 |
|
Wash away washing blues
TODAY, most working and non-working middle class householders own a washing machine, be it a semi-automatic or a fully automatic one. This saves them the hassle of being at the mercy of truant maids and makes the whole process of washing clothes more convenient. But just as the maids can’t be taken for granted, don’t take these electronic washing mates for granted too, howsoever fuss-free these may be. Some simple steps can help you make best use of them and in case your washing machine develops a fault, attend to it immediately. Usage Laundry detergents require a minimum water temperature to dissolve and work properly. Ensure that the detergent you use is easily soluble. In order to maintain the colours and fabric freshness, sort your laundry according to each item’s fabric, colour and sturdiness before you put them in the washing machine. Check the clothes for stains, and sort out the clothes that need to be presoaked. Separate whites from colours. Within the colored laundry, separate light colours from darker colours. Separate lint generators (towels, sweatshirts, flannel) from lint magnets (corduroy, velvets and permanent-press clothes). Wash delicates, such
as loose knits and laces, separately. As you sort, remember to close
zippers to prevent snagging, and empty out pockets. Never wash
anything that is labelled "Dry Clean Only" in a washing
machine, |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Maintenance If your washing machine no longer fills up as fast as it used to, you may need to replace the water inlet valve. This is a common failure of washing machines and is quite easy to install. Some other functional problems that may arise in your machine and the ways in which they can be handled are listed below: Levelling Because your washing machine is so heavy, when it’s not level, it can vibrate strongly during the spin cycle. If your washing machine is not perfectly level—with all four legs touching the floor—it can bang and rock back and forth, and even begin to "walk" across the room. This isn’t good for the machine and may damage anything near the machine. Your washing machine has adjustable, front levelling legs . You adjust the leg to the proper height. Some machines have adjustable levelling legs in the rear also, and you can adjust them in the same way. Keep the machine as close to the floor as possible—the lower it is, the less likely it is to vibrate. Most machines, however, have "self-adjusting" rear legs. You set these legs by tilting the entire machine forward on to its front legs (with the rear legs 3 to 4 inches off the floor) and then setting the machine back down. The legs should adjust automatically. Surface cleaning Your washer has either a painted steel or porcelain-coated steel cabinet. It’s perfectly safe to use a little dish detergent and a damp rag to clean all of its surfaces. If the surface is porcelain, you can even use a little non-abrasive cleanser for stubborn stains. Lint disposal Most washing machines collect lint during the wash cycle and send it down the drain during the drain cycle. Other machines have a lint filter near the top of the tub, which you need to slide out, clean off, and reinsert. Repair If your washing machine develops any of the following faults, it may require repair. In case the problem is minor, you may be able to rectify it yourself. But in case of major operational defects it is best to call a company technician to set it in order. It doesn’t work at all If your washing machine doesn’t seem to work at all, check to see whether power is getting to the washing machine. Is it plugged in? Has a fuse blown or has a circuit-breaker tripped? If the lid switch is defective, your washing machine can’t spin and may not function at all. You need to replace the switch. Some machines have a special lid-switch fuse near the lid switch, inside the control panel. If this fuse blows, the unit won’t fill with water until you replace the fuse. It doesn’t drain If your washing machine won’t drain, there could be three kinds of problems: If your washing machine doesn’t spin or pump water out but the motor is running, it probably has a frozen pump pulley. If so, you need to replace the pump. If the water that pumps out of the machine goes back into the machine after the spin cycle, it may be siphoning the water from a laundry tub that has a slow drain, back into the machine. The usual remedy for this is to improve the draining of the laundry tub. It leaks If the machine leaks only during the fill cycle, check these: Air-gap device : The air gap is a small device found on most washing machines that prevents the wash water from being siphoned into the household water supply. If one of the air-gap components deforms or cracks, you may need to replace it. The tube : There’s a rubber tube that runs between the water-inlet valve and either the air-gap or the inlet spout. If it cracks or breaks, it can cause a leak. Inlet spout: Most washing machines have a plastic spout near the top of the main clothes tub that directs the water into the tub. If the spout cracks or breaks free of its mounting it can cause a leak. Compiled by Chetna
Banerjee |
 |
 |
