Washing Machine Maintenance Guide: Keep Your Machine Running for 8+ Years

Before getting into maintenance, it helps to know what you're saving yourself by keeping your washing machine in good shape. Australian washing machines last 7 to 8.5 years on average, with front loaders edging out top loaders slightly. Regular maintenance can push that well beyond eight years and help you avoid repair bills that range from $150 to $650 depending on the fault and your location.

Budget and Mid-Range Brands: Simpson, Westinghouse, Whirlpool

These brands are the workhorses of Australian laundries. Parts are generally cheaper and more readily available. Based on community reports, straightforward repairs (pump replacements, door latch fixes) often come in around $150 to $250 including labour. Simpson and Westinghouse top loaders are particularly simple machines, so many common fixes are DIY-friendly.

Mid-Range to Premium: LG, Samsung, Electrolux, Fisher & Paykel

These brands pack in more electronics and sensors, which means diagnostic fees matter more. Expect repair costs of $200 to $400 for issues like control board failures or drum bearing replacements. Appliance Professionals, a Fisher & Paykel specialist, offers fixed-price servicing for that brand. They provide a 12-month warranty on labour, with parts covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

Premium: Miele, Bosch, Asko, Smeg

Premium European machines cost more to repair, full stop. Miele-specific parts often need to be ordered from the manufacturer. Livelee Electrical & Miele Service charges a $199 callout fee (non-warranty work), with subsequent visits from $88 and additional time charged on top. A bearing replacement on a Miele or Bosch can easily exceed $400 to $600. That said, these machines are built to last 15 to 20 years with proper care, making maintenance even more worthwhile.

Print this out and stick it on the laundry wall. Seriously. Most washing machine failures that technicians see are caused by skipping these basic tasks.

This is the single most neglected maintenance task and the most common cause of drainage problems, bad smells, and pump burnout. On front loaders, the filter is behind a small panel at the bottom front of the machine. On many top loaders (particularly LG and Samsung models), it's accessed internally or via a small trap at the back.

How to Clean It

1. Place old towels on the floor and have a shallow dish or baking tray ready. There will be water behind that filter cover, sometimes up to a litre.

2. Open the access panel. Most clip off or unscrew with a coin.

3. If there's a small drain hose next to the filter, pull it out, uncap it, and drain water into the dish first. This saves a mess.

4. Twist the filter counter-clockwise and pull it out slowly.

5. Remove coins, hairpins, tissues, and built-up lint. Bobby pins and bra underwires are the most common culprits. A single coin lodged in the pump impeller can burn out the motor over time.

6. Rinse the filter under running water, inspect the cavity with a torch, then reinsert and tighten.

That black mould you see growing in the rubber door gasket of front loaders is not just unsightly. It transfers to your clothes, creates a persistent musty smell, and eventually degrades the rubber itself. A new door seal costs $80 to $250 for the part alone, plus $100 to $200 in labour to fit it.

Weekly Wipe-Down

After your last wash of the day, peel back the rubber folds of the door seal and wipe out any trapped water, hair, and residue with a dry microfibre cloth. This takes two minutes and prevents 90% of mould issues.

Monthly Deep Clean

Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle. Spray generously into the seal folds, let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub with an old toothbrush. For stubborn black mould, use a paste of bicarb soda and water instead, applied with the toothbrush. Avoid bleach-based sprays on a regular basis as they accelerate rubber degradation.

The Empty Hot Wash

Once a month, run your hottest cycle (90°C if available, or 60°C minimum) with the drum empty. Add two tablespoons of bicarb soda to the drum and one cup of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser. This clears soap scum and biofilm from the drum, hoses, and pump. Commercial washing machine cleaners like Dettol Washing Machine Cleaner or Scalex also work well.

Skip this step and you'll notice clothes coming out smelling worse than they went in. That's biofilm bacteria thriving in lukewarm, detergent-rich water, exactly the environment that cold-wash-only habits create.

Burst washing machine hoses are one of the most common causes of internal flooding in Australian homes. Insurance claims data consistently shows laundry flooding as a top category, and a failed inlet hose can dump hundreds of litres of water in minutes if nobody is home.

What to Check Every 12 Months

Pull your washing machine out from the wall (get someone to help, front loaders weigh 70 to 90 kg). Check both inlet hoses (hot and cold) and the outlet drain hose for:

- Cracking or perishing of the rubber, particularly near the connection points

- Bulging sections that indicate the inner lining is failing

- Rust or corrosion on the metal fittings

- Any sign of moisture or mineral deposits at the connection points, which means a slow leak

Replace Every Five Years

Regardless of appearance, rubber hoses should be replaced every five years. Braided stainless steel hoses last longer and resist bursting, costing around $25 to $40 for a pair from Bunnings or Reece. Fitting them is a 20-minute job if you have adjustable spanners and know where your water taps are behind the machine.

