Taking good care of your washing machine, and following a few simple rules, could prolong its life significantly, and reduce problems.

Firstly, it is important to install your washing machine in a clean, dry location, which will not be subject to extremes of temperature. Installing the appliance in an outside shed, or garage will not be ideal, as it will be prone to damage from frozen pipes, dust, and vermin attacks. It is quite common for a washing machine in an outside location to be damaged by the residual water, or the water inlet supply pipe, becoming frozen. Equally damaging are attacks by mice and rats, which love to bite through hoses and cables, or burrow into warm places in the bottom of the appliance to make a nest.
 
Secondly, keep the outside of your appliance clean, by wiping regularly with a damp cloth, using a small amount of detergent when necessary. Do not use abrasives, as these will damage the surfaces. Clean and dry inside the washing machine drum and door seal after use, to prevent build-up of damp and mildew. This is a frequent problem, which leads to discolouration of the door seal, and eventual marking of laundry. Do not use excessive detergents inside the machine, as this will cause over-foaming during use. If possible, and safe to do so, the door should be left slightly open between uses, but this is not always possible if children are present. It is more important to be safe than to observe this practice.

Thirdly, familiarise yourself with the manufacturer’s advice regarding loading of the machine. Do not overload, as this will lead to poor results, and increased wear on mechanical components of which although readily available online on appliance spares websites, are not cheap. Do not wash items, which are heavily soiled with grease, paint, or other chemicals, as this will lead to damage to the interior of your machine, the hoses, and the seals. Follow manufacturer’s instructions regarding the amount of washing products to use, as overdosing will lead to excessive foaming, and cause blockages, and poor results. Similarly, under-dosing will cause damage to your machine, and will present poor washing results. Never use washing products which are not intended for use in an automatic washing machine, such as hand-wash products, or dish washing products, as these will be entirely unsuitable, and will also cause damage to the machine and the laundry.

When loading your machine, make sure all items are fully machine-washable, and avoid loading the machine with items that are too heavy, or not suitable in any way. An uneven load of one or two very heavy items will make your machine vibrate unduly, and can cause movement of the entire machine in some cases.

From time to time, it is advisable to run your machine on a hot program, to thoroughly dissolve any detergent residues left after frequent use of a lower temperature program. In addition, in hard-water areas, or where the problem is clearly visible, you may choose to run your machine on a maintenance, or cleaning program, using a proprietary washing machine cleaning tablet, such as WPRO Affresh tablets, to keep your machine clean throughout.

Lastly, if your appliance begins to make an unusual noise, or behave strangely in any way, seek professional advice promptly, as continuing to use an appliance when it is faulty will generally cause further damage and may lead to a more expensive repair than originally necessary.