Washing machines are the kind of appliance that we tend to think of as self-cleaning. They’re the type of appliance that you buy and use, and that pretty much takes care of itself until it needs replacing, right?

Well, not exactly. Although you might think that washing machines self-clean, there are actually a few things you should be doing regularly to keep your appliance in good condition.

One thing that can cause damage, according to a recent article for Yahoo, is limescale. Speaking to the news provider, Roxanna Pelka, from Helpling.com, commented: “Limescale in particular is deposited inside the machine and on heating rods.”

This can prevent it from working properly, as well as give bacteria a place to grow. That, in turn, can lead to another common issue with washing machines – a build up of mould.

To help prevent limescale build up, you could install water softeners in Maidenhead as these will make the hard water that is supplied in this area much gentler on your appliances.

You should also make sure that you’re giving your washing machine a thorough clean on a regular basis.

Ms Pelka also advised using different wash temperatures when you’re running cycles. Rather than washing everything at 30 degrees, it’s best to do things like towels on a 60-degree wash, as the hot water will kill any bacteria that’s growing in your machine’s pipes.

If you’ve got some DIY projects planned for the new year and are going to be tackling your kitchen plumbing, it could be worth installing a water softener at the same time. Of those planning to carry out a home improvement project before the end of 2018, nine per cent said they’d be doing plumbing.