Buying appliances is an expensive investment.
While you expect them to last for years, sometimes your "practically new" appliance suddenly stops working or isn't performing as it once did.
While normal wear and tear is expected, did you know that misuse and neglect on your part can speed up the breakdown rate of dishwashers, stoves, refrigerators, clothes dryers and washing machines? Avoid the expense and headache of having to repair or replace your expensive appliances prematurely by following these maintenance and usage tips.
Washing Machines Coins or metal objects left in pockets can damage the inner drum or outer tube of your washer.
Inner-drum damage can result in torn or pulled clothing, while outer-tub damage can lead to leaks.
Experts suggest never washing anything with heavy metal components.
Always check the pockets of clothing before placing them in the machine.
When piles of dirty laundry need to get done, you may be tempted to overload your washer to hurry the process along.
Experts caution against overloading.
Overloading can create additional wear and tear on certain parts, such as bearings and suspension, making them prone to premature failure.
Always follow the manufacturer's suggestion for loading capacity.
Clothes Dryer Not cleaning out excess lint in your dryer's filter and vent is the leading cause of premature failure and increased energy cost.
Any build-up of lint in the filter dramatically reduces the airflow, so that your dryer has to work harder to dry your clothes.
In addition to affecting the performance of your dryer, lint accumulation in vents and filters is a leading cause of house fires.
Read your instruction manual carefully and clean the lint filter every time before use.
Make sure to remove any lint and debris from other places where fluff tends to collect such as the back, around the mouth of the lint filter and around the door.
If in doubt have your dryer serviced by a technician to ensure all ducting and vents are free of lint.
Glass Cooktop Glass and ceramic cooktops are popularly known for their mirror-like shine and smooth, virtually maintenance-free surface.
Without the proper care, however, costly damage made to the surface can add up.
While extremely durable, blunt force can crack the glass.
Be careful not to drop or bang anything too heavy.
Using the wrong pans can also cause damage to your glass cooktop.
Oversized or concave-bottomed pans can trap heat and cause the hard surface to crack.
Don't slide your pots and pans across the cook top as this can leave metal marks on the surface.
Only use cleaning products recommended by the manufacturer, and remove food spillages quickly, to prevent them from burning to the surface.
Avoid using abrasive cleaners or scouring pads to clean your stove top.
Doing so can scratch the surface.
Refrigerator and Freezer Once a year (or more if you have furry pets), vacuum the dust from the condenser coils (usually located at the back or the bottom of the appliance) using a vacuum cleaner.
The compressor is a part of the cooling system.
If you fail to clean the coils, the compressor will be forced to work harder and may overheat.
Use a condenser-cleaner brush or any soft, tapered brush to help you access small crevices and tight areas.
Don't poke at the coils with any metal or sharp items to avoid damaging them.
Always unplug the refrigerator before cleaning and refer to the manufacturer's manual for special instructions.
Dishwasher One small nick in the vinyl-coated racks can lead to rusting that can ruin a dishwasher.
Once the metal inside begins to rust, it's a snowball effect that can't be stopped.
The rust will stain the dishes until you replace either the rack or the machine.
Arrange sharp items in the cutlery basket so that they won't damage the racks or the door seal, and load sharp kitchen knives with the handles pointing upwards.
The best choice is hand washing all kitchenware with sharp parts or edges.
While you expect them to last for years, sometimes your "practically new" appliance suddenly stops working or isn't performing as it once did.
While normal wear and tear is expected, did you know that misuse and neglect on your part can speed up the breakdown rate of dishwashers, stoves, refrigerators, clothes dryers and washing machines? Avoid the expense and headache of having to repair or replace your expensive appliances prematurely by following these maintenance and usage tips.
Washing Machines Coins or metal objects left in pockets can damage the inner drum or outer tube of your washer.
Inner-drum damage can result in torn or pulled clothing, while outer-tub damage can lead to leaks.
Experts suggest never washing anything with heavy metal components.
Always check the pockets of clothing before placing them in the machine.
When piles of dirty laundry need to get done, you may be tempted to overload your washer to hurry the process along.
Experts caution against overloading.
Overloading can create additional wear and tear on certain parts, such as bearings and suspension, making them prone to premature failure.
Always follow the manufacturer's suggestion for loading capacity.
Clothes Dryer Not cleaning out excess lint in your dryer's filter and vent is the leading cause of premature failure and increased energy cost.
Any build-up of lint in the filter dramatically reduces the airflow, so that your dryer has to work harder to dry your clothes.
In addition to affecting the performance of your dryer, lint accumulation in vents and filters is a leading cause of house fires.
Read your instruction manual carefully and clean the lint filter every time before use.
Make sure to remove any lint and debris from other places where fluff tends to collect such as the back, around the mouth of the lint filter and around the door.
If in doubt have your dryer serviced by a technician to ensure all ducting and vents are free of lint.
Glass Cooktop Glass and ceramic cooktops are popularly known for their mirror-like shine and smooth, virtually maintenance-free surface.
Without the proper care, however, costly damage made to the surface can add up.
While extremely durable, blunt force can crack the glass.
Be careful not to drop or bang anything too heavy.
Using the wrong pans can also cause damage to your glass cooktop.
Oversized or concave-bottomed pans can trap heat and cause the hard surface to crack.
Don't slide your pots and pans across the cook top as this can leave metal marks on the surface.
Only use cleaning products recommended by the manufacturer, and remove food spillages quickly, to prevent them from burning to the surface.
Avoid using abrasive cleaners or scouring pads to clean your stove top.
Doing so can scratch the surface.
Refrigerator and Freezer Once a year (or more if you have furry pets), vacuum the dust from the condenser coils (usually located at the back or the bottom of the appliance) using a vacuum cleaner.
The compressor is a part of the cooling system.
If you fail to clean the coils, the compressor will be forced to work harder and may overheat.
Use a condenser-cleaner brush or any soft, tapered brush to help you access small crevices and tight areas.
Don't poke at the coils with any metal or sharp items to avoid damaging them.
Always unplug the refrigerator before cleaning and refer to the manufacturer's manual for special instructions.
Dishwasher One small nick in the vinyl-coated racks can lead to rusting that can ruin a dishwasher.
Once the metal inside begins to rust, it's a snowball effect that can't be stopped.
The rust will stain the dishes until you replace either the rack or the machine.
Arrange sharp items in the cutlery basket so that they won't damage the racks or the door seal, and load sharp kitchen knives with the handles pointing upwards.
The best choice is hand washing all kitchenware with sharp parts or edges.