The best way to help your appliances last as long as possible is to give them a little TLC, but performing appliance maintenance is something that most homeowners tend to forget. Appliances are very expensive, so you want to make sure that you are doing everything you can to help them to last longer. By using these hacks, you can help keep your appliances running like new, without too much of a hassle.
Doing laundry is not always a favorite task for homeowners and to avoid doing several loads, some homeowners push their dishwasher too much by having too big of a load. Even if your washing machine has a large basket, that does not mean that you should fill it to the top. Having an off-balance load puts a lot of stress on your machine and will ultimately cause it to break down. You should also make sure you follow the instructions as to which type of detergent should be used for your machine. Some machines require high efficiency detergent.
A dryer is an appliance that is used very often and there is not much maintenance you need to do for it. However, many homeowners forget to keep their lint trap clean. After each load of laundry has dried, you should empty out the lint trap. If the lint is not cleaned out, it can start to back-up and it could potentially even cause a fire. You may also want to call a handyman in to clean out the vent from your dryer, or even replace it every couple of years.
For your refrigerator, there is something very simple that you can do to help it last longer. Do not overload your fridge with food. When there is too much food inside, the air cannot circulate freely, and this causes your compressor to work way too hard. It is also a good idea to clean the compressor coils every couple of months. You can check the manual to find out where on your fridge the coils are located and then you can use a vacuum that has a soft-bristle attachment.
Dishwashers are a wonderful appliance to have and some people take them for granted. You need to make sure that your dishes are rinsed off completely before you load them into the dishwasher. If even a small particle of food is left on, it can cause your dishwasher to stop working. There are many places inside of your dishwasher where food can get lodged, and you can avoid the repair by simply making sure your dishes are clear of food before you load them.
Vacuum cleaners are another appliance that you can help to keep running for longer. If your vacuum has vacuum bags, you want to make sure that you routinely check the bag and change it when it needs to be changed. You should also avoid vacuuming up large objects, since they can easily get lodged and can cause your vacuum to stop working. If you have a bagless vacuum, you want to make sure that you do not let the bin get filled to the top, because that puts stress on the motor.
