Insanely Simple Tips for Keeping Your Appliances in Tip-Top Shape

It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many people pay top dollar for a high-end appliance, then neglect to clean it. This allows dirt to build up inside the device, which can affect normal function over time.

Every week or so, wipe down your new appliance inside and out. It won’t just look nice: you’ll keep it working longer.

For most appliances, ordinary cleaning is good — but they sometimes need cleaning that goes beyond weekly chores. Dust or hard water residue can build up inside your appliances, choking motors and other essential components and forcing them to work harder.

Do your research to learn how often you should be doing these kinds of occasional deep cleans. Then perform them on a regular schedule — whether that’s rinsing out the inside of the appliance with vinegar, opening it up to vacuum its inner components, changing a filter, or something else. These chores can be intimidating if you don’t know much about basic appliance maintenance, so consider hiring a professional if you catch yourself stalling.

Speaking of professionals, it’s time to open the phone book. Unless you’re particularly handy yourself, it’s best to hire someone to come in and perform maintenance on your appliance, at least once a year.

Many owners will defer this type of maintenance until there’s an obvious problem with their appliance. But even if your appliance isn’t out-and-out malfunctioning, a professional will examine it and detect possible signs of wear-and-tear. They can fix these problems before they start to act up, saving you serious money.

Many appliances in your home will interact with water in some way. If your water is full of minerals, these will build up on the inside of your appliance with time, forcing it to work harder and shortening its lifespan.

Investing in a water softener will remove these minerals from your water, greatly reducing the amount of mineral buildup you see over time, and improving the lifespan of your appliance. Plus, you’ll notice this positive change on your skin, hair, and clothes, too.

Your appliances are essential to your home. By taking basic steps to maintain them, like cleaning them regularly, investing in maintenance, and buying a water softener, you’ll ensure their proper functioning for years to come.