How to clean pet hair from a washing machine?

Cat and dog hair getting into your washing machine can damage the machine. At best, small pet hairs end up in the debris filter; at worst, they can get caught in the drain pump, wrap around the impeller, and end up on the heating element. Sometimes, they can even end up in the pressure switch tube. Let's figure out how to clean your washing machine of pet hair and which parts to clean first.

Main filter element

The main task of the filter element is to retain debris and foreign objects, preventing them from entering the pump. Most of the animal hair that gets into the machine ends up in the drain filter. The unit is located at the front, in the lower right corner of the unit. It is hidden behind a small hatch or decorative panel.

To clean the filter from pet hair, you need to:

• de-energize the equipment, close the shut-off valve;
• Tilt the machine back and place a shallow basin underneath it. This will collect any water that leaks from the system during operation;
• open the hatch or remove the false panel covering the filter;
• Find the emergency drain hose; it's located right there. Pull out the tube, remove the plug, and drain the dirty water into a container placed under the machine.
• If there's no hose, begin unscrewing the filter element from right to left. First, remove the plug a quarter of the way, drain the water, and then remove the entire filter;
• rinse the filter under running warm water;
• Inspect the hole created by removing the plug and clean any dirt from the walls. Shine a flashlight into it to assess the degree of contamination of the pump impeller. If animal hairs are caught on the blades, remove them.
• Install the filter element back into the “socket”, tighten it until it stops, turning the plug from left to right.

All that's left to do is close the door or replace the panel, carefully remove the basin from under the machine, and slide the washing machine back into place. To check if the filter is properly installed, run the "Rinse" cycle. If a puddle begins to form under the machine, you'll need to remove the dustbin again and screw it back into place.

Removing hair from the sunroof cuff

Debris, including pet hair, often gets trapped between the folds of the sealing rubber. By peeling back the bottom edge of the sealing rubber, you can see the hair "clumps" that have accumulated there. Cleaning the seal is easy with a regular damp cloth, which fits easily into the tight space.

Sometimes, you can perform a more intensive cleaning of the seal. Apply a small amount of bleach to a sponge and wipe the surface of the rim with it. Close the hatch and wait half an hour for the seal to work best. Then, wash the seal with a cloth dampened with clean water and wipe dry.

Do not clean the drum cuff with household chemicals containing caustic acids.

Harsh components damage the rubber seal. Furthermore, such chemicals are dangerous to humans and can cause skin irritation and allergies.

Cleaning the pressure switch tube

Small hairs can even get caught in the level sensor tube, causing it to malfunction. You can check whether the device is functioning properly by observing how water fills the tank. There may be too much liquid, or, conversely, not enough. If the washing machine displays an error code indicating a faulty pressure switch, you need to check and clean its tube.

The algorithm of actions will be as follows:

• unplug the washing machine from the power supply;
• remove the top cover of the housing by unscrewing the two bolts that secure it;
• find the level sensor - it is usually attached near the right wall;
• find the rubber tube connecting the tank and the pressure switch;
• detach the hose from the sensor and blow out its cavity;
• connect the tube back.

Then, replace the top cover of the machine body and run a test wash cycle, such as "Rinse." If the pressure switch operates correctly, the clog was indeed the cause.

Inner walls of the drum

Cleaning pet hair from the drum is difficult. The hairs cling to the holes in the surface, making it difficult to remove completely with a damp cloth. The holes and plastic "ribs" of the drum are the main obstacle.

There's a way to clean your drum in just a few minutes. Just follow these steps:

• open the hatch door wide;
• wait until the drum is completely dry;
• prepare wide tape;
• cut a sticky strip approximately 40-50 cm long;
• wrap your palm with tape so that the sticky side is facing up;
• Run your hand along the inside of the drum, pet hair will stick to the tape.

To quickly and easily clean the drum from hair, you will need about two meters of tape.

You'll need to change the palm wrap 2-3 times, depending on how dirty the drum is. After removing the hair, you can wipe the drum surface with a clean, damp cloth.

   

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