Cleaning up a Maytag Super Capacity Dependable Care Plus for use

[stricklybojack]

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My idea is to get this machine fairly clean without going nuts, although i am deeper in than i thought i would need to go already.
You may know our SQ FL washer is on the blink for weeks now, and i acquired this Maytag pair while i wait and wait and etc...for the SQ to be operational.
Should i take the basket out? Seems a lot of scuz is likely lurking given what i have seen thus far.
Luckly the nasty hasn't fully cured (in 10 more years it would likely be cemented) yet so it is cleaning up nice with brushes, abrasive pads,and spray cleaner...*so far*. Tomorrow i may have it done.
Let me know anything i should give attention to, tips, tricks etc. while i have this apart. Like those tub screens cemented with mineral. What's good besides CLR?
Some self explanatory pics:

 

[askolover]

I like Limeaway myself, but I think it's pretty much the same as CLR.  Myself I probably wouldn't remove the basket, but that's just me.  Do you have a brush or something that would fit between the two tubs and scrub it that way? 

 

[goatfarmer]

Clean up what you can readily access. CLR works, have you tried vinegar?

 

[gyrafoam]

Yeah, I don't think I would remove the basket unless I had a rust hole/ leak.
The best thing ever is Sno-Bowl Toilet Cleaner, which is hard to find. Lime away works great too, BUT, all acids can etch the enamel it contacts! Clorox Clean-Up is great and won't etch, however the Clorox will BLEACH everything it contacts, so be careful of nearby fabrics as well as your clothes and shoes! I try to work with everything plastic in a sink where it is easily rinsed.

I like the idea of the bleach anytime I am working on an old machine because of the risk of infection, especially from the occasional cut or scrapes. Old washers are a buffet of cooties.
I spray on the Clean-Up and wait 15 min. or so for it to work.

Plastic brushes are good. A bottle brush for the barrel of the agitator.

Before you reassemble, will be good to use some Meguires Cleaner Wax and go over everything. Let dry and buff off just like your car. It's really good on the enamel and chrome, and your finished product should sparkle like new. I use it on all parts including plastic parts, switches, buttons, timer, etc.

 

[beekeyknee]

"I am deeper in than I thought I would need to go already." Yeah, we all know that story. Doesn't matter what older machine you're working on, if it's been used much it can easily turn into a big job.

It's like when you decide to start remodeling your house and you tear out a wall or pull up a piece of flooring. All of a sudden you're way in over your head with no end in sight.

The Works, toilet bowl cleaner usually "works". Sorry.

 

[duke]

Steve & Brian

Question--Photo 6 & 7 ,Did the owners manual instruct the cleaning of these screens? And Brian ,didn't your rebuild involve blanking off these screens?

 

[beekeyknee]

Duke,

I don't know if the owners manual mentions anything about cleaning those screens. The service manual does and yes in one of my rebuild threads I did blank off those screens with JB Weld. That made them pretty hard to get in and out. Eventually I found some blanks that were made for the job, bought a couple and put them in. Works much better than Welding them shut.

B.

 

[duke]

Well,What are their purpose? Mesh size vs holes in outer tub is confusing.

 

[beekeyknee]

They're supposed to be lint filters, but they don't work very well, IMO.

 

[gyrafoam]

Yeah, a gimmick IMO. To sound competitive they had to say they had self cleaning filtration.
I always thought the Whirly/Kenmore glass balls was the best system. the Filter-Flo was very effective, but, you had to clean it and keep up with the filter pan.

 

[askolover]

I checked my mother's '94 model screens and surprisingly there really wasn't much stuck to them...and they have relatively hard water.  I popped them out and cleaned under the basket as far as I could reach, set it to spin, did a start/stop a few times to move the tub and eventually made it all the way around.  Then I popped the screens back in.

I forgot about "The Works" stuff, used it before installing a water softener in my house.

 

[polkanut]

Where are those screens located?  We have a 1998 Dependable Care set and didn't know about them until reading this thread.

 

[askolover]

Take out the agitator by removing the one screw in the side and they are right there under it popped into the bottom of the basket...photo number 6 above.

 

[yogitunes]

those so called lint screens.......I usually pop them out and toss them.....the machine works fine without them....

Purple Cleaner/Super Clean works wonders on a lot of gunk and stains.....wear gloves, full strength will rip the oils off your hands...powerful stuff

a refrigerator coil cleaner brush works great to shove down between the tubs for cleaning.....

a clean machine is a happy machine!

