The perforated drum you can see is not the entire wash area: the tub surrounds it and is usually not accessible. Cleaning combines gentle removal of visible residue and the empty-cycle treatment approved by the model.
What you can inspect without disassembling
Empty the machine, wait for it to unlock, and let it cool down. To remove residue by hand, disconnect the power supply. Examine the perforated surface, the paddles, and the opening in good light. Pick out any visible debris that comes loose without forcing mechanisms; do not run tools through the holes or under the paddles.
A shiny drum can still have deposits in hidden areas. Likewise, a water mark does not confirm buildup on the heating element. Describe what you see — film, dust, scale, fixed stain — before choosing a product.
Surface removal and circuit cleaning
- Collect loose residue with a soft cloth compatible with the finish. Do not repeatedly drag hard particles across the metal.
- If there is stuck-on dirt, apply only the surface method indicated in the manual; avoid metal scouring pads and scrapers.
- Reinstall any removed maintenance part and run the interior cleaning program with its product and application requirements.
- When finished, check whether deposits or flakes have been loosened and collect what you can reach. A rinse or repeat cycle must follow the instructions, not an open-ended chain of cycles.
Choosing the treatment for the deposit
{descaling targets minerals; a greasy film is not treated as if it were necessarily limescale just because it is white. Stains consistent with wet contamination require checking mold and slimy deposits, without identifying microorganisms by color.
If the buildup does not diminish, material resembling a damaged part appears, or there is rubbing, leakage, or malfunction, request an inspection. Cleaning the tub through the program does not make it possible to certify the condition of all its internal components.
For a complete cleaning of the machine, use the sequence for front load or top load; this inspection is limited to the wash area.