The summer months are full of outdoor activities. From camping and barbecues, to beach trips and canoeing, outdoor activities make us extra dirty, as well as our clothes. In addition, there are often more people in our homes during summer, whether for festive gatherings or simply because the kids are out of school. All of this means that certain appliances are getting more action than usual, such as more loads of laundry, overloading freezers and refrigerators, cooking more meals and more dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
To keep your home appliances working properly during the active summer months, here are some maintenance tips from A Dichristopher Appliance Repair located in Tampa Bay, FL with your 5 most used appliances.
1. Washing Machine
Although high-capacity washers are great for decreasing the number of loads you wash, you’ll nonetheless be washing even more loads in the summer. Here are some ways to help your washing machine take the extra abuse.
- Wash smaller loads, especially when washing beach towels.
- If possible, wash rugs and rubber mats in a commercial-grade washer in a laundromat.
- Clean the drum with a damp cloth weekly.
- Remove and clean the lint filter with each use.
- Don’t use more detergent than is necessary for the load size.
- Use the correct machine setting and separate heavily soiled items from delicates.
- Avoid dropping the lid or slamming the door to extend the life of the switch.
2. Dryer
Pool parties, river tubing and other water activities will also put more strain on your dryer. Here are some ways to soften the blow.
- Avoid overloading to prevent damage to the motor, belt and other moving parts.
- Clean your lint filter with each load.
- Periodically, lightly scrub the lint filter with mild detergent and water.
3. Refrigerator
You definitely want to keep your beverages ice-cold after strenuous summer activities. Here are some ways to help your refrigerator along.
- Resist the urge to overload your fridge and freezer due to extra guests, in order to protect the compressor and to keep air circulating freely.
- Limit how often you open the doors, also to protect the compressor.
- Clean the door gaskets to ensure they are sealing properly, and that buildup doesn’t damage them.
- Periodically vacuum the coils on the back or along the bottom front.
- Discard expired or rotten foods to prevent contamination and to save space.
4. Dishwasher
Although paper plates can be a lifesaver occasionally, we want to keep the health of the Earth in mind. Here are a few ways to protect both your dishwasher and the environment.
- Clean the filter/screen with a vacuum regularly to keep it from clogging and limiting water flow.
- Clear debris from food drains routinely.
- Once every couple of weeks, remove the arms and soak them in vinegar to remove mineral deposits.
- Regularly clean the door gaskets with a sponge or soft brush to prevent leakage and to keep the seal from weakening.
- Check the racks for scratches and nicks with exposed metal that can rust and cause permanently stained dishes.
- Once a month, pour a cup of vinegar into the detergent cup and basin and run a cycle.
5. Range/Stove
Summer favorites like potato salad, baked beans and corn-on-the-cob always taste better homemade. Ensure your range/stove is prepared for the feasts of summer with these tips.
- Use soap and water or a light duty cleaner to wipe down the control panel and knobs, avoiding abrasive cleaners or pads that can damage indicator decals.
- Remove food deposits with a scratch-free pad or straight-edge scraper from smooth cooktops.
- For gas cooktops, clean debris from the burners with a toothbrush.
- Clean porcelain-coated steel cooktops with a non-abrasive pad and a heavy duty degreaser, using care around knob shaft holes to prevent burner switches from shorting out due to moisture.
- Clean drips and spills inside your oven as soon as they happen to avoid fires and smoke that can set off detectors.
With a little extra time and effort, you can keep your appliances running smoothly to accommodate all your festive summer activities. If one of your appliances goes kaput, contact A DiChristopher Appliance Service to save the day and keep your summer running smoothly.