A cleaning expert on Sunday advised people to add washing machines to their year-end cleaning checklist.
It is a tradition for Taiwanese to clean their house ahead of the Lunar New Year, with restrooms and the kitchen often taking priority.
However, Chuang Ya-wen (莊雅雯), research and development manager of a cleaning products manufacturer, reminded people not to forget washing machines.
Photo copied by Chen Hsin-yu, Taipei Times
Dirt and filth accumulates on the exterior wall of the laundry tray after long periods of use, she said, adding that they should be cleaned once a month using sodium percarbonate.
To clean a washing machine, put in two packs of sodium percarbonate, choose the highest water level, and start the machine, Chuang said.
Let it run for five to 10 minutes to dissolve the sodium percarbonate, and then turn off the power to let the laundry tray soak in the solution for one to two hours — or two to three hours if it is being washed for the first time, she said.
After the washing machine drains, turn it on and choose the highest water level to wash the tray again with just water, preferably warm, Chuang said.
She advised cleaning restrooms or the kitchen while waiting for the washing machine to finish soaking.
Foamy citric acid is recommended for removing scale in restrooms, Chuang said.
Spray citric acid on mirrors, sinks, faucets, toilets and bathtubs, use a sponge to spread it on the surface and then let it stand for a while before washing it away, she said.
However, materials such as marble or aluminum can be eroded by citric acid and should be cleaned using neutral detergent, Chuang said, adding that people are advised to test citric acid first if in doubt.
When washing the toilet, remember to brush the interior grooves as well as the scale that has accumulated at water level, she said.
Many elderly people are used to washing toilets with strong acid or hydrochloric acid, but these are harmful not only to the environment, but also to the coating of toilets, making filth and scale more easily accumulate, Chuang said.
Kitchen appliances such as microwaves, ovens and air fryers could be stained by food and cannot be directly washed using water, she said.
Neutral enzymatic foamy cleansers, such as those containing amylase or lipase, are recommended for cleaning such appliances, she said.
Spray the enzyme on the interior surface and wipe it repeatedly to remove greasy dirt and stains, Chuang said, adding that these appliances should also be cleaned once a month.
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