Limescale build up in washing machine

bm_999 · 8 Oct 2022 at 14:44

So people for some reason (well not really we have hard water) the washing machine is now starting to get slowly clogged with hard chunks of limescale and having to clean on a more regular basis. What does everyone else use to make sure theres doesnt get these issues.
Calgon is probably the main 1 but any others to consider?

thanks

benjii · 8 Oct 2022 at 14:46

Have you cleaned the inlet filters at all?

Brizzles · 8 Oct 2022 at 14:55

Freakbro · 8 Oct 2022 at 14:57

White vinegar

chaparral · 8 Oct 2022 at 14:58

bm_999 said:
What does everyone else use to make sure theres doesnt get these issues.

The start of every month i run the tub clean cycle and use one of these cleaners in are washing machine

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dettol-Washing-Machine-Cleaner-Multipack/dp/B07QZXJH6B/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2IC4XN03K2SH3&keywords=washing+machine+cleaner&qid=1665237431&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0LjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMy43MSIsInFzcCI6IjMuNjcifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=washig+machine+cleaner%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNU0yRENUNlJOMVYwJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDg1NjYzM0MwTzFSVEJUSVY4RSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDI0NTMwM09UOUxVNjY2RUVONSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

And on top of that about once every 3 months i used one of these descalers

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oust-Dishwasher-Washing-Machine-Descaler/dp/B016IPFLL8/ref=sr_1_20?crid=1R9VWEMNHPW0N&keywords=washing+machine+descaler&qid=1665237698&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0LjY2IiwicXNhIjoiNC40NCIsInFzcCI6IjQuNDYifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=washing+machine+descaler%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-20

Finglonga · 8 Oct 2022 at 14:59

I have a Reverse Osmosis Reverse Osmosis Reverse Osmosisreverse Osmosis water softener as we have really hard water as well it hakes a huge difference and worth the outlay of the softener itself plus the block salt every few weeks.

I know it is working as I have checked the washing machine heating element and it is like new still, it used to be green with limescale.

Gary* · 8 Oct 2022 at 15:04

Finglonga said:
I have a Reverse Osmosis Reverse Osmosis Reverse Osmosisreverse Osmosis water softener as we have really hard water as well it hakes a huge difference and worth the outlay of the softener itself plus the block salt every few weeks.

I know it is working as I have checked the washing machine heating element and it is like new still, it used to be green with limescale.

Could you repeat that again please, I didn't catch it the first few times :cry:

Efour · 8 Oct 2022 at 15:05

Murphy · 8 Oct 2022 at 15:25

You shouldn't really be getting much scale build-up in a washing machine because there shouldn't be many places where the water evaporates.

Is it a cold fill or hot & cold fill, if it's cold fill you should only really build up on the heating element.

Also because limescale only really builds up when water evaporates keep the door closed when not using it.

radderfire · 8 Oct 2022 at 15:30

I am pretty sure Calgon gave me an allergic reaction to my clothes when I added a tablet to the wash, so if you're going to use it, do a maintenance wash without clothes.

Mr.Cookie · 9 Oct 2022 at 00:03

Boil wash with white vinegar, leave soap draw open and when machine starts to fill poor a full bottle into the detergent section. If you put vinegar in first it will just drain away as drain pump runs first on wet goods.

darael · 9 Oct 2022 at 16:11

500g of citric acid on a boil wash if it's severely built up, then do a boil wash with 250g of citric acid every month. In the meantime, put a tablespoon of soda crystals in each wash - this acts as a water softener, so you will probably find that'll you need to use less detergent.

arknor · 9 Oct 2022 at 16:26

I live in a hard water area and never get limescale build up in the washing machine, softener stops it?

BennyC · 9 Oct 2022 at 20:11

Limescale tablets with each wash, or a half on smaller loads/shorter washes.

SpellowHouse · 9 Oct 2022 at 20:16

Murphy said:
You shouldn't really be getting much scale build-up in a washing machine because there shouldn't be many places where the water evaporates.

Is it a cold fill or hot & cold fill, if it's cold fill you should only really build up on the heating element.

Also because limescale only really builds up when water evaporates keep the door closed when not using it.

The heating element will scale up. It's those darn little bubbles that form when you heat water that causes all the problems!!

Murphy · 9 Oct 2022 at 22:29

True but that should really be clogging anything up or need cleaning, a heating element covered in limescale doesn't stop working.

panthro · 10 Oct 2022 at 15:44

Finglonga said:
I have a Reverse Osmosis Reverse Osmosis Reverse Osmosisreverse Osmosis water softener as we have really hard water as well it hakes a huge difference and worth the outlay of the softener itself plus the block salt every few weeks.

I know it is working as I have checked the washing machine heating element and it is like new still, it used to be green with limescale.

You have an RO filter AND a water softener? That seems like total overkill.

Mr.Cookie · 11 Oct 2022 at 08:41

Murphy said:
True but that should really be clogging anything up or need cleaning, a heating element covered in limescale doesn't stop working.

It does fail quicker though, I believe all wash heaters are now thermal fused both sides (all our groups are) and I see far more fail in hard water areas.

Murphy · 11 Oct 2022 at 09:44

Yea, i guess it comes down to the cost of replacing the element sooner than normal vs the cost of descaling.

413x · 11 Oct 2022 at 09:45

As others have said. Can't you just do a wash with acid? That's all these named brands are.