How much citric acid to pour in the washing machine? Cleaning the washing machine with citric acid

All household appliances require 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. However, not everyone knows how much citric acid to pour into the washing machine. The cleaning rules are described in the article.

Why is it required?

Some believe that to maintain the cleanliness of the washing machine, you need to constantly operate the device and do the washing. Where can the plaque come from if there is constantly water and washing powder inside, and all the dirt from things is removed to the drain? This opinion is erroneous, and such an attitude can cause breakdowns.

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

Water is heated to the desired temperature with the expense of a large amount of electricity. Due to the scale, the device gradually fails, and as a result, replacement and expensive repairs are needed.

There are other reasons why cleaning is necessary. Some products to be washed have fibers that settle on the drum and other elements of the device, including the heating part. Hoses may still become clogged and clogged, which leads to malfunctions 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 may be bacteria that die only at elevated temperatures, prolonged thermal exposure. And if the washing is carried out at a gentle temperature, then the microorganisms are not destroyed and begin to multiply, because of which mold or unpleasant odors appear.

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

Cleaning benefits

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

1. This tool is affordable, it can be purchased at every store.
2. Acid dissolves quickly, rinses well and does not linger in the drum and on the other elements of the device. But even if its components linger in the device, they will not ruin it and will be harmless to people if they get on the product during the next wash.
3. This is an economical cleaning method because the product is low and its consumption is small.
4. Citric acid does not adversely affect the heating part 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 created. But this advantage only works if the proportion and rules of use are respected. Therefore, it is important to comply with the rules and know how much citric acid to pour into the washing machine.
5. It is simple to apply, since special skills and knowledge are not needed. Normal cleaning is carried out in a short time.
6. Citric acid perfectly removes plaque and scale, since it interacts with magnesium and calcium salts, dissolves deposits created by them.
7. The tool perfectly eliminates not only scale, but also other impurities and unpleasant odors.

According to reviews, the scum on the heating element of the washing machine is removed easily and simply. Citric acid can be used for cleaning regularly, and not only for the automatic machine, but also for the usual type of equipment.

disadvantages

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

1. If the dosage is increased or cleaning is carried out frequently, this can harm some elements of the device, for example, rubber cuffs or hoses. The situation is aggravated by hot water.
2. Acid does not eliminate old and severe pollution. In these situations, you need to use more powerful specialized tools.

It is important to consider the benefits and harms of citric acid for a washing machine before performing the first treatment. This product removes scale, dirt and odor. There are several rules, compliance with which will make the procedure safe. To do this, you need to know how much citric acid to pour into the washing machine, as well as what temperature to set and what should be the processing time. More details are presented below.

When is the procedure performed?

To establish that there is scale in the machine, which leads to breakage, will be obtained by the following signs:

1. Erased items have an unpleasant odor.
2. When washing, noise appears.
3. Non-white products have a grayish or yellowish tint.
4. Poor washing quality even with powder change.
5. Weak water heating.

These signs indicate the need for cleaning. Citric acid will eliminate this problem and improve the operation of the unit.

Required amount

The amount and proportion of the product is determined by the degree of contamination and the volume of equipment. How much citric acid to pour in the washing machine? If the load is 3-4 kg, then 50-60 g are needed to complete 1 procedure. The volume of 1 package may include 15, 20, 25 g, so you will need 3 or 4 bags.

Only with a sufficient amount of the product provides a high-quality cleaning of the washing machine with citric acid. How much to pour it if it is acquired in a large container? It will take 5-6 tbsp. l without top. If the device is designed for 5-7 kg of linen, then you need 100 g of citric acid.

Rules of Procedure

How to clean the washing machine with citric acid? The procedure is performed according to the following algorithm:

1. Device verification is required first. From it you need to remove all forgotten things. The rubber cuff must be slightly pushed aside and wiped thoroughly with an absorbent cloth to remove any moisture and dirt.
2. Where is the product added? It must be placed in the compartment intended for washing powder.
3. Then you need to turn on the device and select a program that includes rinsing and spinning, which eliminates the remnants of the product. Suitable temperature - 60 degrees: with these indicators, plaque dissolves. But if the device has not been cleaned for a long time, the water hardness is greatly increased, and there is a lot of scale, then you need to perform the procedure at high temperatures - 90-95 degrees. But in this case, you do not need to choose a long program so that the elements of the equipment are not damaged.
4. Then you need to close and turn on the machine. Drum loading is not needed, it must be empty.
5. After the process is complete, open the machine, wipe and wash inside if there are particles of distant scale. You should also push the rubber cuff and inspect it to remove any residue.
6. The equipment must be open until dry. The powder compartment must be dried.

So we clean any type of washing machine with citric acid from the scum. A correctly performed procedure will improve the operation of the equipment. Washing the drum of the washing machine with citric acid can be carried out 2-3 times a year. If the device is actively used, then the procedures should be carried out every 25-30 washings, especially with hard tap water, the processing of wool or fleecy products, particles of which pollute the machine.

