Washing machine VT38036Q

The regular habits that prevent breakdowns and extend your appliance’s life. Each tip shows how often to do it; those marked “For this model” are specific to your appliance, the rest apply to the whole family.

• Leave the door ajarAfter each use

  After each cycle, leave the door and detergent drawer slightly open for a few hours. The drum dries out, and mildew smells and residue on the seal never get a chance to build up.

• Wipe the door sealAfter each useFor this model

  Run a dry cloth through the folds of the rubber gasket and clear out hair, coins and detergent residue. This is where water sits and where the seal eventually cracks or grows mould.

• Clean the detergent drawerMonthly

  Pull out the drawer and rinse it under hot water once a month to dissolve caked detergent and softener. An old toothbrush clears deposits inside the housing.

• Clean the drain filterMonthly

  Behind a hatch at the bottom of the front panel, the filter traps buttons, coins and lint. Empty it over a bowl once a month: a clogged filter is the number-one cause of a machine that no longer drains.

• Run an empty 90 °C washMonthly

  Once a month, run a hot empty cycle (90 °C or a maintenance program), with no detergent or a little citric acid. It degreases the drum and heating element and prevents the biofilms behind bad smells.

• Descale according to water hardnessEvery 3 months

  In hard-water areas, descale every three months with citric acid or a dedicated product. Limescale builds up on the heating element and stretches heating times until it fails.