Now that the holidays are almost here, taking proper care of your appliances will help extend its life and also help cut back on repair costs.

The oven:

The cleaner your oven is, the more efficiently it will burn gas or electricity. Don't allow heavy grease buildup on the interior. If you have not used the self clean feature yet, don't,  It's too late.  Self-cleaning cycles cause the oven to run at extremely high temperatures. The self clean feature on today's ovens will expose any weak spots in your oven.  If your oven fails there might not be enough time to get it repaired by the holidays.  If you have not done it, just wait until the holidays are over.

Check your oven's performance by getting a basic cake mix and following the directions exactly. If the cake isn't perfect in the time frame set out on the box, your oven's temperature might be off.

 

The refrigerator:

Clean the condenser coils at least once a year, more often if you have pets. If you have a built-in refrigerator, hire a service company for this task.

Before you stock your fridge with holiday leftovers, make sure the seal on the door is tight. This is an easy test, close the door on a one dollar bill and if the paper slips, your fridge is wasting energy - replace the seal or adjust it. If you only have a $20 dollar bill, send it to me and I will send you a $1 dollar bill free with shipping.

The dishwasher:

Clean your dishwasher's filter at least twice a year to remove particles and debris. Also use some kind of dishwasher cleaner like citric acid. 

Choose the right detergent for your dishwasher. Using less soap is beneficial over the long term. Often, homeowners use too much soap, or the wrong kind, which can lead to problems. Powdered soap tends to work better than liquid.

Washer and dryer:

Inspect the hoses on your clothes washer. Look for any cracks or leaks.

Avoid overloading the washing machine. This can damage the tub and cause belts to break.  Several products are on the market to help clean the washer, like Washer Magic.

Clean the lint filter on your dryer before each use and have the dryer vent inspected and cleaned once a year by a professional. In addition to being a fire hazard, a clogged dryer vent requires the dryer to work longer and harder to dry clothes. Energy is also wasted and the heating element and blower in the dryer wear out quicker. A clogged dryer can take two-to-three times longer to dry clothes.

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