The right washing machine will last you years, but if you want to make the most of an investment like this, you’ll have to be willing to put a bit of work in every so often to make sure it maintains a decent level of performance. As you can imagine, a certain number of the call outs we get are for faults caused by general wear and tear that could be avoided by carrying out some routine maintenance every now and then.

Who washes the washing machine?

Philosophers have been wrestling with this profound question ever since Nathaniel Briggs invented the washboard in 1797 at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. It turns out the answer is normally something like, ‘Nobody, it’s literally a machine that washes things so it’s always going to be pretty clean, right?’

Wrong. You should never ask a philosopher for practical advice about electrical appliances. The average washing machine is regularly exposed to all sorts of dirt and debris, and if you live anywhere around Manchester you’ll probably have noticed how easily mould can grow given the right damp and humid environment, and sometimes your washing machine isn’t even safe.

Fear not, because the simple solution to this potential problem is that you should perform a ‘maintenance wash’ about two or three times a year. Simply run the machine at a high temperature with a normal amount of detergent- but without putting clothes in the drum- and it should clear out any grease and grime that might have built up.

Check your pipes

This is great advice for anyone- particularly when you reach a certain age- but it can also apply to your washing machine, too. Making sure the hoses at the back of your machine aren’t showing any signs of rupturing can save you the trouble of dealing with a leak when it actually happens.

Most manufacturers would advise you to replace the hoses about once every five years, so you shouldn’t be obsessively checking them all the time if you just bought a new machine from us. However, if you have, for example, inherited a machine from previous tenants in rented accommodation ... check your pipes!

Keep it on the level

Is your washing machine producing an inordinate amount of noise and/or slowly making its way into the middle of the kitchen when it’s on? Before you give us a call out, ask yourself two very important questions:

1. Is my washing machine possessed by a demon?

2. Is my washing machine correctly levelled?

If the answer to the first question is ‘yes,’ we would prefer it if you contacted a professional ghost expert such as Bill Murray or Dan Aykroyd because that sounds like it might be a bit too scary for our operatives.

On the other hand, if it turns out that your machine is not properly levelled, then you might want to read this useful guide before you get in touch.

If you’re having problems with your washing machine (again, as long as it isn’t ghost related- we really can’t stress that enough), or you’re thinking of getting a new model, we’ll give you the advice you need rather than the sales pitch you might get elsewhere. Get in touch on 0161 6811622 or drop into our shop in Moston today!