Appliance Cleaning & Maintenance Tips
This week we’ve invited the dads behind the website to share their best home improvement and maintenance tips and tricks with our readers. This article may contain affiliate links. Learn more about our policy here.
For the last nine years, Mark Rathbun has spent his days testing, cleaning and refurbishing appliances at Donation Warehouse. In that time he has seen it all: mice crawling into stoves and frying the circuit boards (and themselves), dryers filled with years worth of loose change and lint, and washers that have been plugged because of a rogue baby sock.
So whether you are doing some spring cleaning, or ready to do some preventative maintenance to extend the life of your appliances, we’ve got Mark’s tips to keep you cooking and cleaning all year long:
Dryers and Lint Don’t Mix
In addition to cleaning the lint trap in your dryer after every load it is important to annually clean and inspect your dryer vent. This not only helps it run more efficiently, but also helps prevent the very real risk of fire. If your dryer seems to take longer than it used to to dry your clothes, there’s a good chance that there is lint clogging up the duct work and keeping all that hot, wet air inside the dryer.
To clean your dryer vent and duct:
Pull your dryer away from the wall and unhook the the duct located on the back. If you have a gas dryer, turn of your gas supply while cleaning.
Use a vacuum to get out any debris from the duct and even the outside vent. You can try using a wire hangar for longer areas, or use a vent cleaning kit.
Stainless Steel Appliances
If you have kids in your house, chances are every stainless appliance is covered in fingerprints. It’s easy enough to clean the finger prints off (warm water and a mild detergent will do the trick), but did you know you can actually minimize fingerprints before they happen? No specialty cleaners required. All it takes is a bottle of pledge.
After removing any dirt and grime with a soft cloth and the cleaner of your choice (avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive pads as they can scratch the stainless steel), spray the surface with a heavy layer of pledge furniture polish.
Rub it in using a circular motion.
Allow to sit for 2-3 minutes.
Wipe away with a soft cloth; old t-shirts work great for this. If you don’t have pledge on hand, vinegar and olive oil also works!
Dishwasher Cleaning
You’d think the appliance that cleans the plates and utensils you eat off of would be a beacon of cleanliness, but if you look closely, there may be a lot of gunk and grime hiding in there.
Clean the drain and/or filter regularly. Many dishwashers have a filter in the bottom of it. It traps scummy food particles and even hair. If your filter or drain are dirty and clogged it could lead to costly repairs, and besides that, it is just gross.
Clean with Vinegar. Fill a cup with vinegar, place on the top rack and run a regular cycle. Your dishwasher should be fresh and clean! For more serious cleaning power, sprinkle some baking soda in the empty dishwasher before running a short cycle.
Is your refrigerator running? Then you should probably check it!
Inspect refrigerator and freezer seals. Keep the cold air in and prevent them from running constantly, which is not only bad for your electric bill, but will shorten the lifespan of your appliance.
The other thing that can make your fridge work overtime is dust, dirt and hair clogging up the coils. Take a vacuum and clean off any coils behind and under your refrigerator once or twice a year.
Washing Machines
Inspect washer hoses regularly and replace seals and hoses as needed. Always tighten hoses with a wrench, tightening by hand is a sure way to wind up with water on the floor. If you are still worried about potential water damage from your washer, consider purchasing one of these nifty trays to set underneath in case a leak every arises.
If you are installing a used washer or one that has sat outside or in storage where the temperatures may have dipped below freezing, inspect the inside and outside of the tub to look for any spots that may have frozen and cracked. Run a small first load and don’t leave it unattended, in case there is a leak.
Stoves
It is always easiest to clean a dirty stove and oven right when the spill occurs, but let’s be honest, that doesn’t always happen. For dirty drip pans under your burners, steel wool should be able to take off most grime, but replacement drip pans are easy to find online, new at Ace Hardware, or stop by Donation Warehouse for some used ones.
For glasstop stoves, Cerama Bryte is our favorite way to safely and effectively clean them without scratching.
Inside ovens, most household oven degreaser cleaners do a good job if you follow the directions. We like EZ OFF, and find that it works best if you apply it to a slightly warm oven. But if you have a really stuck on mess, carefully scraping with a razor scraper can make a world of difference.
For some preventative maintenance, inspect the seal around oven door to help keep the heat in and food cooking evenly. If you notice and cracks or gaps, replace the seal.
Still having issues with your appliances? Give Donation Warehouse a call at (406) 240-4042. The staff would be happy to help you find a quality, refurbished replacement within their ever-changing inventory. You can see some of the current inventory online at www.donationwarehouse.net
