5
WASHER MAINTENANCE AND
CARE
Water Inlet Hoses
Replace inlet hoses after 5 years of use to reduce the risk of hose
failure. Periodically inspect and replace inlet hoses if bulges,
kinks, cuts, wear, or leaks are found.
When replacing your inlet hoses:
�Mark the date of replacement on the label with a permanent
marker.
�Check that the old washers are not stuck on the washer inlet
valves.
�Use new washers in the new inlet hoses to ensure a proper
seal.
NOTE: This washer may not include inlet hoses. See the
Installation Instructions for more information.
Washer Care
Recommendations to help keep your washer
clean and performing at its best
1. Always use High Efficiency (HE) detergents and follow the HE
detergent manufacturer’s instructions regarding the amount of
HE detergent to use. Never use more than the recommended
amount because that may increase the rate at which
detergent and soil residue accumulate inside your washer,
which in turn may result in undesirable odor.
2. Use warm and hot wash water settings sometimes (not
exclusively cold water washes), because they do a better job
of controlling the rate at which soils and detergent
accumulate.
3. Always leave the washer lid open between uses to help dry
out the washer and prevent the buildup of odor-causing
residue.
Cleaning your top-loading washer
Read these instructions completely before beginning the routine
cleaning processes recommended below. This Washer
Maintenance Procedure should be performed, at a minimum,
once per month or every 30 wash cycles, whichever occurs
sooner, to control the rate at which soils and detergent may
otherwise accumulate in your washer.
Cleaning the inside of the washer
To keep your washer odor-free, follow the usage instructions
provided above and use this recommended monthly cleaning
procedure:
Recommended cycle for cleaning the asher
Some models have a “Clean Washer” cycle that uses higher water
volumes in combination with affresh®Washer Cleaner or liquid
chlorine bleach to clean the inside of the washer.
If your model does not have a “Clean Washer” cycle, refer to the
online Cycle Guide for the optimal cycle for cleaning the inside of
the washer. Use this cycle with affresh®Washer Cleaner or liquid
chlorine bleach as described below.
Description of Clean Washer with affresh®® cycle
operation:
1. This cycle will fill to a washer level high than in normal wash
cycles to provide rinsing than in normal wash cycles to provide
rinsing at a level above the water line for normal wash.
2. During this cycle, there will be some agitation and spinning to
increase the removal of soils.
After this cycle is complete, leave the lid open to allow for better
ventilation and drying of the washer interior.
Begin procedure
1. Affresh®®†washer cleaner cycle procedure (recommended
for best performance):
a. Open the washer lid and remove any clothing or items.
b. Place an affresh®Washer Cleaner tablet in the bottom of
the washer basket.
c. Do not place an affresh®Washer Cleaner tablet in the
detergent dispenser.
d. Do not add any detergent or other chemical to the washer
when following this procedure.
e. Close the washer lid.
f. Select the cycle recommended for cleaning the inside of
the washer.
g. Press the START button to start the cycle.
NOTE: For best results, do not interrupt cycle. If cycle must be
interrupted, press POWER/CANCEL. (For models with no
Power/Cancel button, press and hold START/PAUSE for three
seconds.) After the cycle has stopped, run a Rinse & Spin
cycle to rinse cleaner from washer.
2. Chlorine bleach procedure (alternative):
a. Open the washer lid and remove any clothing or items.
b. Add 1 cup (236 mL) of liquid chlorine bleach to the bleach
compartment.
NOTE: Use of more liquid chlorine bleach than is
recommended above could cause washer damage over
time.
c. Close the washer lid.
d. Do not add any detergent or other chemical to the washer
when following this procedure.
e. Select the cycle recommended for cleaning the inside of
the washer.
f. Press the START button to start the cycle.
NOTE: For best results, do not interrupt cycle. If cycle must be
interrupted, press POWER/CANCEL. (For models with no
Power/Cancel button, press and hold START/PAUSE for three
seconds.) After the cycle has stopped, run a Rinse & Spin
cycle to rinse cleaner from washer.
Cleaning the dispensers
After a period of using your washer, you may find some residue
buildup in the washer’s dispensers.
IMPORTANT: Dispensers are not dishwasher-safe.
For non-removable dispensers:
To remove residue from the dispensers, wipe them with an
affresh®Machine Cleaning Wipe or a damp cloth and towel dry.
Do not attempt to remove the dispensers or trim for cleaning. The
dispensers and trim are not removable.
For removable dispensers:
If your model has a dispenser drawer, press tab(s) to remove the
drawer and clean it with an affresh®Machine Cleaning Wipe or a
damp cloth and towel dry before or after you run the Clean
Washer cycle. Use an all-purpose surface cleaner, if needed.
Cleaning the outside of the washer
IMPORTANT: To avoid damaging the washer’s finish, do not use
abrasive products.
Use an affresh®Machine Cleaning Wipe, a soft, damp cloth, or
sponge to wipe away any spills. Use an affresh®Machine
Cleaning Wipe or only mild soaps or cleaners when cleaning
external washer surfaces.
†affresh®is a registered trademark of Whirlpool, U.S.A.