Limescale and mould target so many household appliances – one of which is washing machines.
However, a new study from appliance brand AEG has found that one in 10 Brits didn’t know washing machines can be affected by limescale.
This comes as almost half of Britons have admitted to never de-scaling their machines.
Michael Forbes, product specialist at AEG recommends: “A quick maintenance wash should be done at least once a month to keep the machine in the best possible condition and ensure clothes come out looking their best.
“However, every six months it is important to de-scale a washing machine to clean the tub, the area you can’t see surrounding the metal drum, to remove any bacteria and limescale buildup.
“For areas that have hard water, more attention should be paid to frequently cleaning a machine to avoid any limescale build-up.
“This build-up of minerals can cause the appliance to work harder and less efficiently and can actually affect its operational lifespan.”
To help remove limescale as well as mould from your washing machine, Michael has shared a natural cost-effective method.
Although white vinegar and baking soda are usefully recommended, he claimed that lemon juice is a fantastic product for the appliance and it “smells much better”.
Michael instructed: “Simply pour a cup of the solution directly into the empty drum of the machine and select a high-temperature wash.”
Lemons are a natural antiseptic, bleach, stain remover, and cleaner. The high concentration of citric acid in lemons breaks down mould spores and limescale buildup, making them easy to remove.
Plumbing experts at Heat and Plumb also recommend using lemon juice instead of buying expensive cleaning products.
They advise pouting the solution into the soap dispenser drawer and running the machine through the cycle while the appliance is empty of clothes.
Lemon juice can be picked up from Asda for 50p or from Morrisons for 79p.
