The American House

  • Home
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Tips & Tricks

9 Things That Damage Your Washing Machine

May 6, 2022 · Tips & Tricks
washing machine
Photo by June Marie Sobrito from Shutterstock

If you guess the temperature, your clothes might shrink

Clothes might also end up damaged if you wash them at the wrong temperature in your washing machine. When it’s manufactured, cotton gets a bit stretched, so it will shrink a little after the first wash. However, if you get the wrong water temperature, you might end up with shrunken clothes.

Skipping service washes makes it smelly

The best washing machines will wash your clothes for many years. But did you know that the machine itself has to be cleaned once in a while?

Over time, inside your washing machine might gather the leftover dirt and mold, which will eventually build up and lead to your machine smelling bad.

These situations might rapidly increase, as many of us are washing now at lower temperatures with non-biological detergents. In order to keep your machine clean and odor-free, make sure you run a service wash at 90°C at least once a month.

You can also do this with detergent, a special washing machine cleaner, or something natural like white vinegar.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

8 responses to “9 Things That Damage Your Washing Machine”

  1. Helen says:
    September 30, 2022 at 8:56 pm

    certainly fail to see how mixing white and colored laundry in the same load would in any way damage a clothes washing machine…..
    as you point out, could turn the whites grey, but as for damaging the machine in some way—-makes no sense

    Log in to Reply
  2. Carol says:
    November 18, 2022 at 2:47 pm

    Some of us are not rich enough to have a new washing machine. I am still using 1 from 1974 and it works just fine I don’t need all those fancy buttons and programs. This machine has never failed to get my laundry clean!

    Log in to Reply
    • B A Rotini says:
      December 11, 2022 at 6:02 pm

      Amen, sister! Not everyone in this country is of the super-consumer class! 🙂

      Log in to Reply
  3. Audrey Spaulding says:
    December 10, 2022 at 3:30 pm

    Depends on a front loader or a top loader. I have a top loader and I have never found it to have to
    be cleaned out. My top loader has a cycle to clean the machine. Like you all said. It seems the
    manufacturer has some opinions that don’t fit the narrative that they are pointing out. One size doesn’t fit all.

    Log in to Reply
  4. Tiffany Catelliee says:
    December 10, 2022 at 6:02 pm

    Where did they say that mixing colors & whites will ruin your washer? They didn’t say that did they? I only saw read about how mixing colors with whites can change the colors of your clothes (which is a given) -not damage your washer. I didn’t even see where they said it would damage your washer, so why would you sat that?

    Log in to Reply
    • Sheila says:
      December 10, 2022 at 9:53 pm

      But that’s the title of the article.

      Log in to Reply
    • Diane says:
      December 24, 2022 at 4:00 pm

      This was more of a laundry lesson. Many good points though, some about the machine and some about what is washed.

      Log in to Reply
  5. Mechelle says:
    December 24, 2022 at 8:24 pm

    TK Smith there is no miners at the bottom of the page and a arrow press the arrow and it will let you keep reading the story for washing

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Latest Posts

  • Half-Bath 12 Half-Bath Ideas That Will Change the Game for You
  • Bathroom Cleaning Mistake 11 Bathroom Cleaning Mistakes You Don't Even Know You're Making
  • Renter Insurance Update: 9 New Items It Covers
  • The Most Stunning Desert Homes You’ll Want to Live In
  • expensive garden 6 Different Types of Gardens with The Right House Style
  • Small Kitchen? 16 Creative Ideas to Organize Your Space
  • Forgotten Cleaning Tip 18 Genius but Forgotten Cleaning Tips From the Past
  • budget-friendly home upgrades 6 Stunning and Budget-Friendly Home Upgrades You Need to Try This Year
  • low-maintenance spring flower 7 Stunning Low-Maintenance Spring Flowers for a Pop of Color
  • smart IKEA shopping Smart IKEA Shopping: Get In, Get Out, No Regrets

Related Articles

Kitchen Remodel

6 Kitchen Remodels That Will Raise the Value of Your Home

Would You Like To Sell Your House For A LOT MORE Money? You Should Immediately…

Read More →
increase storage space guests

Increase Storage Space in Tiny Homes With These 12 Smart Tips!

6. Add a rolling shelf If you’re looking for a simple way to increase storage…

Read More →
Drying laundry in cold weather

8 Essential Tips for Drying Laundry in Cold Weather

Drying laundry in cold weather won’t be a hassle anymore if you follow these tips:…

Read More →
yard

6 Tips to Clean Your Backyard Faster and Cheaper NOW

4. Take care of the bushes and the trees Trees and bushes, in general, are…

Read More →
holiday

7 Worst Holiday Decorating Mistakes You Must Avoid

#4 Sticking to only one set of family photos We are sure you have some…

Read More →
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers Are Fantastic! Unless You Use Them on These 12 Things

We all know about Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. But do you know what to avoid…

Read More →
historical

Historic Houses: These 5 Features Point Towards One!

Check for original tiling and wood floors! When renovating, you may be tempted to take…

Read More →
bedroom paint colors

Bedroom Paint Colors: 7 Gorgeous Shades That Will Rule This Year

4. Rusty red While a vibrant shade of red might not be suitable for your…

Read More →
most popular home paint colors

Google Said It: These Are the 7 Most Popular Home Paint Colors

Black Black ruled the bedroom with 396,000 yearly Google searches. It is a common option,…

Read More →

The American House

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@theamericanhouse.com

Trust & Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe
  • Contact

Categories

  • DIY
  • Expert Tips
  • Garden
  • Tips & Tricks

© 2026 The American House. All rights reserved.