Don’t look now, but your appliances might be watching! If appliances could talk, they might ask, “Why don’t you care more?”
They are the 24/7 rock stars making sure your family's needs are met. Appliances handle everything from overflowing laundry baskets, masterful meals, cold glasses of milk, and warmed-up pizza slices—you get the picture; appliances make our lives easier and more efficient.
They are meant to last, but without routine service, you could be looking at costly repairs down the road. Don’t leave anything to chance when it comes to appliance care.
At Garner Appliance and Mattress, our pros know how important quality and craftsmanship are for our customers. We know which brands will give you lasting service and durability for years to come. But there are also things you can do to ensure your home appliances are in tip-top shape.
Where to start?
Appliances normally come with manuals that tell you how to install, program, and maintain them. Review manufacturer guidelines and schedule seasonal maintenance to keep your appliances running smoothly. A helpful hack—schedule the check-ups twice a year when the time changes.
How to keep them in shape?
We all know what a big investment our appliances are for our homes, so why not take the time to keep those investments working for you. Take some tips from Key for keeping your home appliances in tip-top shape.
Clothes Dryers: The importance of keeping your dryer free of lint and other particles is not only important for keeping it in good condition, but also recommended for home safety. The U.S. Fire Administration advises that dryers cause 2,900 house fires annually, resulting in $35 million in property losses.
More home clothes dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months—peaking in January. The leading causes at 34 percent—clogged lint traps, air vents, and ductworks. The number of household fires from dryers could be reduced by becoming more diligent:
- After every load, remove lint from the lint screen.
- Once a month suction the lint slot using your vacuum’s nozzle attachment. Or use a bendable snorkel brush to snake into the tight crevice to remove excess lint.
- Keep the area around and on top of the dryer clean and free of clutter.
- Have a qualified technician clean the dryer interior and venting system.
There are other great tips to ensure dryer safety from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). Check out their safety page.
Washers/Dishwashers: Why would we need to clean our washers and dishwashers? After all, they wash our clothes and clean our dishes. But both appliances need regular servicing as well. Not all detergent is made for all washers or dishwashers. Using the wrong detergent may cause a build-up of suds that lowers their efficiency and performance.
- Check product user manuals for detergent suggestions.
- To keep these products running smoothly, run an empty load using the hottest water or sanitizing cycle to remove build-up once a month.
Refrigerators/Microwaves: These appliances are front and center in the kitchen, but often overlooked for maintenance. The website Realsimple offers some great tips including checking the door seals, keeping the coils clean, and setting the right temperature. Check out their simple tips.
Microwaves make cooking and heating a breeze, but often we don’t clean it, so the interior gets caked with dried, stuck-on foods, or spilled liquids. Most of us will decide to clean it later but the grime continues to build on surfaces. Landmark offers some quick tips as well to keep your microwave working on high:
- Use a microwave food cover or paper towel when warming anything that could splatter or spill.
- Wipe spills and splatters as they happen to prevent food from sticking to the inside.
Appliances are here to give you the good life, remember they might be watching so share the love!