Change washing machine inlet hoses in 4 easy steps

If your clothes are coming out of your washer less than clean, you might need to carry out some light maintenance. In particular, look for failed inlet hoses on your washing machine — these need to be replaced before they burst. Here's how to do this simple DIY project in four easy steps.

• Bucket
• Wire brush
• Toothbrush
• PTFE (Teflon) tape
• Multigrip pliers or adjustable spanner (if required)

• Shut off all of the taps feeding into the washer fully, then place a bucket beneath them to catch remaining water in the hoses that will leak out.
• Unscrew the hose fittings by hand.
• If a fitting is hard to turn, use a pair of multi-grip pliers or reach for you adjustable spanner instead.

• Unscrew the hose fitting from the machine inlet in the same way, and drain any remaining water into your bucket.
• Use a small wire brush to remove any PTFE tape that may remain on the taps.

• Clogged inlet filters can result in low water pressure, no water or the wrong water temperature.
• Gently clean the inlet filters using an old toothbrush.
• If mineral deposits are present on your filters, soak them in vinegar for a few hours.

• Wrap about two turns of PTFE tape, available from your local hardware stores, onto the tap thread.
• Screw on the new hoses until they're hand-tight.
• Do not use pliers as an overtightened plastic hose is easily damaged.
• Open the taps fully, then wind them back one turn.

• If your washing machine hoses are permanently attached to the laundry taps, be sure to turn the taps off after each wash.
• If you don't and a hose bursts while you're out, it could be a major disaster.

Keep this guide's tips and four step process in mind, and when you need to change your washing machine's inlet hoses you'll be ready.