Your washing machine has small mesh filters where the inlet hoses connect to the back of the machine. These catch sediment and debris from your water supply. In areas with hard water or older plumbing (common across Adelaide, Perth, and parts of regional Australia), these filters clog faster.

A clogged inlet filter restricts water flow. Your machine takes longer to fill, wash cycles run overtime, and the water inlet valve works harder, shortening its life. Replacement valves cost $60 to $150 plus labour.

How to Clean Them

1. Turn off both water taps behind the machine.

2. Unscrew the inlet hoses from the back of the machine (have a towel ready for residual water).

3. You'll see a small mesh screen inside the machine's inlet port. Gently prise it out with needle-nose pliers.

4. Rinse under a tap and use the pliers or a toothpick to clear any mineral buildup from the mesh.

5. Reinsert, reconnect hoses, turn taps back on, and check for leaks.

This takes about 15 minutes and is one of those jobs people never think about until the machine starts throwing error codes related to low water pressure.

Overloading does more cumulative damage than any other user habit. It doesn't cause a dramatic failure. Instead, it slowly destroys bearings, suspension springs, and the drive motor by forcing them to work beyond their rated capacity every single wash.

What "Full" Actually Means

A "full" load means you can fit your hand flat between the top of the clothes and the top of the drum. If you're pressing clothes down to close the door, you've gone too far. For a standard 8 kg front loader, that's roughly a single doona cover, or two bath towels plus a regular load of shirts and underwear. Not both.

What Happens When You Consistently Overload

- Drum bearings wear out 2 to 3 years earlier than expected. A bearing replacement on a front loader is $250 to $500.

- The machine vibrates excessively, damaging the concrete counterweights and suspension system.

- Clothes don't wash properly because there's no room for water and detergent to circulate.

- The motor draws more current, increasing electricity costs and shortening motor life.

Using too much detergent is almost as damaging as overloading. Excess suds don't rinse out properly, leaving residue that feeds mould and bacteria inside the drum, hoses, and pump. Front loaders are especially sensitive because they use less water than top loaders.

Front Loaders: High Efficiency (HE) Detergent Only

Always use detergent labelled "HE" or "suitable for front loaders." Standard detergent creates too many suds in front loaders, which can damage the control board if foam reaches the electronics. Use the amount recommended on the packaging for your load size, then reduce by a third. Detergent companies are in the business of selling detergent, and their "recommended" doses are generous.

Top Loaders

Modern top loaders (particularly Fisher & Paykel SmartDrive and LG models) also use less water than older machines. If you've upgraded from a 15-year-old top loader, halve the detergent you were using before.

Liquid detergent generally causes less buildup than powder, but powder is better at handling grease and heavy soiling. Alternate between the two if you wash varied loads.

Some jobs are firmly in professional territory. Attempting them yourself risks personal injury, further damage to the machine, or voiding any remaining warranty.

Call a Technician For:

- Drum bearing replacement (requires near-complete disassembly of the machine)

- Control board faults or persistent error codes after a restart

- Water leaks from underneath the machine (could be tub seal, pump, or internal hose)

- Burning smell or tripped circuit breaker during operation

- Excessive vibration that persists after levelling the machine and checking the load

What to Expect on Cost

Callout fees across Australia typically range from $60 to $199 depending on the repairer and your location. Aj & T Appliances Repair charges callout fees around $60 to $80. At the higher end, Livelee Electrical & Miele Service charges $199 for the initial visit on non-warranty work. Total repair costs for common faults sit between $150 and $400, with complex jobs on premium brands reaching $650 or more.

Ark Appliance Repairs offers capped labour costs at one hour, a 90-day service guarantee, and a 12-month part warranty. They also provide a 10% discount for pensioners, seniors, and returning customers, and can repair multiple appliances under one service fee. Alpha Appliance Repairs provides a 12-month parts warranty and a 100% guarantee on workmanship.

Highly Rated Repairers Across Australia

There are over 230 washing machine repair businesses operating nationally, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Some of the highest-rated include Shiraz Washing Machine Repairs (4.9 stars, 909 reviews), Sydney Appliance Service (4.8 stars, 1,057 reviews), and Fallon Solutions (4.6 stars, 7,764 reviews). Around 72% of repairers offer emergency or same-day service, which is reassuring when your machine breaks down mid-cycle with a drum full of water.