At our Austin student apartments, we like to ensure that laundry day is as hassle-free as possible, which is why we provide in-unit washers and dryers for all our student residents. But since even brand new laundry machines can deteriorate in quality with suboptimal usage, we wanted to provide some of the simplest and most effective tips to keep your in-unit washers and dryers in tip-top condition. Here are some of the biggest dos and don’ts for residential laundry machine care.
Don’t Overload
It can be tempting to let the laundry pile up until the hamper’s overflowing and you’re completely out of underwear. But even when you’ve been procrastinating on the laundry, don’t stuff your washer or dryer as full as it can go. Smaller loads tend to get clothes cleaner and dryer while also being easier on your appliances. A couple of small loads are usually better than one massive one.
Be Sparing With Detergent
More soap doesn’t always make things cleaner, and excess detergent can leave residue on clothes or your laundry machines. Use only as much detergent as you need to get clothes clean. Read the instructions that come with your detergent to determine how much to use for the size of your laundry load.
Clean Your Washer Once a Month
Regular cleaning helps clear out residue and keep your washer running smoothly. To clean your washing machine at our Austin student apartments, run an empty load with hot water and about a cup of distilled white vinegar to sanitize the basin and wipe out any lingering germs.
Clean Out the Lint Trap
For some, this may seem like a no-brainer, but cleaning your dryer’s lint trap after every load of laundry is essential to keeping it running optimally (and avoiding a fire hazard). Always use bare hands to do this, or sterile gloves if necessary, but DON’T use a dryer sheet. Rubbing a dryer sheet (even a used one) against the lint trap’s screen could leave residue that compromises the effectiveness of the trap and could even lead to a fire.
Switch to Dryer Balls
Speaking of dryer sheets, they’re not the only way to soften your fabrics and reduce static. Dryer balls are reusable, super easy, and work just as well. Plus there’s no chemical residue to worry about like with dryer sheets. This means dryer balls may be better for the health of your dryer and will save you money in the long run.
That’s it for our laundry machine tips! If you appreciated this post and would like to see more of our tips, recommendations, and features, be sure to bookmark our blog page for easy access to future posts! And make sure you’re following us on Instagram so you stay in the know about special offers and community updates for future residents of our new student apartments in Austin.