How much citric acid is needed to clean a 5 kg washing machine?

It is necessary to periodically wash the inside of the machine using special products. This will prevent the formation of scale on the parts of the washing machine. You can use commercial household chemicals, or use citric acid. Let’s figure out how much “lemon” is needed to clean a 5 kg automatic machine.

How much lemons should I sprinkle?

It will be equally unhelpful for the technique to not add enough lemon powder, or to pour too much of it. The dosage of the product must be strictly observed; it is determined based on the volume of the washing machine tank. To clean a 5 kg washing machine you will need approximately 100 grams of lemon.

It is important that the machine stops with water during the cycle. This will allow the heating element and other elements of the machine to “acidify” in the solution. Therefore, you need to select a suitable washing program. Let's figure out how to properly clean the washing machine using citric acid.

Cleaning instructions

Washing the machine will not take much time, effort and money. To clean a 5 kg washing machine, you should prepare only 2 bags of citric acid, 50 grams each, and a dry cloth. The algorithm of actions will be as follows:

• Make sure there is no laundry in the machine drum. If an item is rinsed in lemon juice solution, it will lose color;
• pour 80-100 grams of lemon powder into the detergent tray. It is possible to place the lemon directly into the drum, but in the first case the cuvette and pipe will also be cleaned:
• select a wash program that includes rinsing. Spin is not needed, so it is better to disable this function, when it is provided by the mode;

If cleaning is carried out regularly and the layer of scale is insignificant, it is enough for the washing water to warm up to 60°C; when the machine has not been washed for a long time, the temperature is set to 90°C.

• check that the hatch door is tightly closed and the detergent container is inserted all the way;
• start the cycle by pressing the "Start" key.

After the end of the program, open the hatch and fold back the door cuff. If there are pieces of scale there, take them out and wipe the surface of the drum and rubber band with a dry cloth. It is also important to unscrew the garbage filter and remove any remaining water from the drain system. Be sure to dry the powder receptacle.

Don't be alarmed if you see pieces of scale in the drum while washing. Everything is fine, which means that the lemon really coped with its task, removing plaque from the “insides” of the washer. It is recommended to clean the automatic machine with citric acid once every 4 months. If the water in your region is too hard, you need to rinse your equipment every 30 cycles. When the hardness of tap water is low, you can carry out the procedure once every six months.

Is lemon harmful?

It has long been proven that citric acid effectively cleans the internal elements of a washing machine and corrodes scale well. But how safe is this folk remedy for machine parts? In fact, if the dosage is observed, lemon does not cause any harm to the technique.

Of course, if you pour too much lemon powder into the washing machine and run a wash that involves heating the water to 90°C, you can expect unpleasant consequences. In this case, there is a risk that rubber gaskets and plastic parts will be damaged by the acid. The scale will come off right along with the rubber pieces.

Citric acid also works in cold water; heating is necessary to speed up the cleaning process, so it is optimal to run the wash cycle at a temperature of 60°C.

Many housewives who wash their washing machine in a timely manner distinguish lemon juice from other cleaning products and give preference to it. This is explained simply: citric acid is effective, safe for humans, hypoallergenic, unlike household chemicals, it is easy to rinse and costs a penny.

There is no need to clean the machine too often with citric acid. Two or three times a year recommended by specialists will be sufficient. The benefits of lemon juice lie precisely in its reasonable use.

Lemon substitutes

Are there any other products that fight scale as effectively as citric acid? Today on store shelves you can find many compounds with a similar spectrum of action, most of which can be easily combined under the general name “Antinakipin”. You need to use household chemicals to wash your washing machine, following the instructions provided on the product packaging.

It is imperative to follow the dosage and procedure for using the special anti-scale composition; if you “overdo it” with the product, you can cause enormous damage to the automatic machine, causing a breakdown.

Many people are wondering whether it is permissible to replace lemon powder with freshly squeezed lemon juice. You shouldn’t do this; you won’t be able to achieve the desired effect, because the acid concentration in the fruit is much lower. It is also not recommended to use vinegar instead of lemon juice, as it can damage individual parts of the machine.

Some users clean their washing machine in a non-standard way - using Coca-Cola.In this case, you need to pour 3 liters of drink into the drum and run a washing program with water heating to 60°C. There will be no trace of scale left.

To ensure that the layer of plaque on the internal parts of the washing machine is not critical, it is important to follow several rules when using the machine. Experts advise:

• Use water softeners if the water is too hard. Some powders for automatic machines already have water softening components added;
• do not exceed the dosage of detergents recommended by the manufacturer;
• Do not machine wash old items. Scraps of fabric will settle on parts of the machine, forming a coating;
• choose washing programs that provide water heating of no more than 75°C;
• Be sure to ventilate the machine after the end of the cycle. You should leave the hatch door open; it is better to pull out the powder receptacle and dry it. Wipe the surface of the drum with a dry cloth.

So, rinsing the inside of the machine with citric acid is very simple. It is necessary to pour the required amount of grams of lemon into the powder receptacle and start the program. The washer will do the rest on its own. Observe the frequency of cleaning the machine so that the scale layer does not become critical. It is also important to properly care for your “home assistant” to prevent the formation of plaque.

3 reader comments

1. 04/22/2021 at 08:39

   Zina:

   I have been using citric acid for many years and I don’t need anything else. I am pleased.

   Answer
2. 05/17/2021 at 14:14

   Alyona:

   Thanks for the advice

   Answer
3. 01/30/2023 at 21:37

   Le Havre:

   Limonka is an irreplaceable thing; I use it to wash radiators in a car heater or gas water heater. The only funny thing was the phrase “worth a penny” :)

   Answer