Appliances are expensive, and they can also be a hassle to replace. If you want to avoid wasting money on repairs and replacements, follow these tips from appliance experts.
Clean Refrigerator Coils
If your refrigerator stops working in hot weather, check the coils. To get to them, you’ll need to remove the front grille and push a coil cleaning brush into the coils. Then, pull it back and vacuum it clean. If your refrigerator’s coils are located on the back, pull out your fridge to clean them. The clean coils will help the fridge cool more efficiently, and you’ll save money on your utility bill!
Avoid Overloads
When you cram too many soiled clothes into your washer and dryer, the machines must work harder to clean them. This may damage the motors, belts, and other moving parts. Some of these repairs are so expensive that buying a new machine is more cost-effective.
Adjust Your Oven Temperature Setting
If your oven seems to run too hot or not hot enough, try recalibrating the temperature setting.
– Check your manual or search online for a downloadable version. – Put an oven thermometer on the center shelf, and wait until the temperature is steady – Follow the steps in your manual to match the temperature setting to the thermometer reading.
Clean Your Dishwasher Regularly
When your dishwasher doesn’t get your dishes clean, it’s usually because there is food in the filter. If the filters are clogged, water won’t make it to the spray arms to clean the dishes in the top rack. Here’s how to fix it in two minutes or less:
– Pull out the lower rack – Remove the filter cover and use a wet/dry vacuum to remove debris from the screen – Then, try sliding the nearby float switch up and down. – If the cover sticks, jiggle it and spray water on it to clean out any debris
Clean Your Window Air Con in Spring
After winter storage, a window air conditioner may contain nasty surprises such as dust, dead bugs, and mold or mouse droppings. Vacuum the surfaces of the unit, including the fins on the exterior face, before you lug it to a window. Next, remove the cover panel and vacuum out the foam filter.
Clean stove spills immediately
If a stove burner won’t come on, one possible cause is spilled food. Use a toothbrush to clean off spills from the igniter. On an electronic ignition stove, it’s a little ceramic nub that sits either on the stovetop or under the ceramic seal strike plate.
