Cleaning the washing machine: 5 ingenious home remedies. With instructions!

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Home remedies and instructions for proper cleaning and descaling of the washing machine

Cleaning the washing machine with home remedies and tips

At the latest, when the laundry does not get clean anymore or the washing machine stinks, it is time for a proper cleaning. Read here how to clean and maintain your washing machine in no time with simple home remedies.

Cleaning the washing machine – in 5 easy steps

1. Wipe the washing machine from the outside with a damp cloth from. If necessary, you can use some mild detergent. How to remove dust, detergent residues and other dirt.

2. Clean the lint filter. You will need a shallow container, to catch water, and a rag and a kitchen towel. ÖOpen the door, which is usually located at the bottom right or left of the front of the washing machine. Drain the water from the drain hose and then remove the lint filter. Clean the lint filter under lukewarm running water. Wipe the insertion channel with a kitchen towel.

In this video you can see how to clean the lint filter:

3. Cleaning rubber sealswater often collects, especially on the lower rubber seals of the flap, which can be responsible for odors. Soak up the water with a cloth and then wipe all the seals with a mixture of water and citric acid. Dissolve about 30 grams of citric acid in 1 liter of water.

4. Take the detergent compartment clean out and remove coarse soiling first with a soft cloth or sponge under running water. Then put it in a bucket or in the sink and put half a liter of vinegar or vinegar essence on it. Now add as much water as you need to cover the drawer. Leave the cleaning agent to work for a few minutes before rinsing the detergent drawer with clean water and putting it back in place.

5. Clean the drum the washing machine. The easiest way to do this is to wash the machine in idle mode (without laundry) at the hottest temperature (90 degrees is best). If you want to clean the washing machine properly, use one of the home remedies that we present to you below.

Clean the washing machine with these 5 home remedies

Baking sodasodium bicarbonate is a true all-rounder in the household – and this also applies to cleaning the washing machine. Add 50 grams of sodium bicarbonate to the detergent compartment and run the machine at 60 degrees or more.

Citric acidthe advantage of citric acid is the pleasant scent that it gives to the washing machine. Put about 8 tablespoons of citric acid in the empty drum and start the machine idling at the highest temperature. At the same time the household remedy will decalcify your washing machine. (buy citric acid here on amazon [ADVERTISEMENT])

Dishwashing tabs: what is good for cutlery and dishes is also good for the washing machine. Put a dishwashing tab in the empty washing machine drum and start a wash cycle at a minimum of 60 degrees. Also the tab is very suitable for descaling the washing machine.

Baking soda: no sodium bicarbonate at hand? don’t worry, even baking soda will clean your washing machine. Mix 30 grams of baking soda (2 sachets) with a little water to make a paste. Put the paste in the detergent dispenser and start the cycle at high temperature.

Soda: just like soda, soda is excellent for cleaning. washing soda, which is used to clean clothes, you can buy in the drugstore or online (ADVERTISEMENT). Add 1-2 tablespoons of soda to the detergent during the next wash cycle for a quick clean in between. Alternatively, pour about 50 grams of the household detergent into the detergent drawer and let the machine run empty at maximum temperature.

Cleaning the washing machine with vinegar – is it possible??

Vinegar is actually ideal if you want to decalcify your washing machine. However, the acid in the vinegar can attack the rubber seals and hoses of the washing machine in the long term, causing damage. In addition, vinegar usually spreads an unpleasant odor. Clean only the detergent compartment with vinegar. This is where the risk of damage is lowest.

How often should you clean the washing machine?

it is best to clean your washing machine thoroughly every 4 to 8 weeks, so that stubborn deposits and calcification don’t stand a chance in the first place. At the latest, if the washing machine stinks or the laundry smells unpleasant after washing, you should clean your washing machine.

Preventing the washing machine from stinking: 4 simple tips

following these tips will reduce the risk of mold, germs and deposits, and you won’t have to clean your washing machine so often.

Always leave the washing machine door and detergent compartment open a little so that any remaining water can evaporate.
Use the right amount of detergent and fabric softener to avoid buildup. Most of the time we use too much detergent.
Wash regularly at high temperatures (at least 60°C). Towels, bed linen and underwear made of cotton, as well as cleaning cloths and dish towels, can usually be washed at high temperatures without hesitation – and should be, in order to kill bacteria.
Regularly add soda to the detergent. Soda ash cleans laundry and washing machine, and is harmless to the environment. Add 1-2 tablespoons of the household remedy to the detergent now and then.

This is why you need to clean your washing machine

the task of the washing machine is to clean clothes and other textiles. Isn’t the washing machine itself always clean anyway?? Unfortunately not! And for these reasons:

Low washing temperaturesWashing at 20 to 40°C saves energy, but does not always kill all germs completely. They then remain in the washing machine and can provide for stink.

Water residuesWith each wash, a little water remains in the detergent compartment, on the seals and in the hoses. Unfortunately, this provides an optimal breeding ground for bacteria and mold.

