Your appliances are important to maintain, the cost of repairs can add up and it is even more costly to replace them. So providing regular maintenance and upkeep will help protect your investment, and extending the life of your appliances.
The longer they last, the more you save as a household and the further you get with that ROI. Whether it’s a dishwasher, refrigerator, or dryer, here are some helpful tips to keep your appliances running for longer.
Try not to overload the machine
The main problem and contributing factor to a broken washing machine or dishwasher is the overload of the appliance.
If you cram all of your clothes into a washing machine, there is more weight being thrown around. That can do damage to the motor within the washing machine, as well as not cleaning all the clothes properly because there’s not enough space to generate enough soapy suds.
The same goes for your dishwasher. If you overload it, your items may not come out clean and you could end up breaking the moving parts within it and thus rendering it useless.
Use cleaning products for internal cleaning
You should be doing a bi-monthly or monthly deep clean of the appliance in order to keep all parts of the appliance clean, even the parts that you don’t see or can’t reach. We’re talking about the tubing and various parts that are hidden or can only be accessed if pulled out from the wall.
Try to keep on top of the cleaning by using internal cleaning products such as tablets for your dishwasher and washing machine. Make sure to clean out all the fluff from the dryer and clean the condenser coils on your refrigerator with a vacuum cleaner or brush.
Fix any underlying problems
It’s important to remember that preventative care is better than trying to fix something that’s beyond repair.
When there are underlying problems with your appliances, it’s better to get them fixed quickly or to test the issue so that you can identify the resolution that’s needed. For example, for your laundry dryer, you should test the dryer thermal fuse to make sure it hasn’t blown.
You can check certain filters within the appliances to ensure they not clogged up and causing ventilation problems – which in turn could pose a safety hazard or fire risk.
Move it with care
When you’re moving your appliances, whether that’s to do some general cleaning or to move them within the space to somewhere more appropriate, be careful. Always handle your appliances with care, especially as they get older. Otherwise, you might find you are too rough with them and cause damage to a perfectly good dishwasher or washing machine.
If you’re struggling to move the machine, then it’s better to get help with it than to struggle alone. You might end up doing some damage to the machine or injuring yourself otherwise.
Keep your appliances lasting longer and use these tips to get as much use out of them as possible.
Guest Article