Your washing machine is a very complex appliance, and at times you might feel a bit confused when it comes to dealing with problems with your appliance or just general washing machine maintenance. So to help you better understand your washing machine better, here is a quick introduction to washing machine parts and some very basic information on just how your appliance works. In the US, washing machines are generally gas-powered. They are also classified as water-powered or electrical depending on the engine type and the location where you live. The washing machine parts that make up your washing machine are known as the ‘registers’, and there are actually lots of these parts – including motors, spinners, pumps, wash basins, and more.
The first part of a washing machine (and the first thing that we will be looking at today) is the drum. The drum is what spins when you load your detergent inside. The inner drum is usually made from cast iron but other materials such as plastic, rubber and foam can be used too. Different types of washers require different inner drums, so if you have a different washing machine brand, check your manual to see what type of drum it uses.
Next is the spool, which is a spout that connects to the outer drum. When you add detergent to the spool, it fills the spool and the water start spinning. You then add your washing machine water and start moving the spool, which squirts water out towards the drain. The most common causes for a spool getting clogged air when too much detergent is in the water (loads more than it can handle) or when the clothes are spinning in a way that water can’t get out without trapping other debris inside.
The agitator is the last piece of the washing machine. It’s probably the most important, as this is what scrubs the fabric with the cleaning solution. As the agitator goes over the fabric, it scrubs off the dirt and helps lift out wrinkles and loose thread. Some machines have brushes on the agitator, which helps get the fabric to glide more smoothly over the agitator. These features are very important and will determine the quality of your washing machine.
Finally there’s the inner drum, which spins the water inside the machine. This is what actually cleans your clothes and what gets dirty when you run your washing machine. There are different types of inner drums and some have suction that use gravity to help move the dirty water out. You’ll also find that there are a number of moving parts on and inside the machine, such as the tumbling rollers that move the drum through and the agitator.
When you buy a washing machine, there are always things that you’re going to be looking for that will make the machine better. It’s the same case with a new detergent. Buying the best detergent that you can find will only end up making the machine better in the long run. You need to understand that these two things go hand-in-hand.
