limescale build up in washing machine

I have been living in a hard water area for 2 years now & am getting a water softener shortly. Every few weeks I descale my kettle & bottle steriliser with citric acid. We have been using limescale tablets a lot of the time (I would say 50%) in the washing machine, but I would like to try to clean out any limescale build-up there may be that I cannot see. Do you think if I put some citric acid into an empty wash it would do the job? Do you think I would do any damage to the machine?

Don't bother I'd say; I live in a hardwater area also and only put in a softener about 2 years ago, having purchased the house about 8 years ago. I used to use the limescale tablets with our washing machine, albeit on an irregular basis. When you do get a softener fitted the softened water will gradually "strip" any limescale build-up form the machine and you may find this in the fluff filter over time.

Many thanks Carpenter