Tips and Tricks to Get the Most Out of Your Home Appliances

With the economy putting extra strain on families across the country, it is more important than ever to make our household appliances last as long as possible. There are plenty of guides on how to find deals on new purchases and where to get the best appliances. But what about taking care of the appliances we already own? Many families can’t afford to get new appliances and need to make the current ones last. These tips will not only help you take care of your household items – they will show you how to get the most out of them as well.

Dishwasher
You might not pay very much attention to the way you load your dishwasher every time. But there is an ideal way to load a dishwasher for optimal results. Firstly, you’ll want to face the dirty sides of plates and bowls toward the water spray. When you load pots and pans, you’ll want to angle them down to get the insides clean. Silverware generally faces up except for knives. However, be careful not to let spoons “nest” together. This is when you place two spoons next to each other in the silverware basket with the backside of one spoon nesting within the front side of another. This prevents water from properly cleaning those unexposed sides.

Loading properly is one way to ensure you are getting the most out of your dishwasher. But just as important is the regular maintenance you perform on the appliance. For example, you’ll need to occasionally clean the leftover salt off the bottom of the dishwasher. After a while, you will need to look into descaling methods for your type of dishwasher. Other maintenance tasks include cleaning the spray armholes, cleaning the filter, tightening any loose water-hose clamps, and checking the door seal gasket for any cracks or leaks.

Coffeemaker
The coffeemaker is maybe not the biggest or most expensive appliance but, to many households, it is essential. Let’s start with the right coffee to water ratio. A recommendation by The Specialty Coffee Association of America reports that it should be two tablespoons of coffee to each six ounces of water. Once you get the right coffee ratio down, it’s time to properly clean the appliance. It is said you should never use bleach to clean the brewing mechanism. Instead, read the manual to see if any parts are dishwasher safe.

Air Conditioner
The kitchen isn’t the only part of the house with important appliances. With summer right around the corner, your property’s air conditioning is an integral asset to the comfort of your home. There are things you can do to take better care of your A/C. For one thing, be sure to change the filter once a month to prevent dust build-ups. If using central A/C, be sure to seal all the A/C ducts and insulate the ducts that run through the attic or basement. This insulates the rooms you don’t need cooled.

If you have done everything to get the best out of your air conditioning but still face problems, you should hire a professional for repairs. Don’t be stubborn or impatient. Safety is the first priority. Besides, Getzschman Air Conditioning offers same day service to the majority of service calls. Maintenance is a good thing to do by yourself but a trained professional should do repair work.