Cleaning a washing machine with citric acid – reviews

Citric acid isn't just a culinary ingredient, it's also a household product. It's impossible to list all the things you can do with citric acid. It's no secret that you can clean your washing machine with it. But to find out whether citric acid is truly that good for this purpose, we'll read the reviews.

What do people think?

Most homeowners have probably already tried citric acid as a limescale remover, while others are just considering giving it a try. These homeowners might find feedback helpful; here's what they're saying.

Anna Anikin

To remove limescale from my washing machine, I use citric acid from the company "Pripravych", which is sold in all grocery stores. A car repairman recommended this product. You need to add 150 grams of citric acid and run a washing program with water heating to 60 degrees, and also set an additional rinse.

Since my tap water is hard, I do this regularly, about once every few months. This procedure prevents the heating element from wearing out prematurely. My assistant has worked flawlessly for eight years now. And most importantly, I've never bought any expensive, advertised products. Citric acid is quite inexpensive and trouble-free.

Musita

Citric acid is an excellent, inexpensive household cleaning product. After my washing machine broke, the repairman recommended using citric acid instead of Calgon. This cleaning should be done every 2-3 months. Besides the washing machine, I also clean the kettle, microwave, and tiles. Just be sure to wear gloves.

Rishk@

I often use citric acid for baking, and sometimes I clean my kettle with it. But not long ago I discovered that you can also use it to clean your washing machine. I gave it a try. I bought a couple of packets and poured them into the detergent drawer. Then I ran the longest wash cycle at the highest temperature, and then ran the rinse cycle.

I saw the cleaning results with my own eyes, as our washing machine's hose goes into the bathtub. Scale particles came out in the wastewater, so the cleaning product works much better than store-bought ones. I now do this cleaning every so often. And the heating element also began to work noticeably better. I can't help but recommend it.

JaneM

Like many people, after buying a new washing machine, I started adding Calgon powder along with it. I used exactly the amount recommended in the instructions for hard water, which was very expensive. But then a relative recommended citric acid. Add 200 grams of citric acid to the machine and run a hot wash. I've been using this recipe for my washing machine for five years now. I just had no idea it was so effective. I tried cleaning a kettle with citric acid and saw all the limescale come off. So, the inside of the machine is perfectly clean.

RosaLi

For me, citric acid is simply irreplaceable. I add it to compotes, clean my kettle and tiles, and even my washing machine. Our Zanussi washing machine is 10 years old, and after replacing the heating element, we started using citric acid on the advice of a technician. For a 4.5 kg machine, I use 125 grams of citric acid and run a wash at 90 degrees Celsius (204 degrees Fahrenheit). The result depends on the temperature. The drum must be empty. This cleaning lasts for six months. It's inexpensive and effective.

Jula267

I've never tried cleaning my washing machine with citric acid. That's because I saw the results my neighbors had. After several washes with lemon, all the rubber fell apart, and they had to replace the machine with a new one. So I don't know whether to believe in miracles or not. Maybe it's all about the dosage of acid...

Nastenysh

So, I decided to share my experience cleaning my washing machine with citric acid. My washing machine is five years old, and I've never used any cleaning products. But lately, whites have been turning gray and colored items pale after washing. Furthermore, the drum had become coated with a slimy film, and the machine was starting to smell unpleasant. So, I decided to use citric acid, which my mother recommended. Take two packets of citric acid, pour them into the drum, and then run the wash cycle at 90 degrees. It's best not to wash white or new clothes after this cleaning. And don't forget to clean the drain filter. It took four citric acid treatments to completely remove the limescale. The drum shines like new.

To use citric acid correctly, be sure to read the instructions!

Instructions for use

After reading reviews, it's clear that most people are satisfied with cleaning their automatic washing machines with citric acid. However, we noticed that everyone uses different amounts of citric acid: some pour it into the compartment, while others pour it directly into the drum. So, what's the correct way to do this to avoid damaging the rubber and other parts of the machine?

To descale your washing machine, you need to:

• make sure there are no items in the machine drum;
• take 100-200 g of citric acid, the larger the volume of the machine, the more citric acid, for a machine with a volume of 5 kg, 100-120 g of citric acid is enough;
• pour citric acid into the main wash compartment or into the drum, it doesn't matter;
• select and start a long wash cycle, in which the water is heated to 90 degrees;
• wait until the wash is finished and start the rinse cycle;
• wipe the drum of the machine and the cuff with a dry cloth, there may be scale particles under the cuff;
• Rinse and clean the water drain filter.

Important! Citric acid is quite strong, so don't use it too often; 1-2 cleanings per year is sufficient.

Other cleaning methods

In addition to citric acid, some recommend using lemon juice and vinegar for descaling. However, we strongly advise against such attempts. As for lemon juice, nothing bad will happen, and the scale will not disappear, since the concentration of substances in the juice is lower than in the acid. But acetic acid, besides its pungent odor, can cause problems. This type of cleaning can cause all rubber seals, including pipes and hoses, to deteriorate and crack.

The only alternative to cleaning with citric acid is mechanical cleaning. This requires disassembling the washing machine and removing the heating element. Only then will the deposits on the drum and tub be removed.

Citric acid can also be replaced with specialized descalers, such as Antinakipin, Topper 3004, Top House, and others. The key is to ensure the product is specifically designed for washing machine cleaning. Full instructions for using Antinakipin can be found in the article aboutUsing Anti-scale for washing machines.

Please note! Calgon is not a descaling agent for washing machines; it is intended only to soften water and prevent scale buildup. Therefore, it cannot replace citric acid.

In conclusion, it's worth noting that proper use of citric acid can be far more effective than all the expensive and over-hyped remedies. The key is to exercise caution and find the right balance. Maintain your washing machine regularly!

   

1 reader comment

1. October 7, 2017 at 7:07 AM

   Lyuba:

   I've had a Bosch washing machine for 12 years. I use citric acid (I add it to the wash cycle), and the colors stay vibrant. It's still working perfectly (for 12 years), and I haven't had to repair it. That's how it works!

   Answer