Deposits: detergent residues, hair and lint remain not only in the lint filter, but also in the drum and the hoses. Mold and foul odors can also develop here.

When it comes to automated driving, germany is divided into two major camps. Some are looking forward to their first nap in a self-driving company car. The others distrust the machines and don’t want to let go of the steering wheel. And then there is the third group. This consists of the people who are soberly preparing for the future with autonomous cars.

They are currently asking themselves some pretty fundamental questions: how do we actually want to sit in cars that drive without our help?? How much attention will people still have to pay?? And: will accidents have a different effect on us if we don’t even see them coming because we don’t pay attention to traffic at all??

Kristian seidel belongs to this third group of people – and is working to answer such questions. The engineer researches at the institute for motor vehicles, in short ika, RWTH aachen with many colleagues on how carmakers can continue to produce safe vehicles in the future. His project, funded by the EU, is called future occupant safety for crashes in cars or simply OSCCAR. The goal is to improve occupant safety in accidents involving automated vehicles.

autonomous cars will have other accidents

One thing can already be predicted with a high degree of certainty: when automated driving becomes established on our roads, it will not only change the way we drive, but also the way accidents happen. Sounds like a pretty dry research subject, but it’s essential if robot cars are to become a reality.

An example of "new" accidents: when the self-driving car reacts jerkily and even the driver is completely surprised by the movement, high forces can be at work. This is also referred to as pre-crash kinematics, that is at work when the vehicle reacts to an imminent danger. At the moment, this reaction still comes from the driver himself. In doubt, he knows shortly before a crash or full braking what could await him a few milliseconds later and how his body posture and the effect of conventional restraint systems might be affected. What will change when he puts the car in control?.

The research group to which Kristian Seidel belongs does not think in terms of previous structures. "crash dummies can simulate different bodies, but they don’t cover the full spectrum of human physiology," he tells WIRED. That’s why the group relies on a mixture of physical simulation with dummy crashes and virtual crash tests. Thereby come human body models to be used, i.e. digital models of the human being.

The software should achieve an even higher bio-fidelity than tests with plastic dummies. In other words, it should calculate as accurately and realistically as possible how different body types react to the potential loads. Computers should predict which bone fractures and organ damage are to be expected in an accident and how much the occupants will be shaken by the pre-crash kinematics. Changes in demographics are also taken into account. Germany is getting older – and old bones break more easily.

By wolfgang kerler

The autonomy of cars should not yet be overestimated

Human drivers still have to keep a constant eye on the road, because the autonomy level of cars is quite low. "today’s vehicles offer a maximum of level 2, requiring the driver to monitor the system continuously," explains seidel. Level 2 corresponds, for example, to the parking assistant, which works independently up to a certain point – but requires constant supervision and the cooperation of the driver.

The lane assistant of many vehicles also belongs to level 2. This takes the strain off people, especially on long highway journeys. But it doesn’t take away the driving. "Unfortunately, some of the marketing of the systems raises false expectations in this regard," adds the engineer. Drivers would be taking a high risk if they overestimated the autonomy of the systems. "but the goal is level 4 and 5," says seidel. Until carmakers get there, they still have to roll out level 3 nationwide.

In stage 3, the vehicle can be left to run for longer periods of time. It will then change lanes on its own, for example. The driver would only be called upon when decisions are required that go beyond such simple maneuvers on highways. Only at level 4 would the point be reached at which the driver can turn to face his passengers on the often longed-for swivel chair while driving – and start a card game. There is still a long way to go. Even the most optimistic scientific forecasts assume that level 3 coverage of half of all road traffic will not be achieved for at least 30 years. Nevertheless, we should start thinking about what happens if you get hit by a truck while playing a round of poker.

Will we get "seasick" on the highway in the future??

But OSCCAR is not only about potentially bloody crashes, but also about researching our possible user behavior with autonomous cars. The project has only been running for a few months, but the first phase of the study has already been completed. But the results have not yet been published. kristian seidel doesn’t want to venture too far out of the woods – but nevertheless: "getting used to the system could be an important aspect."getting used to cars that steer themselves. Many test subjects still prefer a sitting position facing in the direction of travel, because they have motion sickness feared. In simpler terms: they were afraid of getting seasick. In addition, a leftward gaze was perceived as more pleasant than a rightward gaze. For the project group, however, this could become relative once they get used to the idea.

"the left side is probably more popular because that’s where the traffic is," seidel suspects. But once the sideways sitting position has become the norm, it’s no longer important. "have you ever paid attention to what’s happening in oncoming traffic on a train?? No. They know it’s not necessary to keep an eye on everything outside and concentrate on their laptop or their book."

OSCCAR is about basic knowledge on the one hand, but at the same time it is about real applications. The Aachen-based company already has its own crash facility, where it uses physical dummies in addition to simulations. Research into the safety of automated vehicles is still in its infancy. We all have to be patient, says seidel. "we are still in the learning phase. The systems are now going to driving school, which also takes a while for humans." many scientists are currently working on this topic. Among other things, this is how a database of possible driving and accident situations is built up. A mammoth task: after all, it should include all conceivable critical situations in traffic, so that all possible consequences for the vehicle occupants can also be calculated on this basis.

