Actually, it has been more like seventeen years for me and my General Electric clothes washer.
But, we have had one thing happen to this fabulous washer through the years, something happened to one of the gears on this washer right after I bought it. I had it repaired and it has been going strong ever since that day.
There are only a few things you have to do to your washing machine to keep it going strong.
Run It On Empty
Empty of clothes that is. Run your washer at least once every few months with only detergent and water. This helps keep it flushed out and cleans out residue that may have been left from the clothes.
Clean Lint Trays Frequently
If your washer has lint trays or traps as some people call them, make sure you clean them after each load of clothes you wash in the washer.
Check Screens
The hoses that connect your washer to the hot and cold water outlets are often overlooked or forgotten about because well, we just do not usually see them. The screw on couplings that connect your washer to the water supply have small screen filters attached to the seal that helps prevent leaking. Loosen these and clean these screens out, and then replace them.
Check Hoses At Least Once A Year
Check their connections as well as the hoses themselves for any leaks or cracks. If a hose becomes cracked, you need to replace it, or it could burst and cause damage to the floor and walls around the washer.
Check Drain Hoses
While we are at the back of the machine, make sure to check the drainage hose as well. This is the large hose that usually just slips into another hose that takes the water to the outside area or into the septic system. Make sure this hose is stuck down in the other hose or is secure, otherwise it can pop out when the rush of water comes from the washer as it drains.
Flush Bleach Dispensers
My washer has a place outside the main drum that you pour your bleach into whenever you are wanting to add it to the washer. Flush these out with hot water time to time because debris from the dirty clothes can also end up in these when you are loading the washer. And after a while it can get pretty dirty and grungy, so to keep the washer running smoothly, clean these out often.
Wash Fabric Softener Dispensers
My washer also came with a liquid fabric softener dispenser that sits on top of the agitator. It is a wonderful device to have if you use liquid fabric softener as I do. But you should clean these out with hot water and an old toothbrush from time to time as the fabric softener can leave behind a residue that will build up and clog these wonderful devices. I have used several different brands of liquid fabric softener over the years and even though I follow the recommendations by the manufactures of the fabric softener on how to keep this from building up on my dispenser it always does. So you still should use a soft brush, I prefer an old toothbrush, and hot water to clean them thoroughly.
Balance the Machine
Most machines require that you first level the machine and then tilt it backward ever so slightly to help drainage. It is always best to keep a watch on this if you suspect it may have been knocked or jarred out of position.
Balance Those Loads
When you load your washer, make sure to balance the load, this will help keep the machine from bouncing around and jarring itself along with your house.
If you hear your washer jumping around, immediately stop the washer and straighten out the load and then restart the machine. Repeat this if necessary.
Wash the outside as well.
I use baking soda and hot water with a sponge or cloth to clean the outside of my washer, as well as the inside around the edges of the drum and the lid. This helps keep it nice looking.