Looking after your appliances at home

These days, our homes are full of tools, appliances and gadgets that we rely on to keep everything running smoothly and in order to live the kind of lives we take for granted. From maintaining a bearable temperature indoors, to preserving and preparing the food we eat, to keeping our clothes clean and neat and getting to work on time, we all use a range of household appliances and devices that need properly looking after if they’re going to do their job well.

Everyday maintenance

To keep any appliances in order, regular cleaning and maintenance is needed. You don’t need to be an electrical expert or even understand exactly how everything works in order to be able to do this, though a certain amount of mechanical know-how is always an advantage. If something goes seriously wrong, you may need to call in a professional to undertake repairs: never mess around with electrical items or your household plumbing if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing. However, everyday maintenance is something that can and should be done by everyone.

Increased efficiency

Looking after your household appliances will make them last longer, meaning that it will take more time before they wear out and have to be replaced. Another way that good maintenance will save you money is that it will make them run more efficiently, using less power and so reducing your utility bills. One of the first signs of a poorly maintained appliance is that your bills go up as they need more power in order to function. This is often because they’re compensating for something that can be fixed with just a little bit of care and attention.

Looking after your refrigerator

If the kitchen is the heart of every home, then the refrigerator is the heart of any kitchen, and if it’s not working properly, you’ll soon know about it. Keep it clean inside and out, and make sure that the door seal isn’t loose or cracked as escaping gas will greatly reduce your fridge’s efficiency. Check this refrigerator guide for advice on how to clean refrigerator coils, which will gather dust at the back of your fridge. If these are left untended, then your fridge could overheat and insulation will be hampered.

Taking care of the dishwasher

A dishwasher will save you a lot of time and troubles when it comes to cleaning up after a meal. To keep your dishwasher in working order, take some time to clean it outevery once in a while. A thorough clean every few months is recommended. You can use vinegar or lemon juice to remove grease, stains and odors, and pay special attention to the spray arm nozzles. If the filter on the bottom of your dishwasher has circular holes covering it, this means that it’s self-cleaning. However, if this isn’t the case, then the filter will need regularly cleaning out as well.

Seeing to the stove

Ideally, you should clean out your oven every time you use it. Depending on what you’ve been cooking, this may not be too big a job, but it’s always worth doing. Spilled food will harden and become more difficult to remove over time. The same goes for any spillages or grease on the stove top. Just like with your refrigerator, check that the door seal isn’t loose or cracked as this will greatly reduce efficiency.

Attending to your air conditioning

It’s easy to neglect your household air conditioning unit, but you’ll soon regret it on hot and humid summer days. Thankfully, looking after the A/C is pretty simple and straightforward. The main thing to remember is to clean it out every two to three weeks. Just take off the panel covering and clean out the accumulated dirt. You may also need to replace the filter if it’s not reusable. Doing this will help to reduce and stabilize the unit’s power consumption and you’ll notice that it’s generally working better.

Sorting out your vacuum cleaner

Change the bag of your vacuum cleaner regularly and make sure that it’s secured properly within the machine. If dirt and dust escape into the workings, it will get clogged up and may make your floor dirtier than before you used it. You should also check the belt every couple of months for thinning or stretching. Replace it every six months or whenever it shows signs of significant wear.

These are just a few of the everyday household appliances that need looking after. Once you get into the habit, regular maintenance won’t seem like such a massive chore. It will keep your appliances working properly and will extend their lifespan significantly.

Beatrice Merlin