Overuse. Washing machines are so quick and simple to use that it can become easy to over-rely on them. And with separate washes recommended for whites, colors, delicates, sportswear and bedding (the list goes on), before you know it, you can end up running your washing machine from morning to night.
When you overload your washing machine, you're not just risking a bad wash (we're talking suds everywhere and stiff, itchy clothes) but potentially damaging the machine itself! Strain on the Motor: When the drum is overloaded, the motor is forced to work harder, increasing the risk of overheating or early failure.
We use washing machines daily as essential appliances for our daily lives. It is okay to use a washing machine 10-12 times a day. However, if you want to use it again, you must let it rest for at least 40-60 minutes before turning it on again, as, during its run-time, it tends to generate a lot of heat.
Most household washing machines are designed to handle multiple loads of laundry per day, as they are built to withstand regular use. However, it's important to note that excessive use or misuse can lead to wear and tear and potentially reduce the lifespan of the machine.
Overloading the machine often causes the extra weight to unbalance the machine in the spin cycles. This will usually cause the machine to stop, but could damage the machine before it stops. If you catch the machine when it is unbalanced, you may be able to remove some of the heavier items and re start it.
Perfect is if you can fit nothing else in the drum, just your hand and your wash. If you can't get your hand into the drum, then it's overloaded. That isn't the only way of overloading, though. Washing machine drums also have a weight limit, so be careful not to overdo that.
If you overload the drum, there will be less water available for the detergent to dissolve in as the clothes will soak this up. We therefore recommend that you leave a hands width gap at the top of the washing machine drum when loading. This roughly equates to filling 3/4 of the drum.
Generally if your machine is half full, you have a medium load. A large load fills it up until three-quarters full, and anything above that is considered extra large.
Front vs.
There's a common myth that the lifespan of a front load washer is longer-lasting than its top-load counterparts. However, when comparing front load vs top load washers, both styles average around 10 years of use and up to 15 years of service when well-cared for.
Too many towels washed at once won't get clean, but too few means greater agitation for quicker wear and tear. Most front-loading washing machines can fit seven standard-size bath towels; top-loading washers can fit around nine or ten.
A Heavy Duty wash cycle, which helps handle heavily soiled items, can take anywhere from 1 to just over 2 hours. In addition to longer cycle times, the Heavy Duty setting works by using hot or warm water and high spin speeds to clean heavily soiled items.
Generally, it is much cheaper to run a washing machine at night. During the night, there is less electricity being demanded from the grid. This means that energy-consuming appliances like washing machines are cheaper to use overnight. However, we would not recommend leaving your washing machine unattended overnight.
You can't just pack the washing machine to the top and expect clean clothes after the cycle. Additionally, while just running full loads of laundry saves energy, overloading the washing machine is bad for both the clothes and the machine.
Pay special attention to noises that increase over time, as they can indicate a part that is getting ready to fail completely. Banging sounds may indicate a loose drum or a bad motor, while scraping or grinding can mean a part has come loose and is rubbing against other moving parts inside the machine.
When the wash basket is filled too high due to overloading, the washing machine can shake during the cycle. Running a single large, bulky item or one that is highly absorbent through a cycle can also throw the washer off balance and cause shaking.
A typical washing machine motor is built to last the lifespan of the whole unit. However, there are factors that can speed up the time it takes for the motor to burn out, which will leave you needing a replacement.
Factors to Consider
If you spent $650 on your washer seven years ago and you're doing seven loads per week (a lot of wear and tear), a new washer purchase makes sense. But if the machine is 3 years old and you spent $1,000 for it, a repair may be the better financial choice.
Whirlpool and LG were the two washing machine brands recommended by Puls who said they had the fewest problems and were the cheapest to repair, on average. Maytag came in at third.
To give you an idea of how much a typical load weighs, the following items all together weigh about 10 pounds: Seven pairs/sets of underwear. Seven pairs of socks. Five short-sleeve T-shirts.
By overloading the washer, your clothing will not come out as clean. Overloading limits the movement of the clothes, and movement is what “shakes” the dirt and grime from clothing. In addition, an overloaded wash won't disperse the detergent properly.
Another question that commonly gets asked is: “can you break a washing machine by overloading it?” Unfortunately, the answer is “yes”. And this can mean needing to have your washing machine repaired or in the worst case scenario, having it replaced altogether. All this can be costly but is also easily avoidable.
Generally speaking, while the number of clothing items in a load will vary, a medium or regular-sized load of dirty clothes weighs around 6 pounds. Large loads of laundry weigh about 11 pounds and extra-large loads about 21 pounds.
Overloading the drum will also put your machine under a lot of strain. Each machine can spin a particular weight of clothes, so anything heavier than that can damage the bearings. That will shorten your machine's lifespan. Sometimes excess clothes can also get lodged between the door seal and the inner drum.
Longer Lifespan
As we mentioned, more expensive washing machines from leading brands like LG, tend to last much longer. Not only do they have better materials, but the manufacturing process is also often of a higher standard. These add together to create washing machines that are built to last.