Southland Technical Services Tips to help you keep your washing machine going longer!

We’ll help you keep your washer fresh and clean so you can continue to enjoy all of its great features. LG front load washers come with TubFresh™ technology—a system that includes an advanced tub-cleaning cycle and other innovations, which make it easy to clean your washer and all its parts. Other washing machines may have a Tub Clean feature.

Most modern front load washers now have a drain trap. Mainly on the LG and Samsung machines.

CLEANING THE DRAIN PUMP FILTER

Sometimes lint and other debris can collect in your drain pump filter. Keep things running smoothly by occasionally cleaning it. Watch the video to learn how to clean your drain pump filter or scroll down for step-by-step instructions.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open the drain pump filter cover by pressing on the center tab.
2. Pull out the manual drain hose to the left of the filter cap and use a small bowl or pan to drain out any residual water (approximately 2 cups) that is remaining in the drain pump.
3. Place a towel down on the floor to catch any leftover water and remove the drain pump filter, by turning it counterclockwise.
4. Remove any lint or items trapped in the filter by tapping it out into the wastebasket, and rinse it thoroughly with warm water.
5. Replace the plug at the end of the manual drain hose and place it back into the holder. Then reinsert the filter into the drain pump opening and turn it clockwise to secure it back in place.

CLEANING THE WASHTUB

Your front load washer has a special cycle just to clean the washtub. Keep it in tip-top condition by running this cycle on a monthly basis to remove detergent buildup and other residue, and keep your wash drum nice and clean.

1. Remove any clothing in the wash drum.
2. Open the dispenser.
3. Add liquid chlorine bleach, powder cleaner or tub cleaner. Don’t add any laundry detergent or fabric softener when using TUB CLEAN.
   • •  If you’re using a tub cleaning product follow the directions indicated on its packaging. Note: If the product is powdered, remove the liquid detergent cup and add the powder to the main wash compartment.
4. Close the drawer and the door.
5. Select TUB CLEAN and press START/PAUSE.
6. When cycle is done, wait for washer to cool down and then open the door.
7. Use a towel or soft cloth to wipe around the washer door opening, door seal, and door glass. Keeping these areas clean will help ensure a watertight seal. Be sure to wipe under the inside rubber seal to remove moisture or soil.

GOOD TO KNOW TIPS

It’s always a good idea to remove items from the washer as soon as the cycle is completed. Leaving damp clothing in the washer can cause wrinkling, color transfer and odor.

After using TUB CLEAN, leave the washer door open for ventilation and drying inside the washer.

If a musty smell already exists, run TUB CLEAN once a week, for 3 consecutive weeks.

CLEANING THE DISPENSER

Your washer’s dispenser needs some attention too. It should be cleaned on occasion to remove buildup from detergent and other laundry products.

1. First things first. Press the POWER button to turn off your washer, and unplug it before cleaning.
2. Pull out the dispenser drawer until it stops.
3. Press the button in the center of the drawer and pull to remove it.
4. Remove the inserts from the drawer, and clean them with warm water and a soft cloth or brush. Make sure to remove any residue or buildup.
5. Wipe out the inside of the drawer opening with a damp cloth.
6. Reassemble the drawer, reinstall it, and you’re good to go.

GOOD TO KNOW TIPS

Don’t use anything other than water to clean the drawer, inserts, and drawer opening.

If any household cleaner ends up being drained into the interior of the washer, run a RINSE & SPIN cycle before using it again.

It is advised not to clean these trays or drawers in a dishwasher because a heated rinse can melt or warp them.

CLEANING THE WATER INLET FILTERS

Over time, you water’s inlet filters can get clogged—especially if you live in an area with hard water. If your washer detects that water is not entering the dispenser properly, an error message will be displayed. Cleaning the water inlet filters is simple and will help your washer run smoothly for longer.

1. Press the POWER button to turn off your washer, and unplug it before cleaning.
2. Turn off both water taps completely.
3. Unscrew the hot and cold water lines from the back of the washer.
4. Remove the filters from the water inlets. Soak them in white vinegar or a lime scale remover. Be careful not to damage the water inlets.
5. Rinse thoroughly before reinstalling.
6. Press the filters back into place and reattach the water lines.

GOOD TO KNOW

Do not operate the washer without these filters.

If they are damaged or cannot be cleaned, contact us or call us at 403-255-9647.

Use only the inlet hoses provided by the manufacturer. Aftermarket hoses are not guaranteed to fit or function, and can cause leaks and damage not covered under the terms of your warranty. If your washer did not come with an inlet hose, please purchase certified inlet hoses for optimal performance from the manufacturer. Replacement hoses can be ordered from us or the manufacturer directly. Please contact us at 403-255-9647.

CLEANING THE EXTERIOR

Some simple cleaning to the exterior can keep your front load washer looking as good as new. You can clean it with warm water and a mild, nonabrasive common detergent. Wipe off any spills with a soft, damp cloth. Do not use methylated spirits, solvents, or similar products, steel wool or abrasive cleaners. They could damage the surface of your machine.

To remove stains on the door seal, wear rubber gloves and eye protection, and then follow these steps:

1. Dilute � cup (177ml) liquid chlorine bleach with 1 gallon (3.8L) of warm or hot water.
2. Use the solution to wipe down all surfaces of the gasket and remove the deposits that are causing odor. Make sure you fold back the lip of the gasket to get under the edge where residue usually builds up.
3. Wipe the gasket with a dry cloth.
4. Leave the door open to allow the gasket to dry.
5. If the gasket cannot be cleaned properly, it will require replacement.

