Many housewives, taking care of the washing machine, forget about the rubber cuff. And for good reason. After all, it is there that most bacteria accumulate, causing putrefactive processes and an unpleasant smell. You can learn about how to clean the rubber cuff in the washing machine from this article.
Methods of cleaning from scale
Sometimes lime forms on the rubber cuff of the automatic machine in the form of a persistent plaque. This happens even if the cleaning was regular. Therefore, it is appropriate to use agents that dissolve lime scale:
- Citric acid
A gentle, but effective tool, capable of not only cleaning the cuff, but also the skin, the drum itself and other small details. A bag of citric acid is poured into the cuff, the powder compartment and the drum itself. After that, the machine is turned on to the washing mode with the procedure of soaking and double rinsing, without laundry. The temperature should be at least 70 degrees. After such a washing cycle, the rubber seal is easily cleaned with a soft cloth soaked in clean water.
- Baking soda
It must be mixed with water to form a thick slurry. This composition is thickly smeared on the cuff and left for 1 hour. After that, the composition is not washed off, but the washing cycle is started immediately at a high temperature, without laundry. After washing, the remaining soda is cleaned with an old toothbrush and wiped with a clean cloth moistened with water.
- Tablet for the dishwasher
A very good tool, copes with scale within a few minutes. Two or three tablets are launched into the drum, after which they are “washed” without laundry. After the procedure, the cuff is wiped with a clean cloth.
Methods of cleaning from mold
The easiest way to clean rubber from mold is to wipe it with a sponge with a detergent and then clean it with clean water. However, if mold has taken root in the car, simple cleaning may not help. Then radical measures will be needed:
- Food vinegar
About 100 ml of vinegar is poured into the powder compartment and the usual washing mode is started with soaking, double rinsing, but without loading laundry. After the procedure is finished, the rubber band is wiped with a dry cloth and dried, leaving the compartment with the door open for several hours.
- Whiteness
To deal with brown spots of mold will help the chlorine composition “Linen”. A sponge is abundantly moistened in a solution with the addition of water and the affected areas are wiped. If the mold is very ingrained, wet a rag in this solution, put it in the rubber and leave it for half an hour with the door closed. After that, the stain can be easily removed with a sponge. The final stage is wiping the rubber band with a clean cloth and drying it thoroughly.
- Copper sulfate
It will help if the mold has been accumulating for more than one year. About 30 grams of the composition are taken per liter of water and the drum is poured with this solution. They leave it like this for the night, and in the morning they start the rinsing mode. After the washing machine is finished, the rubber is wiped dry and aired with the door open for several hours.
- Rinse aid for laundry
It will help to remove the persistent smell of mold. After cleaning the cuff, it is poured there and left for several hours. Remove with a damp cloth and wipe dry.
Importantly! When working with aggressive agents, such as vinegar, citric acid, bleaches, soda or copper sulfate, it is necessary to act as carefully as possible, as they can damage the rubber. Therefore, the use of aggressive means is allowed no more than once during six months.
Methods of cleaning from dirt
Since rubber is a soft material, it is better to choose more gentle means in the form of gels and liquids. Powder, abrasive compositions thin the material and provoke rapid wear of rubber, and mechanical methods can damage it.
The easiest and safest option is to wipe the cuff with a sponge dipped in dishwashing detergent. This will not only remove dirt, but also add a fresh, pleasant aroma.
If the pollution is persistent, the following composition is suitable:
- A shaving of household soap, a drop of dishwashing detergent and a drop of laundry are diluted with a small amount of water and foamed.
- All this is applied to the cuff and remains for several hours, after which the idle washing mode and double rinsing are activated.
- At the end, the rubber is wiped with a clean cloth and dried.
There is a special liquid cleaner for vending machines designed for maximum quality cleaning. The same effect will be given by a special agent for washing dishwashers.
Prevention of contamination of the rubber seal
You can prevent the presence of mold, fungus, scale and persistent pollution if you follow a number of simple rules:
- After the machine has finished washing, it cannot be thrown away under any circumstances. It is necessary to bend the cuff and wipe the water dry, remove the remnants of the detergent and wipe again. After that, the machine is dried by opening the door for several hours.
- After every 35-40 washing cycles, it is necessary to organize washing without linen at high temperature and with double rinsing.
- The same effect is given by the “Auto cleaning” mode.
- If the water is too hard, softeners are added: soda ash, Calgon, citric acid.
- You should avoid storing dirty and wet laundry in the machine, as this multiplies the fungus and spreads a persistent unpleasant smell.
- It is necessary to observe the dosage of detergents, especially powder ones. Powder granules clog the machine and leave plaque.
- Detergents should be of high quality, preferably in the form of gels.
- Washing at consistently low temperatures should be avoided, as this leads to the appearance of fungus.
Now you know how to clean an eraser in a washing machine. Following these simple recommendations can protect the car from premature wear and tear and save money on repairs.