Tips for Appliance Care during the Holidays
Using appliances frequently during the holidays results in wear and tear of components, which can cause sudden failures.
Holiday gatherings increase the use of household appliances. As a result, it’s not uncommon for appliances to break down in the middle of a task. Fortunately, with proper care and maintenance, appliances can work without fail and meet the needs of these busy times.
Below are some tips homeowners can use to keep their appliances running.
Check for wear and tear
Using appliances frequently during the holidays results in wear and tear of components, which can cause sudden failures. Worse still, some types of wear and tear, such as frayed electrical cords, can be safety hazards.
Homeowners should thoroughly inspect their appliances for signs of wear before and during the holiday.
Some examples of wear and tear signs are:
Damaged electrical cords on appliances such as kettles and microwaves
Leaks under refrigerators
Unusual noises from air conditioners
Loose seals in ovens
Keep the refrigerator clean and organized
During the holidays, many homeowners stock food in large quantities. Storing different types of food for several days or even weeks can cause unpleasant smells to linger. Regularly washing the fridge’s interior with cleaning agents such as dishwashing liquid soap should be done to prevent foul odors.
When cleaning, a homeowner should first empty the fridge to access corners. In addition to cleaning the interior, a homeowner should also clean the seal around the refrigerator door. Doing so ensures the door closes tightly to prevent cold air from escaping the refrigerator.
Most importantly, homeowners should dust the coils on the appliance’s rear with a soft brush. Clean coils ensure the refrigerator works efficiently.
Although having a packed refrigerator over the holidays is common, overloading it might cause problems. It prevents air from flowing freely, and this can reduce cooling efficiency.
Keep the oven and stove tops clean
Roasting a turkey, baking cookies, and preparing other big meals leave a lot of spills and grease in ovens and on stovetops. The spilled food can affect the performance of the oven or stove in several ways.
It can cause the burners to break down if grime accumulates. Food debris can hinder the transfer of heat, leaving unpleasant smells behind or catching on fire.
The solution for this is cleaning the oven racks and stovetops with a scratch-resistant sponge and a solution of baking powder and water or an oven cleaner.
Don’t overload laundry washers and dryers
Dirty clothes tend to accumulate faster during the holidays. To save time, most people cram more clothes in washers and dryers. However, overloading these appliances strains the belts, motors, and door seals. Eventually, the machine will break down. Homeowners can prevent this by cleaning the laundry load over a few days.
Avoid appliance disappointments this holiday. Although household appliances make work easier, lack of maintenance and overuse during holidays can lead to huge repair and replacement costs. Homeowners should use appliances properly and perform routine checks to keep them working optimally.
Mr Fixer is a fully licensed and insured company providing prompt and efficient installations for all your kitchen and laundry appliances. We guarantee fast response time, quality workmanship, and customer satisfaction.