Read The Labels

It’s important to read the care labels inside your clothes before washing them. These instructions not only indicate how to care for the garment, they often give guidance on separating loads too.

Sort Your Laundry

Sort your laundry by fabric type, color, and water temperature. Keep clothes that require hand washing or dry clean only items separate. Divide the rest into 5 piles for best results:

1. White – everything white, underwear, t-shits, etc…
2. Lights – including striped whites, off-whites and pastels
3. Darks – everything dark, like blacks, blues, browns
4. Brights – reds, yellows, oranges, fluorescent
5. Delicates – fine linens, lingerie, some synthetic fabrics

Retreat Stains

To remove stains from dirty clothes, its best to pre-treat before you wash. Grab a bottle of HE detergent, pour a small amount onto the stain and gently rub it into the clothing. You can also try the Staincare option if your washer has it available. It utilizes multiple temperatures to attack different types of stains especially on LG washers.

After Your Cycle Is Finished

To help reduce wrinkling, fold or hand clothes as soon as possible after the dryer cycle ends. If this is not possible, slightly dampen a cloth, add it to the load, and then run the dryer for a few minutes. The moisture and heat will help the wrinkles fall out. Its also a good idea to run a cool-down cycle at the end of the drying time. All laundry items are more prone to wrinkling if left sitting in a pile when they are hot. If your washer has steam washers, this can also reduce wrinkles.

Less Tim With Your Iron

Who likes ironing? No one. The EasyIron options on LG products lightly moistens clothes to make ironing easier and more efficient.

Here Are Some Other Tips Before You Wash:

Mending any tears before washing will help prevent damage from becoming worse. Undo buttons on collars to help minimize wear along folds, and turn dark clothes inside out to help prevent fading. Washable sweaters should also be turned inside out to reduce the chance of fabric collecting in uneven clumps, or “pilling.” Check zippers, buttons, snaps, and buckles and secure them to prevent snagging.

Wash reds or new, colored garments separately the first few times. These items can bleed and stain other laundry if your not careful.

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(Image credit: l i g h t p o e t/Shutterstock)

If you’re lucky enough to have some (mechanical or technical) help with your dishes, how’s your helper doing these days? Cooking can be tough on the dishwasher. All those goopy soups, milk-crusted mugs, and baked-on casseroles can overload it; perhaps you’re feeling like things aren’t running so smoothly or smelling as good as they ought to in there.

Well, we’re here to help, with 10 tips for making your dishwasher run its best.

10 Tips to Help Your Dishwasher Run Better in Calgary

1. Don’t confuse scraping with washing: No one wants to wash their dishes before they wash their dishes; it’s just silly. But you wouldn’t want to eat a Thanksgiving dinner and then go run a marathon right after. Well, neither does your dishwasher. Scrape food bits off before loading up to help reduce particles stuck on dishes once the cycle is over.
2. Don’t overcrowd the dishwasher: It’s quite tempting to layer in one more bowl or plate to avoid hand washing. Just remember, it’s better to wash a few pieces by hand than it is to rerun an entire load because things were too tightly packed.
3. Run hot water before starting the dishwasher: Before starting the cycle, turn on the faucet and run until the water is hot to the touch. This means your first dishwasher fill cycle will be hot, instead of cold, until it finally makes its way over from the hot water heater. This is an especially important tip in winter time, as it takes longer for the water to heat up.
4. Use the correct cycle: It can be tempting to use a shorter, lighter setting to save on time and water bills, but make sure you’re washing all your super dirty dishes by hand if that’s the case. Just like doing your laundry, keep soil levels together when washing to end up with the best performance.
5. Don’t double up on rinse aid: When looking to purchase a new soap for your dishwasher, make note if it includes a rinse aid. If it does, then there’s no need to add any extra. If it doesn’t, skip the extra purchase and just fill the reservoir with white vinegar. It’ll do the trick every time!
6. Run an empty dishwasher with vinegar: It’s the same concept as running a vinegar load in your washing machine. You simply toss a cup of white vinegar into the bottom of an empty dishwasher and run a normal cycle. It cleans out old food particles to keep your dishwasher smelling fresh.
7. Clean the dishwasher trap: Down in no-man’s land, under the lower sprayer, there’s usually a piece that is removable. Under it you’ll usually find bits of food that didn’t make it out the drain or even pet hair (eww) if you have a fur-ball of any kind running around your home. Sometimes the tray comes out full so you can rinse it in the sink; sometimes a towel can help with removal of gunk buildup.
8. Clean the dishwasher seals: After a few months of use, your dishwasher accumulates a little bit of ick and stick around the rubber gasket in the door and often around the soap door as well. Make sure to give them a once-over with a damp towel to keep the grime down.
9. Check your water heater’s temperature: There’s a joke about where to put the thermometer, but we’ll pass this time around. Make sure your water heater is set between 120 and 125 degrees. Many units are sent new set to a much lower heat setting. This is the ideal temperature for washing dishes; don’t be tempted to turn it higher or else it will cause water to flash dry and not roll off your dishes, taking the ends of the dirty bits with it.
10. Test your water: Hard water is killer on dishes and your ability to really get things clean. Make sure to have things tested and soften accordingly.

Those are some of the simplest solutions if your dishwasher is leaving grime on the dishes, or not smelling so fresh. Have you found other good practices for keeping that precious dishwasher running well?

If you are experiencing any issues with your dishwasher, please give Southland Technical Services a call at 403-255-9647 or book online and we will get our dishwasher service specialists out as soon as possible.

Source: http://www.thekitchn.com/10-tips-to-make-your-dishwasher-run-better-cleaning-tips-from-the-kitchn-104328

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