Are your home appliances ready for Spring Part 2: More Appliance Maintenances Tips to Get Your Appliances Ready for the Spring and Summertime.
Previously we wrote Spring cleaning tips for you home appliances and this is the second part with more useful tips on how to get your appliances ready for the Spring and Summer time.
Do some gardening, breathe the fresh blooming flower, and enjoy the holiday with your loved ones this spring! Besides enjoying the warmer weather, spring is a great time to enjoy delicious meals with our family. With the increased family at home, most people require their appliances to work harder than normal. The extra work hastens the wear and tear, leading to an untimely breakdown.
We know how frustrating it can be when your appliance breaks down. The appliance repair can also be costly and may take some time. Luckily, spring marks the best time to do deep cleaning and maintenance for your home appliances. The following home appliances maintenance will help keep your appliances running smoothly and extend their lifespan.
Easy Ways to Make Your Appliances Last Longer
Prolonging the Life of Your fridge
Your refrigerator is probably the most overworked appliance at home. You can lighten your fridge burden and prolong its life by following these simple home appliance tips.
Clean the coils
The condenser coils are placed on the back or bottom of the fridge and help in cooling the items in the unit. The food scraps and other grime coat the coils, forcing the refrigerator to work extra hard while keeping the foodstuffs cold. Unplug your refrigerator at least twice yearly and clean the coils with a soft cloth.
Stock the fridge properly
Place enough stuff in your fridge to enhance its efficiency. Stocking the fridge with enough stuff allows the items to have thermal mass, which ensures that it tackles the warm air when you open the fridge. It is important to point out that you should not overstock the fridge as improper air circulation can lead to cooling problems.
Set the correct temperature
Ensure that your fridge runs at the proper temperature. Set the fridge temperature somewhere between 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit and zero degrees in the freezer compartment. It is crucial to get a thermometer if your refrigerator does not have an inbuilt unit.
Home Appliance Maintenance Tips for Your Dishwasher
Contrary to what most people think, keeping your dishwasher running like new is not too difficult. Here are some home appliance maintenance tips for your dishwasher that enables you to get most of it during the spring season.
Use it or lose it
Using your dishwasher regularly ensures that it retains its tip top shape. Constant use prevents the food and other buildup from accumulating in the dishwasher, leading to difficulties when cleaning the dishes later.
Make vinegar your friend
Vinegar helps in cleaning the interior of the dishwasher. Pour several vinegar cups into your dishwasher bottom and run it on low. The vinegar helps remove the stuck food debris and other scum and maintains the stainless steel exterior.
Rack up
Worn-out dishwashers begin to corrode, making the small rusty metal pieces find their way into the dishwasher’s pump, leading to expensive repairs. You can prevent this by replacing the dish racks when they start wearing off.
Poke it
Use a needle or any other sharp small object to poke the spinning arms that spray the water up and check whether food or other scum is clogging them. We recommend using tough metallic needles and avoiding using wooden toothpicks since their tips can easily snap off and stick inside the spray arm.
Washing Machine Maintenance Tips
Our washing machine is a time saver when cleaning our clothes. Carrying out thorough cleaning and maintenance helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew. The following appliance tips will help you maintain a happy washing machine.
Choose the appropriate suds
The modern washing machines on the market are energy efficient, allowing you to save on electricity bills and safeguarding the environment. Besides choosing an energy-efficient model, it is also crucial to pick a detergent compatible with your washer. Some machines require less sudsy high efficient detergent for enhanced efficiency.
Don’t close the door
After cleaning a load of laundry, ensure that you leave the door open to allow air circulation, preventing the growth of mold and mildew.
Dry the wet laundry immediately after cleaning
Ensure that you take out the load immediately after cleaning. Leaving the wet load to sit for a house in the washing machine promotes the growth of mold and mildew.
Clean the washer
Deep cleaning your washer helps get rid of the scum and other dirt. To clean the washer, make a solution of equal parts of vinegar and water. Clean the gasket, door, and dispenser, drum thoroughly, and rinse with warm water. Additionally, you can run a hot water load with the washer on empty occasionally. Add vinegar or detergent to clean the interior.
Avoid using too much detergent.
Although it may seem to make sense that more detergent makes the clothes cleaner, the opposite is true. The excess detergent tends to leave a residue on the laundry and the washer interior, leading to wear and tear.
Appliance maintenance tips to keep Your Dryer Lasting Longer
As you probably know, sun drying your clothes takes time, and sometimes it is not possible, especially during the cold months. A dryer will help you save tons of energy and effort when drying your clothes. Extending the life of your dryer is easy using the following home appliance maintenance.
Replace the worn-out vents
Dryers come rigged up with plastic vents prone to cracking or melting. While the premium quality vents may take time, they eventually crack due to wear and tear. Replacing the vents’ tubes will help prevent fire accidents.
Regular cleaning
It is also crucial to clean out the lint trap to prevent lint accumulation after every cycle. Cleaning the lint will prevent the risk of fire and carbon monoxide leaks and ensure that your laundry dries quickly.
Check the clock
When you find that your dryer takes more time than usual, this indicates that there is lint clogging the vent. Contact your local appliance repair to perform a thorough inspection to ensure that the vents are clear of lint.
Ensure it’s stable
A wobbly dryer accelerates the parts’ wear and tear, hence ensuring that the dryer is sturdy. Give your dryer a good shake to ensure that it is firm on the ground. Regular use and unevenly distributed loads can throw the dryer off balance. Ensure that you adjust the dryer legs regularly to ensure that it is sturdy.
Home Appliance Maintenance Tips for Your Oven
Keeping your oven in top shape ensures that you make your favorite meals in no time. Here are some of the tips to ensure that your oven works efficiently.
Cleaning
Run the self-cleaning cycle regularly to deep clean your oven without doing much. Most ovens have a self-cleaning feature that gets rid of the stuck food debris and prevents odors. Keep an eye on the oven during the process and wipe it dry.
Remove the knobs
Cleaning the oven’s exterior with the knobs on is not an easy thing to do. To do this, pop the knobs off and use a tablecloth or paper towel dipped in vinegar to wipe it down. You can also use warm soapy water to get rid of the oily surface.
Prevent spills ahead of time
To prevent the spills, place a baking sheet under the food in the oven to catch the drips. The sheep will prevent the drippings from getting onto the oven floor. If the spills reach the floor, it is crucial to clean them immediately before they dry.
Call in the Professionals to Fix Any Broken Appliances
The above home appliance repair tips will go a long way in ensuring that your appliances run smoothly. The appliance tips will also help prolong the appliance’s life and enhance general efficiency. However, these appliances are not foolproof. The constant wear and tear will eventually need fixing. Appliance Cowboys got you covered. With over ten years of experience, the company offers full appliance repairs for clients in Houston and surrounding areas. We repair common and luxury brand refrigerators, machine washers, dish cleaners, ovens, icemakers, dryers, etc. Call us today to schedule an appointment with our licensed technicians.