Where the Lime Comes From

• Lime is calcium oxide. The oxide portion of its chemical name indicates that oxygen molecules reacted with molecules of another element, in this case calcium, to create a new compound. Oxygen and calcium are both naturally found in water, especially water that enters your home from groundwater sources. As long as they coexist in a delicate balance, everything is fine. But when this balance is disrupted through a change in temperature combined with a trip through metal pipes, compounds are broken down and the freed molecules create new combinations, including calcium oxide. Much of this residue is left on the pipes themselves, and over time, each layer builds over the next to create a significant obstruction.
  
  

Recognizing Lime Buildup

• The first sign that you may have a lime problem is that your washing machine drains very slowly. If you open the top of your machine after it should be finished to find that some water remains in the bottom, the pipes are clogged with something that is slowing the passage of the used water. The most likely culprit is limescale.
  
  Another sign of lime buildup is a bad smell in your washing machine. You might notice a musty or fermented odor inside of your machine or on your laundry even if you retrieve it as soon as the spin cycle is finished. A blockage in your pipe caused by lime can prevent the muck removed from your laundry in the wash cycle from moving completely through the pipe. This encourages the growth of mildew and mold, among other undesirable tenants, that could take up residence in your washing machine.
  
  

Getting Rid of Lime Buildup

• If your washing machine has never been treated for limescale buildup, you will initially need a commercial lime descaler. Look for an organic product that will not damage your pipes or contaminate groundwater, and read the label to ensure that the product promises to leave no traces behind once it has been rinsed. Descalers are available at most grocery stores or discount stores, though they may also go by the name decalcifiers.
  
  

Monthly Maintenance

• Once you have removed existing limescale blockages, a simple monthly practice can ensure that you never have to worry about lime in your washing machine again. Fill your washing machine to its highest level with hot water, as hot as you can get. Open the top of the full washer to pause the cycle, and add half of a standard-size box of baking soda and 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to the machine. Close the top, and let the machine finish the wash cycle. You may want to clean your washing machine filter at the same time by soaking it in a 2-to-1 mixture of warm water and vinegar. You should notice the washing machine working and smelling better immediately.