The washer and dryer, dishwasher and refrigerator have changed life in the United States over the last 120 years or so. We depend on our appliances to make home life more efficient, convenient and comfortable, but we don't always take those simple steps that prevent our appliances from breaking down or wearing out faster than they should. These are some of the most common blunders - and I have been guilty of many of these:
Washing Machine
Don't overstuff your washing machine. It can damage the suspension and coils and may also damage clothes. In addition, I have to believe that it is harder to get clothes clean when they are stuffed in to the machine and don't have room to get swished around and fully rinsed at the end.
If items such as coins and zippers rattle around inside the washer, they can cause damage. Check pockets before putting clothes in the washer, and zip up any zippers so they don’t damage the machine.
If you start a load of laundry and then forget to put it in the dryer when the cycle finishes, your clothes can get moldy. In addition to causing an unpleasant odor, mold can spread and damage the electronic components of the washer
Hair, lint and dirt can accumulate inside a washing machine and clog the motor, which can prevent the washer from agitating and getting clothes clean. The washer needs to be cleaned periodically to remove any accumulated waste that could cause damage. (This sounds like a job for a professional. It is less expensive to pay a professional for a cleaning that to replace the machine entirely!)
Refrigerator
The compressor in a refrigerator is usually located in the back. If it isn’t cleaned regularly and gets covered in dust, it’ll be unable to provide the condenser coils with enough air, which means the refrigerator will be unable to cool.
Overfilling your fridge can lead to problems. Blocking the air vents in the back of the refrigerator can prevent it from cooling food adequately and can cause the condenser coils to overheat.
Leaving the refrigerator door open unnecessarily can cause it to adjust to the outside temperature. That can cause strain and make the refrigerator less efficient.
Oven
An oven is designed to cook food, but homeowners sometimes run into problems when they use the appliance in a way that wasn’t intended. Using an oven to heat a house can damage the internal components.
Keeping the oven clean can keep it working efficiently. Failing to clean up spilled food can cause damage to electronic parts and make the oven struggle to cook food.
Dishwasher
If you are running a load of particularly dirty dishes, don't add extra dishwasher detergent. The truth is that too many suds can damage electronic components. The normal amount of dishwasher detergent should work fine. Try rinsing the food off first.
Avoid Unnecessary Bills
Broken or worn-out appliances can be expensive to repair or replace. Appliances often become damaged by common mistakes. If you’ve been making any of these blunders, change your habits and use your appliances the way they were intended so they’ll last as long as possible. After all - even the Bethesda condo queen likes to save money.
