03 January 2023 , 10:14
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If you find mildew stains on the gasket of your washing machine it could be a tough job to fix and will most likely will require you to call out an engineer to help. But one washing machine expert has gone viral on TikTok after revealing some simple rules you should follow to keep your gasket dry and your washing machine working at 100%.
Renae, who can be found under the username @renduh on TikTok, is a washing machine engineer and has a wealth of knowledge in the area, so has shared some handy tricks. If the New Year has inspired a deep clean in your household, peeking inside your washing machine should be at the top of your list - and these hacks will help you avoid costly repairs.
The gasket can be a huge job to replace and if done badly, could flood your house (stock photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)The gasket is an important part of the machine as it is the large barrier around the door to stop water flooding out when in use.
After each laundry wash, Renae stresses you should do three key things to keep your machine healthy and running smoothly.
Firstly, she says: "Use a rag or old towel to dry out any remaining water in the gasket when your laundry is done.
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"Number two, leave the door to your washing machine open when you're not using it."
The final rule is the most important as she says most people do not know about it.
"Remove the detergent tray from your washing machine and dry it out after you do laundry" said Renae.
"The detergent tray has little tubes in it that direct some of the water into your gasket. So if you're not keeping that dry you're fighting a losing battle."
On the detergent tray panel you should be able to find a push button which will release the tray and allow you to dry it out to stop unwanted water flooding your gasket.
In response, many have shown appreciation for the guidance as one person wrote: "I'm going to start removing that tray and drying it! Thank you."
Another wrote: "Genius."
A third penned: "Thank you for that."
While Renae shared clever tips for keeping your washing machine gasket free of mould and mildew, the expert warns people to seek professional help if the mildew build-up becomes severe.
She said: "Not every brand requires specialty tools to fix the gasket, but some do. And some are much more difficult than others to replace.
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"What I'm trying to say is that if your gasket gets to the point that it has that much mildew build up, have an appliance repair tech do it. It's never something I would recommend a DIY fix for.
"If you don't know what you're doing you run the risk of flooding your house."