When time is tight, nobody wants to waste any more of theirs on maintenance and chores than they have to, but trust us; paying a little attention to your home now can save you a lot of time (and money) down the line. Regular upkeep can guarantee your appliances are running at top efficiency and can help prevent avoidable issues that require costly repairs.
We understand that time is a hot commodity. At any given moment work, family, and social obligations are competing for your attention. Until you figure out a way to add a few extra hours in the day, you can’t get to everything that you want; but just because you’re busy and can’t spare a lot of your time doesn’t mean you should be stuck with inefficient and malfunctioning appliances. That’s why we’ve developed a quick guide to appliance maintenance that won’t eat up all of your spare time.
Time and time again we’ve said how a clean machine is a happy machine. A happy machine is an efficient one too, which is why our maintenance tips have to do with cleaning. You can add these steps to your regular routine without worrying about spending all of your spare time on housework.
Oven & Stovetop
Take a look at your stove top. If it has coils, likely there’s a bit of a mess underneath them. That’s okay; there are drip bowls for a reason, but it’s important to keep these clean. Once a month, check the drip bowls underneath the coiled elements. If you see any debris or caked on mess, remove them and place them in hot soapy water. If this isn’t enough to clean the mess away, you’ll need to get new bowls. They’re relatively inexpensive at most hardware stores. The best rule of thumb is to wipe out stains as soon as you spill them, to avoid having to replace them.
Most ovens have a self-cleaning feature that makes this one of the easiest maintenance tasks. This process usually takes about an hour, during which your oven will lock and rise to incredibly high temperatures to bake off any messes or spills. No caustic chemicals or elbow grease are necessary; simply wait until this cleaning cycle is done (and your oven is cool!) to wipe out the charred mess.
Fridge & Freezer
The fridge and freezer work best when they’re clean. This doesn’t mean you have to keep both of these appliance immaculate inside and out. Just keep an eye out for the way your fridge and freezer is packed. Your fridge and freezer needs air space in order to circulate their cool temperatures, which means you can’t pack either of these appliances too full. Take a look at our other blog post about fridge hacks to learn more.
You’ll also want to include your fridge and freezer in your vacuuming routine. The coils of these appliances collect dust and other debris, which you’ll want to suck up. You don’t have to do this very often, as it takes a while for a significant amount of dirt to collect; but remember to vacuum these coils twice a year – unplugging the machines before you do! While you do that, grab your partner or roommate and pull out the appliance from the wall. You might be surprised by what you find back there, but you’ll easily sweep or vacuum away the evidence.
Washer & Dryer
Every time you use your washer, ensure you’re using the recommended amount of detergent for the particular model you’re using. Homeowners frequently only follow those recommendations they find on the side of the bottle. While we admit this is easier, it’s technically wrong. Each machine has different specifications. Going over the suggested detergent amount for your model can cause it to work harder than it should. To find the recommendation for your model, take a look at your user guide and commit the number to memory.
Every few months, inspect the detergent and laundry softener dispenser of your washing machine. After a while, these liquids create a gooey residue that can gum up your machine. If you notice a build-up of soap, take a clean rag and hot water to this dispenser. It’s also a good idea to check the washing machine’s drum from time to time, too. Detergent and debris can build up in these tubs and cause residue, so keep that rag handy and wash out the drum whenever you tackle the dispenser.
The easiest way to keep your dryer in good repair is by checking its lint trap every time you put in a load. Cleaning the filter of lint and other material will ensure your appliance is running more efficiently and prevent fires that are caused by restricted air flow through the filter. Simply wipe away the collected lint before every load. When you have a vacuum nearby use a narrow attachment to clean out the filter’s container, but this doesn’t have to be done every time you use the drier – once a month is enough!
These are just a handful of our favourite maintenance tips for the most common appliances. We included these ones because of how little time they’ll add to your existing cleaning routines, but there are plenty more. You may even have a long list of maintenance checks that you already follow! Hopefully, by including these (and any other practice) on your checklist, your household appliances will be running more efficiently.
Sometimes issues can sneak up on us against our best intentions. If you’ve noticed any of your appliances aren’t running like they used to, they could need a more involved diagnostic check-up by our technicians. Our talented team are available 24/7 to provide the best appliance repair and maintenance to help get your machines back to normal as soon as possible!
