How to deal with washing machine disasters

When it comes to household chores, doing the laundry seems to be the one that causes the most problems. So much can go wrong, from dyed clothes covered in paper lint to leaky seals, bouncy drums and nasty smells. Thankfully most of these issues can be rectified and prevented: here’s how to deal with a few of the worst offenders.

Dyeing disasters

It’s always a good idea to wash colours and whites separately, especially if you happen to have any pieces in deep red. Most of us have had that sinking feeling that comes with pulling our once-white shirt out of the wash to find it’s now a lovely but impractical shade of baby pink. Start by removing the offending piece of clothing, add a cup of white wine vinegar to the mix and wash everything again while it’s still wet.

Paper lint over everything

One of the most frustrating laundry disasters is accidentally washing a tissue. It’s remarkable how annoying a single bit of flimsy paper can be, disintegrating and covering all of your lovely clean clothes in a coating of lint. Shake out the offending clothes and use a stiff brush to dislodge as much as you can. Once the load is dry, remove the rest with a soft brush or use a lint roller, and in future make sure you check the pockets to avoid having to deal with this nuisance again!

The washing machine smells really bad

This is a more common problem than you think! Cold washes are becoming more popular as they save money and are better for the environment, and plenty of companies offer detergents that work at low temperatures. Unfortunately the lack of hot water means that bacteria and mould can build up inside the machine, making it smell nasty. It’s pretty easy to get rid of: simply do a boil wash once a month with a detergent that contains bleach.

Leaky seal

Leaking machines have to be dealt with quickly, as the water could end up rotting your floor. Torn seals are fairly easy to replace but this expensive disaster can be avoided by being extra careful of what you’re putting in the machine. Clothes with sharp metal fittings can tear the seal, as can overloading the drum.

It’s far too noisy

There are a couple of things that can cause your machine to bounce around when it comes to the spin cycle. Make sure that it’s installed on a level surface, and that the concrete weights and shock absorbers are still okay. If your machine is old, it might be time to replace it with a new Indesit washing machine: not only are modern machines a lot quieter but they use less energy.

No one wants to spend hours worrying about their washing, and you can avoid most disasters by keeping your washing machine clean and being extra vigilant with what you put in. Far from being extra fuss, following these handy tips can take a load off your mind the next time you put a load on.