I’m an appliance expert – how to de-scale and clean grotty washing machines for 35p… limescale sits in your drum too
YOU might be privy to removing limescale from your taps and kettle, but what about your washing machine?
Yes, the pesky white chalk can build up in your drum and affect your laundry cycles – including building up on your clothes.
Fortunately, one appliance expert has shared their go-to 35p hack to remove damaging limescale from your washing machine.
It comes as new research found that 11% of Brits didn’t know washing machines can be affected by limescale, while 44% admitted to never de-scaling theirs.
The household appliances accumulate limescale due to the presence of hard water, which contains minerals like calcium and magnesium.
When hard water is heated in the washing machine during the washing cycle, these minerals can precipitate out and form a crusty deposit, known as limescale.
It can build up on the inner surfaces of the machine and even on clothes, so it’s important to do what you can to reduce it.
Michael Forbes, Product Specialist at AEG, recommends doing “a quick maintenance wash” once a month.
“A quick maintenance wash should be done at least once a month to keep the machine in the best possible condition and ensure clothes come out looking their best,” he said.
“However, every six months it is important to de-scale a washing machine to clean the tub, the area you can’t see surrounding the metal drum, to remove any bacteria and limescale buildup.”
The 35p hack
The average UK family of four people uses their washing machine between eight to 10 times a week, so keeping it fresh is paramount.
Michael recommended squeezing the juice of a lemon or white vinegar directly into the drum of your empty washing machine and putting on a high-temperature wash.
You can pick up a lemon or bottle of vinegar for roughly 35p each in supermarkets.
Lemon juice kills off limescale because it contains citric acid, which reacts with the calcium carbonate in the limescale to form soluble calcium citrate that can be easily rinsed away.
Lemon juice’s natural acidity makes it an effective and eco-friendly alternative to commercial de-scaling products.
White vinegar causes the same chemical reaction and, like lemon juice, is a readily available and affordable option for removing limescale buildup.
What is limescale?
Limescale is a hard, chalky substance that forms when water containing minerals like calcium and magnesium evaporates or is heated.
It often appears as a white, crusty deposit on surfaces such as taps, showers, kettles and inside pipes and appliances, like washing machines and dishwashers.
Limescale forms when the dissolved minerals in water precipitate out and adhere to surfaces over time.
Hard water, which contains high concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions, is more prone to limescale buildup.
When hard water is heated, as in a kettle or a washing machine, the minerals become less soluble and tend to form limescale more rapidly.
Limescale can affect the efficiency and lifespan of appliances by reducing water flow, clogging pipes, and interfering with heating elements.
Regular descaling using acidic solutions like vinegar or lemon juice can help remove limescale and keep appliances functioning effectively.
What are the long term effects?
Limescale buildup not only affects the efficiency of the washing machine but can also lead to damage over time if not addressed.
Regular maintenance, such as descaling with vinegar or lemon juice, can help prevent limescale buildup and keep your washing machine running smoothly.
Studies have found that 2mm worth of limescale buildup can increase a machine’s energy consumption by 15%, adding more to household energy bills.
As limescale insulates the machine’s heater element, it needs to be on for longer to heat the water to the required wash temperature.
What’s more, mineral deposits can build up on the fibres of clothing making them feel rougher and with white items making them look duller and greyer.
These mineral deposits can also cause skin irritations from bacteria buildup.