When you open the door of your washing machine, the drum is usually clean and shiny. But it is the back of the drum inside the washing machine that counts. This photo shows what a drum looks like after five years of use, if the user has taken good care of the hygiene of the washing machine.

But in this picture, the situation is more dire.

This is what a washing machine after four or five years of use can look like if it:

• is not being cleaned and
• is regularly overdosed with detergent.

In both these cases, sludge accumulates under the supporting structure of the drum (called the sprider). The most harmful component of this sludge is the detergent when it is not washed out. It settles on the surface when overdosed regularly, as shown in the picture below.

If the machine is not cleaned regularly, everything that is in the water during the wash accumulates under the spider: lime, iron, laundry dirt, and excess detergent.

The spider is usually made of aluminium. The detergent, in turn, contains lye. The lye reacts with the aluminium and slowly destroys it, as can be seen in this picture. Repairs for such appliances are very expensive.

How to clean the washing machine? Just type "washing machine cleaning" into your internet browser and you will get lots of different tips. Choose the one you like.

Your washing machine should say how many kilograms of laundry it is designed for. Please note that this is the maximumload.

It can be compared to a car that is regularly operated at maximum load and with the "pedal to the floor". In this situation, the car is unlikely to last for many years. Similarly, a washing machine will not last long if it is regularly driven at maximum load. You can probably consult the instruction manual to determine the programme and fabric for which the maximum weight can be used.

The optimum charge is about 2/3 of the drum volume. Then, in spin mode, your washing machine will vibrate less.