How to Keep Your Appliances Working Their Best

Last Updated on November 9, 2011

You spend a lot of money on your large home appliances, so you want to keep them working their best. If you know how to treat your appliances well and maintain them, you can avoid costly repairs or having to replace them altogether. Keep them in good shape and they will live a long life of good service to you. Here are some tips for preserving your appliances.

Washer and Dryer
To keep your clothes in good shape, it’s important that your washer and dryer work well. One of the top reasons that washers and dryers go into disrepair is that they aren’t level, and this causes parts to wear unevenly, so make sure they are sitting level. Make sure that the hoses and ducts in the appliances are cleaned and in good condition. Clean your ducts out at least every six months. Also, replace your hoses every five years. Make sure your vent tube is connected properly, and shake the lint out every so often. Doing these things will also help your appliances use less energy. It is very important to clean the lint out of your dryer filter and hoses regularly.

For your washer, don’t use too much detergent. Half or one-quarter of the recommended amount is usually plenty, or consider watering it down. This will help prevent a build-up of detergent residue that can destroy your washer. Also, run a maintenance wash about once a month, or more if you usually only use your cold setting. To do this, run your washer, with nothing in it, on the hottest setting possible. If you have lime or bacteria build-up, add some soda crystals or lime scale remover to the drawer and drum. Also, wipe down your washer after each wash and leave the door open so it can dry properly.

Dishwasher
To keep your dishes clean, make sure your dishwasher itself is cleaned properly. Check the holes in the spinning arms for build-up, and wipe the edges and bottom of the dishwasher doors where water doesn’t reach to remove dirt and left-behind food. Every so often, unplug your washer and thoroughly clean the bottom of it and the drain, using a screwdriver to remove and the reattach it. To prevent a lot of this build-up in the first place, make sure you rinse all your dishes free of large food particles before placing them in the dishwasher.

You will also want to run maintenance washes every month or so. Run your dishwasher on a very hot setting with a cup of vinegar. Do this after you have cleaned out as many food particles as possible by hand. If your dishwasher accumulates mold, leave the door open after each cycle so it can air dry.

Refrigerator
To keep your food well-preserved, take the time to maintain your fridge. Every three months, clean the condenser coils so your fridge uses less energy and lasts longer. Simply vacuum or sweep away the dust. Also clean the drain hole or drip pan to remove food particles so your fridge will continue removing condensation properly. Make sure your fridge door shuts completely so you aren’t wasting any energy or letting cool air escape. To do this, check that your gaskets aren’t damaged and that your fridge is sitting level. Also, change the water filter every six months.

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