This procedure is performed when scale is considered the main problem. Citric acid in contact with other parts of the appliance during “idle” washing and eliminates plaque. If you know how to clean the washing machine with citric acid, the appliance will last longer.

Mold removal

Scale is not the only problem. Often citric acid is used to remove mold. In this case, citric acid is supplemented with bleach or stain remover. Set the gentle washing mode .

It is easier not to eliminate the mold, but not to allow its formation: for this it is necessary to keep the machine open during simple operation so that it can be ventilated. It is still necessary to provide ventilation, wipe the gum and the powder tray. Thanks to timely care, you can protect yourself from the appearance of fungus.

Although citric acid is considered an affordable means to remove scale, experts still 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, less often set high temperatures when washing, and then you need to wipe the machine. This ensures long-term operation of the device.

Odor elimination

According to reviews, washing the washing machine with citric acid can be performed if the drum is dirty or has an unpleasant odor. In this case, the procedure is as follows:

1. The product falls asleep inside the drum. If such washing of the washing machine with citric acid will be carried out, how much should it be scattered? The amount of this tool will be the same as in the previous procedure.
2. You should choose a program that will have a temperature of 60-90 degrees and a significant duration. With a short procedure and a low temperature, the product does not dissolve and does not work.
3. You need to turn on the wash and pinpoint 10-15 minutes. After this, you must stop the process for 40-60 minutes by clicking on the pause. If this function does not exist, then you must disconnect the machine from the network, and then reconnect. A stop is required so that the dissolved acid is inside the drum and acts on contaminants and deposits, rather than being washed off almost immediately.
4. The program turns on, and with a stop some noise or hum may appear. Sounds indicate that soluble impurities and plaque rush into the drain. And this is a confirmation of the effectiveness of the procedure.
5. When the main wash cycle is completed, an additional rinse must be activated. This will completely remove from the drum particles of cleaning agent, split impurities and scale.

According to reviews, cleaning the washing machine with citric acid can improve the performance of the appliance. If plaque is thick and old, then one procedure may not be enough. In this case, re-cleaning is necessary. If even then the necessary results did not work, then you need to try to remove and boil the heater.

Often it takes 5-10 minutes for normal boiling to be effective. You can add acid in a ratio of 1-2 tbsp. l per 1 liter of water. But care must be taken so that there is no damage or damage to the heating part. After cleaning, drying and installation are required.

Scale Check

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

Typically, scale appears at high temperatures, so if washing is carried out at a temperature of 60-90 degrees, then there is usually a coating. It also occurs with high water hardness, which can be determined by the sediment that remains during sedimentation. And even if the scum appears on other frequently used appliances (steam iron, electric kettle, steamer), then in the washing machine it is in high probability.

Recommendations

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

1. Do not use lemon juice instead of powder, because it is not concentrated enough and does not remove plaque.
2. It is advisable not to wash at temperatures above 65-70 degrees, since it is under these conditions that limescale appears.
3. The maximum amount of acid powder should not be increased: its increased concentration can damage some parts of the device. The tool in this case will act aggressively and can partially corrode plastic or rubber, which will affect the operation of the device.
4. It is important not to raise the temperature, since intense heating, especially long-term, enhances the negative effect of the product.
5. Much more effective is not descaling, but the prevention of its appearance. To prevent the formation of plaque, it is necessary to use specialized tools that are added during washing. They destroy metal salts and soften water. There are washing powders that reduce the risk of scale formation. The stiffness can be reduced by a high-quality filter, the cartridge of which retains magnesium and calcium salts and prevents their penetration into household appliances.
6. Do not fill the drum with linen. Although citric acid is used to eliminate stains as a folk remedy, but in large volumes needed to remove plaque, it destroys tissue fibers and changes their structure.
7. During cleaning, the scale is destroyed, and its pieces fall off and fall into the drain, which leads to a hum. Amplification of 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 the washing and eliminate the blockage: the drain hose is disconnected and a stuck piece of plaque is removed.
8. In order to prevent contamination of the heating element and other parts with product lint, it is better not to wash old and dilapidated items in the machine, especially from wool and materials with pile or fleece.

Other means

In addition to citric acid, other agents can also be used:

1. "Anti-scale." It has acids that dissolve scale. The product is poured into the drum, in which there should be no laundry. You must enable the washing mode. It is important to comply with the dosage specified in the instructions, as high concentration renders rubber hoses and gaskets unusable.
2. Vinegar. In the machine, pour 2 cups of the product and start a long wash with very hot water. After 5 minutes, the washing is interrupted for an hour, so that the solution acts on all parts of the machine. Then the washing continues. The completion is a short wash cycle.
3. Soda. The product allows you to remove scale and mold. Baking soda is poured into the detergent drawer and includes long-term high-temperature washing. With a solution of soda, the inside of the drum and the rubber cuff on the door are wiped.

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.