In our modern consumer-driven lives, it’s become far too easy to simply throw out an appliance looking a little worse for wear and replace it with a shiny new one. The result on our environment is disastrous and more to the point; we’re spending an awful lot of money that really doesn’t have to be spent.
So now, in the run-up to winter, while you’re busy winterproofing your home, it’s the ideal opportunity to spend some time checking in with your appliances too. You might be pleasantly surprised at how much maintenance you can do yourself, and you may just save your appliance (and your wallet), too.
START WITH YOUR FRIDGES
You will be surprised at how many little things can go wrong with your fridge, and to be fair, most of them will need some type of specialist knowledge. But one of the most significant issues that most fridge owners will experience is a break in the seal around the door.
Most fridges will come with a lifespan of around ten years, so to ensure that you get the most out of yours, check the seals regularly. Broken seals that don’t work effectively can cause strain on your fridges’ motor as it has to work harder to cool the interior, which can cost you more energy bills and, ultimately, a new fridge.
DEODORISE YOUR DISHWASHER
Daily use can take its toll on everyone’s favourite appliance, the dishwasher. Even though you regularly change the salt and use a nice, fresh-smelling dishwashing agent, regular use can leave the interior of your dishwasher smelling less than clean.
Once a week, run your dishwasher with a cup of vinegar to keep everything clean and fresh but do take care not to have dishes inside when you do.
It’s also a good idea to generally keep your dishwasher clean. Check the filters, remove the baskets and open up the bottom filter; you can use your vacuum cleaner to suck out any large debris or bits of food that didn’t make it into the disposal pipe of your dishwasher. Think about the fact that all of that icky stuff has been stuck at the bottom of your dishwasher since the last time you cleaned it, if at all, and you’ll be motivated to do this more regularly.
GIVING YOUR WASHING MACHINE THE ONCE OVER
Right up there with the dishwasher, this is one of the average household favourite appliances; who wants to return to the days of “beating” the washing in the back garden? So to prevent leaks and floods in your laundry room, take the time to check out your washing machines hoses and pipes, connections and connectors and ensure that all is as it should be.
Washing machines can create a lot of noise as they vibrate along with their cycles, so think about fitting anti-vibration pads on their feet to minimise this.
CLEANING YOUR TUMBLE DRIERS FILTER
It’s straightforward to determine if your tumble driers filter needs changing. Take the filter out and run some water of it; if the water absorbs – then it’s time to give it a clean. Take the filter out and clean it with hot water and laundry detergent, and you’ll see that once it’s clean and reinstalled, your tumble drier will be way more efficient at drying.
A tumble drier that has a clogged up filter will not just decrease your driers efficiency, but could also pose a fire risk, so make this a regular part of your maintenance routine.
CLEANING YOUR MICROWAVE
Microwave ovens can often be overused appliances in the modern home and are also some of the most neglected, so it’s essential to include this device on your “checklist”. Check the door to make sure that it seals properly, check the power chord, and check the interior. If the glass tray is cracked, have it replaced as this can cause damage and potential injury down the line, but also make sure that’s it’s cleaned properly.
Using a microwave-safe bowl, fill it to the halfway mark with water and place lemon slices inside. Heat the microwave, and the resulting steam will help clean the interior of your oven and leave a pleasant odour.
AIR FILTERS, WATER FILTERS AND POOL FILTERS
Filters all around! It’s an excellent idea to keep on top of this function as regularly as you can. Follow manufacturers guidelines, but honestly, it’s not a bad idea to check all of your filters once a month. If you’re one of the rare types that have a swimming pool in the United Kingdom, then remember to check your pool filters regularly, too, because stuffy or blocked filters don’t just limit the performance quality of your appliance but can cause potentially irreparable damage too if not taken care of.
GENERAL CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Of course, the better overall care you take of your appliance, the longer lifespan you’re going to get to enjoy its use, and this mean that running your appliances the way they’re meant to be run, not overloading your washing machines, driers or dishwashers and ensuring that air conditioners and heating systems are well maintained and regularly checked-out all contribute to the length of use you’re going to get out of your appliances.
Simple things like not banging doors of top loader washing machines, fridges or ovens and installing anti-vibration feet on appliances like washing machines and tumble driers all contribute to a reduction in friction (and noise).
Regular checks of your appliances will reveal issues that could potentially be rectified before the instrument needs to be replaced. If you need spare parts, you can find Online Appliance Spares that are competitively priced and could mean you don’t have to buy a new appliance at all.
As you’re moving about your home, it is also an ideal time to check in with how your home is doing on the green scale and how innovations in energy could go some way to reaching sustainability and “off the grid goals” for your home.
*This is a collaborative post