 

[brucelucenta]

I personally would probably also toss the screens. The chance of anything getting under the agitator and into the opening they leave would be remote, if not impossible. For such a beautiful looking machine, it is really nasty inside. But I guess considering it's age, that is probably common even with a little use. I think it also depends on the old owner's washing habits and the detergents they used. I know that fabric softener will really do a number on any machine. It is thick, gooey and nasty. That might be some of what you are seeing. It's a shame you have to resort to this, but when you get the Maytag cleaned up you will have a very fine machine. I hope it meets your expectations. I had a similar set that were slightly older and they were excellent and still in use today by a friend I gave them to.

 

[stricklybojack]

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I want to get the basket out; is this what i need?

And will this disturb any seals, or can i remove, clean and replace easy peezy?

And is it standard counter-clockwise to remove?

Thx in advance for any sage wisdom you have to share.

 

[brucelucenta]

Yes, that is the correct tool to do it with. You might need a hammer to tap against the wrench, but use great care in your aim not to contact the porcelain enamel on the tub. The tub should lift out quite easily after removal of the nut and you can clean under it, although you probably won't find much to clean, depending on how it was used and what was used in it. Most of the clean up is on the outside and right under the basket where those screens are, which in my opinion you should pitch and leave open. The machines I had were just a slight bit older. I know because my washing machine still had the smaller lid opening and a metal top covering for the outer tub which had the older style fill inlet too. They changed a year or two after that to the one you have with the larger opening and lid along with the plastic top outer tub cover and new fill assembly. It made it easier to load and unload clothes.

 

[stricklybojack]

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Thx. It's clockwise to remove but i may hold off because you are right, i dont see much gunk down there.
I do want to remove this top (balance?) ring on the basket, what is the procedure... anyone... anyone... Bueller?

 

[brucelucenta]

I don't think that is something you can remove. On older machines there is actually concrete poured into the balance ring and it is part of the tub.

 

[brucelucenta]

You should be good on this machine now. If everything works as it should, you will be pleased with it.

 

[potatochips]

You could remove the balance ring if you tried, but I don't think it's worth the risk of it never being properly secured again. The ring is held in place by a few indented sections of the basket. 

 

I second Yogi's recommendation. I use Fantastik with bleach and a good, brass brissle brush for metal stuff, and a stiff plastic bristle brush for more sensitive things like the basket itself. 

 

[stricklybojack]

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Still on the job.
Crusty fill flume, don't worry it looks like new now. Lid removed and cleaned below...some pics of partially ressembled machine, that bleach funnel was nasty too, not anymore.

On to the dryer.
What's worse, washer scuz or dyer filth?
On these two it was a toss up. Not shown , the lint filter housing. That needed a soak in a warm bleach bath and to be worked over with a stiff bristle brush. The pics inside the dryer were AFTER an initial vacuuming. Compressed air will factor into the final product. The temp (or dryness? see last pic) sensor had a tuft of hair (bleck!) sticking out so i removed it...found a gasket of lint below, as i did in the baffles. And to think i wasn't going to remove the baffles!
My trusty Hoover Demension 1000 will make quick work of it.
Did i mention vacuums? Oh, let me turn around and see if i can find another...ya, that's what can happen kids!
Btw that's less than half the hoard, my goal is to sell one a week...for the next 3 years!
(Norgeway laughs)[this post was last edited: 3/9/2017-12:55]

 

[yogitunes]

oh yeah, you would be surprised what builds up behind a dryer baffle, who would have thought.....

vacuums are great for cleaning out a dryer.....but if you have access to a compressor, pressurized air will reach hidden areas that you would never think existed....you will have puffs of lint flying all over the place, especially from the motor, and blower....

 

[stricklybojack]

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So this hoop of metal was found as seen in the pics. Where does it go?

 

[goatfarmer]

In an underwire bra.

 

[stricklybojack]

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I can't believe it made it through the fan!

 

[combo52]

Bra Underwire

It didn't go through the fan, it fell through through the heat inlet grille in the back of the dryer drum.

 

[stricklybojack]

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Yes, no doubt John that is what happened.
Well all buttoned up now and operational...phew!
No plans to do that again for awhile.
Yes Martin compressed air found a flurry of lint hiding in every crack and crevice. So much so i had to get a box fan to blow it out of the garage so i could breath better.
Boy that rear access panel came in handy for installing the belt for a first timer.

Ya see those fish tacos? Fresh Alaskan pollack and only $3 for what's in the pic...heck the Mexican Squirt cost nearly that. Love San Diego.

[this post was last edited: 3/16/2017-17:44]

 

[yogitunes]

that cleaned up nice, its looks new again.....

 

[stricklybojack]

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Sold the pair on this weekend. I don't have a gas hook up and i am buried, need the space.

They went quickly, but to two different buyers...
in other news i just noticed another pair of Dependable Cares for sale, but i see stairs lurking in the photo.