Caring for Your Dishwasher
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Clean the Drain Filter - The drain filter is what catches any food and debris from falling into the drain. Check the filter weekly and give it a good clean by removing any food buildup and running it under some hot water. Doing so can help prevent your dishwasher from backing up.
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Clean Your Dishwasher - Yes, even though your dishwasher constantly has soap and hot water running in it, it's still a good idea to give your dishwasher a good clean at least once a month.
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Common Methods for Cleaning Dishwashers - Use store-bought dishwasher cleaning solutions & place 1 cup of white vinegar on the bottom shelf and run the dishwasher on a hot water cycle (make sure the dishwasher is empty).
Caring for Your Washing Machine
- Check the Hoses Regularly - Check your hoses every month or so for any cracks, bulging, or loose connections. Tighten any loose connections and replace any hoses that are damaged. As a rule of thumb, you should replace the hoses every 5 years or so. Replacing your bad hoses and tightening connections can save you from a flooded laundry room!
- Don't Wash Too Much Laundry in One Load - Overloading your washer will overwork it which can damage your washer's drum and decrease efficiency. Although it'll take more loads to get through your laundry, breaking everything into small loads can save you from waking up to a damaged washer!
Caring for Your Refrigerator
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Keep It Full - Refrigerators need thermal mass in order to maintain the proper temperature. An empty refrigerator has to work harder to keep cool, which puts a lot of strain on the appliance and can lead to more frequent repairs.
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Check & Clean the Door Seals - When food, grease, or debris build up in refrigerator seals, they can become less effective. Make sure to clean your seals 1-2 times per year with a toothbrush and a mixture of baking soda and water. Loose, damaged, or dirty seals allow cool air to seep out of your fridge, resulting in energy loss and system strain.
Caring for Your Garbage Disposal
- Don’t Treat It Like a Trash Can - While it might seem like your garbage disposal can handle anything, it is important to be careful about what goes down it. Many different types of food and kitchen waste have been found to be harmful to either your disposal or pipes - avoid putting these things down your garbage disposal: eggshells, coffee grounds, bones, fruit pits, glass, fibrous vegetables, corn husks, potato peels, onion peels, fat, & grease.
- Grind Ice Cubes - Grinding a couple of ice cubes once a month can sharpen the blades and clear away any waste stuck in the walls of your disposal.
Caring for Your Microwave
- Keep It Clean - The longevity of your microwave is heavily dependent on how often it is cleaned. Food and liquid spots that aren’t cleaned can create burn spots that damage your microwave. Be sure to clean spills and splatters right away and perform routine cleaning of your microwave at least once a month using warm water and soap.
- Cover Your Food - As food heats up, it can splatter in the microwave, potentially damaging the paint and metal in the oven. Be sure to use a microwave-safe cover to prevent this issue from occurring.
Caring for Your Oven
- Use the Self-Cleaning Feature Sparingly - The self-cleaning feature on your oven is mainly intended for major food spill situations. It can break up stubborn food spots that are too difficult to clean by hand. However, if used too often, this feature can cause damage to your oven, so be sure to limit its use.
- Clean Your Oven By Hand - Leaving burnt food in your oven can reduce its efficiency over time, so you should deep clean it at least twice a year. We recommend using a vinegar and baking soda solution to get the job done.
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Contact Mr. Appliance of Bergen County for Professional Appliance Inspections
Properly maintaining your home appliances reduces the risk of repairs, maximizes system performance, and extends the lifespan of each system. Check out the home appliance maintenance checklist below, then give our Bergen County appliance maintenance pros a call to learn more.
Mr. Appliance of Bergen County understands that you want to make sure your home is as comfortable and functional as possible. Maintaining your home appliances and using them correctly is a great way to prolong their life and keep your home running smoothly. At Mr. Appliance of Bergen County, our Bergen County appliance maintenance professionals are always happy to help take care of your essential home appliances and systems. From refrigerators to wine coolers to washing machines, we are familiar with all makes and models of home appliance equipment.
Dial us to learn more about our appliance maintenance services in Bergen County today!