Your Hoses.

When was the last time you took a look at your washer’s hoses? We know this isn’t something you may do on a routine basis, but really, you should. Hoses on these appliances can wear out after five years if they are made of plastic and rubber. Take a good look at them, and try to spot any holes or cracks. If you see any, schedule service with Home-Tech and they can replace these with more durable hoses.

5. Do Routine Cleaning of the Washer Basin.

Just because a washing machine cleans your clothes, doesn’t mean it cleans itself. Your machine’s wash basin, when not maintained, is a breeding ground for mold, mildew and foul odors. We have two easy cleaning solutions for you to try out. The first is Affresh, washing cleaning kit. The kit contains cleaning clothes and tablet you drop in your machine. You can purchase these in our Appliance Showrooms. The second suggestion is using good old Clorox bleach. Pour one cup of bleach into your empty machine and run it through a warm wash cycle.

6. Don’t Add too Much Detergent.

Those lines on the laundry detergent cap aren’t a eye-chart test. They are a well-tested and proven measurement for getting clothes their cleanest. The lines aren’t a suggestion, they are the rule. Our appliance experts suggest using even less than the recommended amount. You could wind up with soap scum on your clothes along with an icky residue, and no one wants that.  For those of us that are allergic to dyes and harsh soaps, unclean clothes will cause increased itching. So do yourself and your clothes a favor and follow the rules of the cap.

7. Do Call Home-Tech When Your Washing Makes Weird Noises.

Did you hear that? If you are hearing a loud clicking, buzzing or humming noise from your washing machine or weird noises from any of your home appliances, call Home-Tech. We are the appliance repair experts and can repair any brand of appliances. Nights, weekends, and even tropical storms can’t keep us away from assisting our customers with their appliance repair needs. When you need a new appliance or repair service- you need Home-Tech. Call us to schedule a service or to chat with our Appliance Sales team to learn about the latest and greatest in laundry appliances: 800-800-8356.