Automakers support the project

According to seidel, the ultimate goal must be for the capabilities of automated vehicles to be at least equal to those of an average human driver. The three-year OSCCAR project is not expected to produce a market-ready solution in the end. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that the results could have an influence on the architecture of future cars. Because various carmakers are on board with the project. Whether poker will be played when driving in 30 years is still an open question. But it seems quite possible. We should therefore be prepared for.

Operating systems such as windows 10 or mac OS have the task of automatically starting various programs and functions during the boot process. In microsoft systems, this automated process is called "autostart". A large proportion of the applications that are launched during the car startup process are system-related. Your automated startup is specified by microsoft. Other autostart programs can be defined by the user.

For example, if you often work with the video communication software zoom or the spreadsheet microsoft excel, you have the option to add the program to the autostart folder. Any software application in the autostart folder is subsequently started in the background and is ready for use more quickly.

Two different autostart folders and their functions

In windows 10 two autostart folders are integrated, which differ in their purpose and functions. The user-specific autostart folder is located in the personal user folder and contains the programs that the user has selected for autostart.

In addition, windows contains a parent autostart folder that is generally executed when windows is started and when all users log in. It is managed by the administrator. For users, the user-defined autostart folder is more important because it can be used to start specific programs.

where to find the autostart folder in windows 10

With the introduction of windows 8.1 microsoft has changed the findability of the autostart folder. In windows 7 or windows 8, users had direct access to the autostart folder. In windows 7, for example, the autostart folder could be accessed via the command:

start> all programs> autostart

Open. This entry is missing in windows 10, because the autostart folder is currently located in the personal user files. The exact paths hidden deep in the directory tree are:

For the custom autostart folder:

For the parent autostart folder:

Video tutorial – windows 10: how to open the autostar folder

Open autostart folder via shell command

If you don’t want to search the path of the autostart folder manually, you have the alternative in windows 10 to call both autostart folders via the shell command.

You can open the custom autostart folder with a shell command as follows:

Press the key combination windows + R. The dialog "run" opens."enter "shell:startup" in the following sequence in the "open line.

Your input will open a window with the subfolder:

This is the autostart folder of the currently logged in user.

open the autostart folder as administrator

Info: if you want to open the parent autostart folder as administrator, use the following shell command in the execute dialog: "shell:common startup".

Delete or add an entry in the autostart folder

if you want to delete an entry in one of the autostart folders, click on it with the right mouse button and select "delete" in the context menu.

Deleting the autostart folder

How to add programs to the autostart folder

Besides deleting autostart entries, you also have the option to add programs to the windows 10 autostart dialog. many modern programs offer you the option to initialize the automatic start at boot time on startup or in the program settings. Add all other programs to the custom autostart folder as follows:

Search for the desired program using the windows search function.

select the entry "open file location" in the search function.

right click on the program you want to move to the autostart folder and choose "create shortcut." in the sequence a shortcut is created on the desktop, which you can easily drag&drop drop into the autostart folder can be moved.

Important: if windows has already created a shortcut during the installation of the program, you can move it to the autostart folder. In all other cases, the startup executable file, which you can identify by the file extension *.recognize exe, moved to the autostart folder.

Expert Tip: if you need more information about a program and its location in the autostart folder, right-click on the program in the autostart folder and select Properties from the context menu. In the "details" tab you will also find information about the program name and the date of installation.

Details about properties of the autostart folder

Why you should check the autostart folder regularly

one of the main reasons why windows starts slower or works more sluggishly in general is too many running programs. for this reason, the autostart programs should be checked regularly to see if their automatic start is useful and purposeful. deleting programs from the autostart folder that are no longer needed can speed up windows startup and save system resources.

deleting autostart configurations via the task manager – this is how it works

In the autostart folder mainly the program shortcuts are displayed. In the task manager, which you can open using the familiar key combination CTRL + ALT + DEL, you will find not only the autostart programs, but also other functions and system programs that are automatically opened during the boot process.

Programs in the task manager

The entries in the task manager can give another clue to windows startup problems. Programs and functions can be easily activated or deactivated.

Where is the autostart folder in windows 10??

Press the key combination windows+ R and type "shell:startup" in the open line a.

A windows explorer window with the path "appdata\roaming\microsoft\windows\ startmenu\programs\autostart" is opened. It is the autostart folder of the currently logged in user.

How to find the windows 7 autostart folder?

You can find the autostart folder in windows 7 via the start menu with the command: "start>" all programs> autostart."

Do the windows commands "autorun" and "autostart" mean the same thing??

No, with autostart, programs or functions are automatically started during the boot process of windows 10. With the "autorun" command, on the other hand, certain actions are carried out automatically. For example, a CD-ROM in the DVD drive is started by the command "autorun" independently.