In small apartments, where the washing machine is located in the kitchen or bathroom and already greatly restricts movement, the question of whether it's necessary to keep the washing machine door open becomes especially pressing. Many homeowners claim this is vital for the proper functioning of the washing machine, although not everyone agrees. Some, on the contrary, prefer to keep the door closed at all times. So, whose side is right?
Arguments of those in favor of closing the machine
Obviously, the washing machine door should always be tightly closed during the wash cycle, otherwise the washing process will be impossible. However, sometimes it's necessary to keep the door closed even when the machine is turned off. This applies to homes with small children and pets.
If you open the manual for any washing machine, you'll find a warning that, in one way or another, advises against using the appliance by anyone who is unable to assess the danger involved, as failure to do so could result in injury or even be life-threatening.
There have been cases of children or animals being harmed while using a washing machine. For example, a child might lock a cat or small dog in the machine and start the wash cycle. If there are several children, such games can even result in the death of one of them.
Less dangerous, but still dangerous, are residues of detergent or fabric softener that settle on the inner walls of the drum. These residues can easily be ingested by a child, potentially causing severe poisoning for a small child.
Ultimately, nothing might happen to the child, but the car might be damaged. For example, if they hang on the hatch door and swing from side to side, which is something toddlers love to do. Of course, the hatch door won't last long after that.
Caution! Animals, especially cats and dogs, can also damage your washing machine.
Pets are especially bothered by the rubber door seal. If the washing machine door is open, cats often scratch it with their claws, sharpening them, while dogs even chew off entire chunks. As a result, the seal loses its function and begins to leak water.
The arguments for closing the washing machine between washes sound very convincing, now let's turn to the arguments on the other side.
What do open door proponents think?
Those who argue that you should at least periodically air out your washing machine between cycles rely on the following facts:
Firstly, after washing, moisture remains on all the interior surfaces of the machine, and in significant quantities. It coats the drum, the door seal, the detergent compartment, and even the bottom of the drum. Stagnant water is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Besides creating an unpleasant odor, this is also harmful to your health.
Secondly, the remaining powder, combined with the remaining liquid, hardens and forms a crystalline layer in the dispenser, which interferes with the normal intake of powder during washing.
Finally, there are many metal components inside a washing machine. If you close the machine immediately after a cycle, water vapor will erode the components and cause them to fail prematurely.
So, what's the best approach? Keep the washing machine away from children and pets, or close it out of harm's way?
What is the right thing to do?
Aside from concerns about your little ones, it's best to ventilate your washing machine's drum and detergent compartment after each wash. In addition, the drum and cuff should be carefully wiped with a cloth at the end of each cycle.
It's not necessary to always leave the door wide open. It's enough to open it wide for a couple of hours after washing, then close it, leaving a gap of just a few centimeters.
What should you do if you have children or pets in the house? In this case, you can ventilate the machine overnight or store it out of reach of children and pets. It's also important to educate children and teach them not to play with the washing machine; this will help your home appliance last longer.
In small apartments, where the washing machine is located in the kitchen or bathroom and already greatly restricts movement, the question of whether it's necessary to keep the washing machine door open becomes especially pressing. Many homeowners claim this is vital for the proper functioning of the washing machine, although not everyone agrees. Some, on the contrary, prefer to keep the door closed at all times. So, whose side is right?
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