Advertisement
Household appliances are indispensable companions. They help make your daily tasks easier and enhance your convenience. For instance, the dishwasher saves you extra time which manually doing dishes would consume, the refrigerator ensures that a refreshing drink is ready for grabs, and your washing machine streamlines your laundry process.
However, to ensure these marvels of technology remain steadfast in their service, a little care and attention go a long way. Poorly maintained appliances may lead to early damage or frequent costly repairs. Sudden appliance breakdowns can also throw you into a frenzy.
Imagine you’re baking a delicious pie but your oven is suddenly overheating and you can’t tell why. Or, you have your clothes in the washing machine and it just stops working. Not a great experience right? As a diligent homeowner, it’s prudent to have an effective cheatsheet for maintaining your quality appliances.
In this article, we delve into five invaluable home appliance maintenance tips that promise prolonged durability, saving you both time and money in the long run.
1. Clean your dishwasher
Your dishwasher is a true kitchen hero, saving you time and effort after every meal. While the dishwasher helps to make your dishes squeaky clean, you should keep in mind that it’s not self-cleansing.
Over a long period of time food particles, grease and undissolved detergents, and other substances can clog your filters and build up inside the kitchen appliance. If left unattended, it may result in an unpleasant smell in your space. It may also make the dishwasher ineffective, leaving spots on your glasses, dishes, and other kitchenware.
To keep your dishwasher working at its best, remember to clean it regularly. On a daily basis, remove visible food particles after each use. It’s also advisable to schedule a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly deep cleanse. Don’t wait until it starts to malfunction, especially if you use the dishwasher very often.
Start by removing the bottom rack and cleaning the filter. This filter catches bits of food and prevents clogs. Dampen a cloth in warm water with mild soap, then use it to wipe the inside of your dishwasher— you can also use hot water to get rid of any grease or grime buildup.
For an extra cleaning boost, place a cup of white vinegar on the top rack and run a hot cycle. This helps remove mineral buildup and keeps your dishwasher fresh.
If you notice some hard-to-fix issues with your dishwasher, you should reach out to a professional. Simply look up a keyword like “professional dishwasher repairs,” and you should get a long list. For more specific results, you can try adding the name of your city. You can, for instance, search for professional dishwasher repairs in Melbourne, New York, Toronto, etc. and then just choose the best from the list. If your dishwasher gets the best care, you can be assured it will be in tip-top shape in no time, and stay like that for a very long time..
2. Don’t overload your refrigerator
We’ve all been there – the fridge is packed, and you’re trying to fit just one more container inside. The refrigerator is like a treasure chest, keeping your food fresh and safe to eat. But overloading it can lead to dire consequences.
The cooling system can become strained when the fridge is jam-packed. The excess items hinder proper air circulation, making it harder for the refrigerator to maintain a consistent and cool temperature. This can result in uneven cooling, and can potentially spoil your food faster.
In some cases, your fridge’s cooling system may be forced to kick into overdrive to counteract the added warmth from overcrowding. This excessive energy consumption not only raises your electricity bill but also places additional stress on the appliance’s components, potentially shortening its lifespan.
So, when stocking up your refrigerator, allow some space between items to enable proper air circulation. This ensures that cold air can flow freely, keeping all parts of the fridge at the desired temperature.
Regularly check the vents and refrigerator coils. Make sure they are clear of any obstructions, such as food containers or debris. See if your fridge is making any strange noises, too. Sometimes, your freezer vents may be clogged with ice. In this case, you can soak a cloth in hot water and use it to melt away the ice. This simple step helps maintain consistent cooling and energy efficiency.
Periodically, you can rearrange the items in your fridge. Bring items that need to be consumed soon to the front, and move older items towards the back. This helps prevent forgotten leftovers and ensures everything gets its fair share of cool air. By ensuring your fridge works the way it should, you help ensure its prolonged durability.
3. Prevent oven temperature fluctuations
Cooking should be fun, right? But if your oven can’t make up its mind about the temperature every time you put in your food, things can get frustrating. Fluctuating temperatures can mess up your cooking. According to General Electric, your oven temperature can vary by 30 degrees above or temperature and 30 degrees below the set temperature. If it’s too high, you risk getting a burnt meal, too low and it’ll take a ton of hours before a “quick meal” is ready.
But that’s not all that happens when there are oven temperature fluctuations. If you don’t find the reason for the fluctuations and fix it, your oven can end up conking out soon.
You can do a simple thermometer test every time you put in food. See if there are huge temperature variations. If there are, then your oven might have a broken component.
Temperature fluctuations may occur due to a faulty thermostat, broken heating element, blocked vents, a bad temperature sensor, and so on. Just call a professional who can easily fix your appliance.
That’s not to say you won’t do anything to ensure your oven is running smoothly until the temperature fluctuations happen. Do the proper maintenance work even before they do.
Practical tips for maintaining your oven include checking that your electrical cords and cables are properly connected, clearing up air vents in your oven, or checking burner clogs. Also, you should always clean up food spills on the igniter.
4. Replace your water filter
Fresh, clean water is a fundamental necessity for all, and your water filter holds the key to delivering just that.
Whether it’s the filter in your fridge or the dispenser, its role is important. But here’s the catch – to keep that flow of purity uninterrupted, you’ve got to keep the filter clean and ready. Over time, these filters become the catchers of impurities and slowly lose their filtration efficiency. Besides, a dirty water filter may shorten the life of the appliance carrying it. The sediment can reach other parts of the appliance and damage them.
A general rule of thumb is to replace your filter every six months. This will help ensure your hydration source remains uncontaminated and your appliance remains in optimal working condition. Familiarize yourself with the specific model of your refrigerator or dispenser. This way, you will be able to get the appropriate filter replacement.
5. Check your washing machine hose for leaks
Your washing machine dutifully tackles loads of laundry day in and day out, ensuring your clothes come out fresh and clean. But let’s not forget, just like any other hardworking member of your team, your laundry appliance needs a bit of attention as well.
Think of your machine’s hose as the lifeline that helps to keep things going, supplying the water your machine needs to work efficiently. Over time, though, wear and tear can set in, potentially leading to issues like leaks.
Those leaks might seem harmless, but they can lead to unwanted consequences – from damp floors to potential mold in your property. Plus, if you leave a broken washing machine hose working for too long, the entire appliance can also break down completely. Think of the washing machine as a person. If one part of the body is sick, it should be immediately treated so the disease doesn’t spread to other parts.
So, one of the routine home appliance maintenance tips you should follow is this: Proactively look out for any cracks or wear in your washing machine hose that may cause it to leak. If you notice any issues, replace the hoses. Note, though, that rubber hoses aren’t recommended. The industry standard is a braided stainless steel hose. The strong material helps ensure the hose is protected even if it keeps on getting twisted when used.
In closing
Appliances are like reliable helpers in our homes, making our lives more comfortable and enjoyable. As such, we should handle them with proper care so that they can serve for a long time.
Some effective home appliance maintenance tips include cleaning your dishwasher regularly, and appropriately loading your refrigerator. You also need to prevent oven temperature fluctuations by checking for blocked vents, broken heating elements, and other potential causes. Replace your water filter so you can also always get clean and healthy water. Also, check your washing machine hose for leaks that may lead to water damage and destroy your appliance.
By keeping these tips in mind, you can ensure your appliances remain your faithful helpers for a very long time. Good luck!
About the author:
James Rob is a valued member of the content team at National Appliance Repairs. With a keen eye for detail, James ensures readers receive accurate and helpful information. When he’s not working, James enjoys exploring technology advancements and spending time with his family.