Maintaining a clothes washer

Detergent residue builds up in your washer and prevents it from doing its best. At the start of each month run your machine without laundry and a cup of distilled vinegar to clean out the residue.

Safety tip about washing machine hoses

Leaving a washing machine’s valves open all the time greatly increases the chance of catastrophic hose burst. Any hose that is cracked, blistered, soft, or has corroded fittings needs to be replaced. I prefer the hoses that have a braided stainless steel jacket. You will pay more for this hose but it is much stronger and will last longer. The best preventive measure however is to develop the habit of always closing the valves when the washer is not in use.