How to extend the life of appliances

HOW TO EXTEND THE
LIFE OF APPLIANCES

When it comes time to replace
those worn out appliances, we all
know how taxing it can be on our
pocket. Making sure you get the
most out of your home appliances
will help reduce the frequency of
replacements and save you money.
Check out these handy tips to
extend the life of some commonly
used appliances around your
home.
http://www.allgreenrecycling.com

Unplug Unused Appliances
• Not only do appliances continue to use small
amounts of electricity when plugged in but not in use
(called residual current draw), you’re unknowingly
reducing the life of that appliance as well. This is
especially true for smaller appliances such as
toasters, kettles, mixers, hair dryers, pedestal fans,
etc. These appliances are used infrequently, and so
have no need to be connected to an electricity
source 24/7. When you’ve finished using them,
disconnect them from the wall and store them away.
Your appliances will be safe from electrical current
spikes and will be protected in storage until they’re
needed for your next MasterChef attempt.

Use Distilled Water in Steam Irons
Depending on your location, your local water
supply will contain various levels of trace minerals
that can upset the function of electrical
appliances – steam irons in particular. Calcium and
magnesium minerals present in water form a hard
scale when exposed to heat. This scale can
damage your steam iron and may block the steam
holes, reducing functionality. Make sure you use
distilled, purified water that has been through a
filter or sourced from a hardware store. Boiling
water and cooling it to use in your iron also helps
reduce the trace minerals that end up in your
iron.

• Only Run Appliances When
Necessary
If you have a habit of leaving the TV
on for “background noise”, then you
may want to reconsider using a
radio instead. The unnecessary use
of appliances will clock up hours,
and reduce their usable lifespan.
Prime candidates for unintentional
use include your TV, fan, alarm
clock, and lights of any type. Making
sure you turn these items off when
you’re not using them will reduce
the number of visits to your local
electrical store substantially.

Clean Your Oven, Cooktop, and
Range
We know that leaving bird droppings sitting on your car will
damage the paint. Similarly, grease and food debris will
damage the coating of your oven, cooktop and range. Some
newer ovens are self-cleaning, so be sure to perform a self-
clean cycle as regularly as the manufacturer recommends.
In all other cases, clean inside your oven often – even a
quick wipe after every use – to ensure that nothing gets
baked to the inside. When using your cooktop, never let
food debris stick near or on burners, as the longer it stays
near heat, the harder it will be to remove. Clean up after
each use using soapy dishwater. Apply it with a damp cloth
to ensure you don’t damage any electrical components
with excess water. Clean the filters in your range at least
twice a year washing them in hot, soapy water to bring new
life back to them, and to assist in removing nasty grease
smoke from your kitchen.

Don’t Leave Spills to Mellow in Your
Fridge
If left to sit for long periods, spills in your
refrigerator can turn nasty. Depending on the
fluid, a spill may damage the internals of your
fridge, leave stains and worst of all leave wicked
smells that you may not be able to remove. It
sounds simple, and it is: clean up spills as they
occur. Use paper towel or a soapy sponge. It’s a
good idea to perform a full clean of your
refrigerator once a year using a specialized
cleaning product to make sure bacterial growth is
removed and your food stays fresher, longer.

Wait for a Full Load Before Doing Laundry
Using your washing machine more often than
necessary will lead to increased wear of
components like the drive motor, bearings
and water pump. Cut down on the number of
times you use your machine each week by
batching your laundry loads. Be sure you
collect enough clothing to fill the machine to
a safe capacity before use. Don’t overload it
though. Follow the manufacturer’s’
recommendation as to maximum load
capacity, and be sure not to exceed it and
cause the reverse effect!

Fill the Dishwasher Before Using
Similar to the washing machine, your dishwasher (and the
environment) will benefit from more limited and well-
planned use. Wait until your dishwasher is completely full
before you do a load of dishes, and be sure to follow the
recommendations as to the amount of soap required.

Scrape Off Dirty Dishes First
Dirty water inside a dishwasher clogs filters and causes
excess wear on the water pump. Although the job of a
dishwasher is to do your dirty dishes for you, extend its life
by rinsing your dishes before they get stacked. Minor stains
and sauces are fine – it’s the uneaten scraps, fish bones
and soggy potatoes that are of most concern.

Clean Out Your Lint Filter and Dryer
Exhaust
It’s important to clean the inputs and
outputs of your dryer with every use to
ensure efficiency and safety. A build-up of
lint inside the dryer, or in the dryer
exhaust, has the potential to start a fire if
conditions are favorable. To ensure this
doesn’t happen to you, be sure to clean
the lint filter after every load of washing,
and check the dryer exhaust vent monthly
for lit build up.

Replace Filters in Air Conditioning and Heaters
Regularly
Your home air conditioner and heating system are well
used and little noticed appliances that have the
potential to leave a nasty dent in your budget should
they fail unexpectedly. Have them inspected and cleaned
annually by a qualified technician, and be sure to know
the location of the filters so you can check them
monthly for yourself. Take the filters outside and give
them a gentle tap to dislodge surface dust, and leave
them in direct sunshine to kill any bacteria.

Extending the life of your home appliances is indeed possible, and the simple tips
above can help you save time on replacement, and most importantly, keep more
money in your pocket. Take the little steps necessary each and every day so you can
sit back and relax, knowing that an appliance disaster isn’t lurking around the
kitchen counter…

Questions?
Comments?
Website: http://www.allgreenrecycling.com
All Green Recycling
info@allgreenrecycling.com
(800) 780-0347
Resources:
• http://www.homewarranty.com/pdfs/AppliancesFnl.pdf
• http://www.angieslist.com/articles/10-tips-extend-life-home-
appliances.htm

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