If you’re not blessed with an abundance of room in your kitchen but have space in your garden, you might be wondering whether it’s possible to make better use of the outdoors.
The obvious answer is to put your washing machine outside, but will this cause any problems in bad weather?
Your washing machine could also end up spending a while outside if you’re in the process of moving it and need to keep it somewhere temporarily.
Below, we take a look at what happens if you leave your washing machine outside in the rain.
Can You Leave Your Washing Machine Outside?
With plenty of space outside, you might be tempted to move your washing machine into the garden, but it’s not a great idea.
Washing machines aren’t designed to be exposed to the weather and damage can easily occur.
UV rays can cause your washing machine shell to fade but it’s wet weather that causes the biggest problems.
Although your washing machine fills with water every time you use it, the moisture is confined to the parts which have been waterproofed.
Every washing machine contains sensitive electronics which can be easily damaged if exposed to water.
The exterior of a washing machine isn’t waterproof, so rain can get in through gaps and cracks. This can reach the electronics and other parts which aren’t intended to be exposed to water, causing serious damage.
Aside from the immediate problem of electronics shorting, rain can also cause parts to corrode or mould to grow.
What Should You Do if Your Electrical Appliance Gets Wet?
If you have left your washing machine outside and it gets rained on, or it is in a house that floods, it doesn’t mean that it will be irretrievably damaged by the water.
However, it’s important to follow expert advice carefully to prevent making things worse.
Switch off the power and unplug the washing machine. Don’t be tempted to turn it on to see if it still works as this could cause irreversible damage.
Call a professional to come and inspect your machine. They may suggest leaving it a few days to give it time to dry out.
In the meantime, you can help accelerate the drying out period by removing all the visible moisture with kitchen paper or towels.
Slide the kitchen paper into any crevices you can see to remove all possible water that may have worked its way inside.
Can You Put a Washing Machine in a Shed?
Many people opt to put their washing machine and tumble dryers in a garage, but it is possible to use a shed too.
However, the shed will need to be connected to the mains supply for electricity and water as it isn’t a good idea to have an extension cable running outside while it’s raining.
You will also need to consider the type of shed. In theory, it’s possible to use a wooden shed but it’s not advisable. The moisture from the washing machine and the vibrations can make it noisy plus cause damage to the timber.
A brick shed is preferable, but a metal one with a raised floor will also suffice.
In The Wash is your guide to the best laundry and cleaning products, tips and tricks. Our mission is to solve the UK’s cleaning and laundry dilemmas!
