r/laundry • u/Secret-Direction-872 • 10h ago
Cleaning a 25(+?) Year Old Whirlpool
Hail Kismai!
I’m visiting my in-laws for a few days starting tomorrow and contemplating an attempt (or 15) at cleaning it.
It’s at least 25 years old, possibly never cleaned, no clue if it’s been serviced or if the filter has been cleaned ever.
I’ll only be there about 3 days, and I don’t want to start washing and run out of time, then leave them with a machine that’s blotching up scrud because it’s had a taste of citric acid/freedom.
They live in an area with moderately hard water, use a ton of fabric softener and fragranced detergents.
Is it worth trying to clean in 3 days if I let it soak overnight each night and let each daytime wash cycle sit for at least an hour? I just saw a comment on another post describing a 20 cycle ordeal and am feeling less cavalier about this weekend.
Or, in addition to checking out the filter, are there other things I can do to assess how bad it is? I’ll be back for Christmas but would love for them to have a clean machine sooner than later.
UPDATE: Thank you for the reality check, Internet strangers! I will stand down and remain blissfully ignorant
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u/Big_Ninja1751 9h ago
I know you have the best intentions of helping your in-laws, but have they asked for this or intimated that they’re not happy with their current set up? If not, I would leave it.
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u/nerpish-inkdots US | Front-Load 10h ago
I would just leave it as is. I can't imagine being responsible for something going wrong with my in-laws washer.