What you will need
It is necessary to prepare a flat-head and star screwdriver, an 8×10 open-end wrench, pliers and two packets of citric acid.
Verification technology
You need to see the actual condition of the heating element before cleaning and compare it after using citric acid. Turn off the water supply and drain from the machine, pull it out to a free space. Turn the back wall towards you. Unscrew the rear cover fixing bolts; in most cases, a torx screwdriver is required, sometimes hex keys or Euro keys. Turn off the power to the machine and remove the plug from the socket. Find the heating element, it is installed at the bottom of the body.
Remove all terminals, twist the ground wire, unscrew the nut and locknut. Use an 8x10 key. Press the grounding bolt, it should sink in. This hardware tightens the rubber seal of the heating element from the inside; it must be loosened, otherwise the heating element will not be removed. Use a flat-head screwdriver to pry up the body of the heating element and pull it out with your hands.
Inspect the condition of the surfaces. In order to better see the result of the acid, use a screwdriver to remove scale from a small area of the spiral. Immediately remove foreign objects from the drum, they sometimes get there.
Install the heating element in place, first tighten the grounding fixing bolt. It should protrude slightly beyond the element body. Tighten the nuts and insert the wire plugs.
Connect the water supply and drain, pour two bags of citric acid into the container. Turn on the washing machine without laundry at maximum temperature.
After turning off the machine, you need to inspect the condition of the heating element. Turn off the water and drain, remove the plug and remove the heating element.
Surprisingly, it will be perfectly clean, looking almost like new. Another plus is that, unlike store-bought special products, no unpleasant odors remain after the acid.
Conclusion
There are concerns that citric acid will negatively affect the rubber parts of the machine. There is no need to be afraid of such consequences - cleaning is rarely done. Such short-term contact of acid with other materials does not have a negative effect, but on the condition that the amount of powder should not exceed 100 grams. on the tank.
