There are some home appliances that will last you for a lifetime and then, there are some which don’t even last past a few months. Be it refrigerators, microwave ovens or something as simple as a stove, all appliances need care to last longer. One cannot just depend on the quality for functionalities without taking care of the appliance. The abuse and the use determine the life expectancy of your appliances. Here are a few ways you can maintain the condition of your home appliances.
- REFRIGERATOR:
- The condenser oil must be cleaned every year with a vacuum cleaner or a brush. This makes your refrigerator work better and also, saves you from exceeding electric bills.
- Clean underneath and beneath for better air circulation.
- Keep the shelves and drawers clean and devoid of any odour. Also, avoid cramming it to the gills or opening the refrigerator door too constantly.
- WASHING MACHINE:
- Instead of overloading it, put small even groups of clothes since overloading can cause malfunctioning.
- Check connections for leaks and cramped hoses.
- Turn all clothes that contain buttons and zip inside out to avoid any damage to the drum or the clothes.Also, remove any objects left inside the pockets of clothes before putting them in the machine.
- When the washer isn’t in use, turn off the water valve. This will prevent a flood if a hose bursts accidentally.
- DISHWASHER:
- Maintain the filter regularly by cleaning it. Follow the procedures provided in the manual book to clean it.
- The temperature set should be at 120°F.
- Dispose the leftover food into trash and rinse before you load the servicewares into the dishwasher.
- Do not overload or block the rotation of the water sprayer by putting all utensils and servicewares inappropriately. Place the smaller items such that they won’t fall and block the rotating parts.
- DRYER:
- After every drying cycle, let the dryer cool down for 40 minutes.
- Keep the insides of the drum clean and without any residues or particles.
- After every hundred cycles, make sure you wash the heat exchanger with lukewarm running water and let it dry thoroughly.
- Remove excess lint and build-up by hand before each cycle. You can use a vacuum on low-suction or wash it under running water for a heavily clogged filter.
- STOVE:
- Clean control panels and knobs using a sponge with a mild cleaner. Do not scrub the decal indicators since it might damage it badly.
- Do not get any water inside to avoid being electrocuted. Knobs can ignite sparks which is why you need to handle it with care. Use solid surface cleaners for cooktops and heavy-duty degreasers for burner bowls.
- OVEN:
- Make sure that you use a commercial oven cleaner. Why? Because baked-on grease catches fire easily causing the thermostat to malfunction. Keep the vent open to let the fumes out as you clean.
- Also, avoid spraying cleaning compounds near heating elements or electronic connections. A hot unprotected oven light may shatter if done so.