When your home appliances fail to work as designed, it can cost you a ton of money to repair or replace. Here are five simple tips to keep those appliances in good, working order for the long haul.
Some of these assume you have at least a semi-practiced hand at household DIY, but most of them are simple maintenance techniques anyone can do. Here’s a quick rundown of a much longer and more detailed list, linked below:
Fridge: Clean your refrigerator coils regularly. They can get caked and clogged with dust, which can kill the efficiency of your fridge and can contribute to failure. This is especially important if you have pets.
Oven and Hob: Be careful how you clean your oven and hob, and what you use to clean it. Overly harsh chemical cleaners can clog hob rings, especially gas ones, and spraying directly onto control knobs on the front of your oven or stove can get liquid in the electrical components behind those knobs, leading to a short and an expensive repair. Always use soft cloths, light cleaners, and if you need to use something harsh, apply it to the cloth before the surface.
Dishwasher: Don’t prewash your dishes so much. This is a hot topic, but pre-washing your dishes too much will inevitably mean they’re still wet, and even a little soapy, before they go into the dishwasher, where they’ll be washed again. This can cause your dishwasher to overflow, oversud, and leak all over your kitchen floor.
Washing Machine: Don’t overload your washing machine. Every washer warns you not to stuff too many clothes into it, and for good reason. Overloading your washer adds wear and tear to the motor and can cause damage and leaks. It’s all around bad news, and leads to expensive repairs or replacements.
Tumble Dryer: You probably already know to clean the lint filter, but make sure you also give it a deep clean to get any lint in the ducts or around the exit vents, where dust winds up collecting. Similarly, clean that moisture sensor while you’re at it, since residue from dryer sheets and dust can clog it up and make your dryer work harder to dry your clothes.
Some good preventative maintenance will keep your most often-used, and expensive, household appliances happy for a long time, whether you own them outright or you’re renting them from a landlord.
However, if you do find your washing machine or any other appliance not performing at its best, or even worse scenario, not working at all, rest assured - when you post a job request on household.ie there is always someone to help you out!
