Avoid Costly Repairs: Maintaining Your Dishwasher and Other Appliances

By: Guest Author

You wouldn’t think of driving your car if it hadn’t had the oil changed in the last 3,000 miles. A car is a mechanical device that requires maintenance to keep it running at optimum levels. The appliances in your home are also mechanical devices that require some maintenance from time to time. They aren’t as demanding as a car, but they should still be cleaned and cared for periodically. When your car isn’t serviced, it breaks down. When your Garden City appliance isn’t serviced, it too will require costly repairs. There are tasks you can do to keep your appliances running well, and there are a few things a trained technician will need to take care of.

Your Dishwasher

People rarely think of cleaning their dishwasher. It’s silly to clean the inside of a machine that’s made to clean, but food particles, dirt, and even hard water debris can build up and cause problems for your machine. First, it should be noted that you’ll be working on a clean, empty dishwasher. Don’t do this when it’s full of dirty dishes. Check the arms, they are the things that spin around. The holes should be clean. If they aren’t, use a cotton swab and needle-nosed pliers to wipe them out. Next, wipe around the door edges. Use an everyday household cleaner and a washcloth to get rid of any spots. Next, clean the dirt line at the bottom of the door. This part of the dishwasher doesn’t get wet during the wash cycle so grime can easily build up there. Finally, remove all food particles around the drain.

Your Washer/Dryer

The washer and dryer are like the workhorses in the home. If you have a family of three or more, you are constantly running one or both machines. With all the new advances in energy efficiency and digital controls, you’d think a washer or dryer could keep itself clean too. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Cleaning the lint trap after every load should be an automatic task. However, cleaning the lint trap will not keep lint from building up in the duct. Every six months or so, you’ll want to unhook your dryer and clean out the duct. It doesn’t take long, but it can prevent a house fire.

Your washing machine hose should be changed out every five years. These hoses get worn out and split. When they do, they leak hundreds of gallons of water onto your floor without warning. Besides this upkeep, you’ll need to clean the outside of your machine with a nonabrasive cleaner about once a month.

Your Refrigerator

The final Garden City appliance you’ll need to maintain is your refrigerator. Once every six months, you’ll need to pull the fridge away from the wall and clean the condenser coils. When the coils are covered in dust and dirt, they have to work harder. It’s like asking your car’s engine to run with dirty oil. You’ll also want to change the filter on your ice maker/water dispenser every six months or so. With a little work on your part, your appliances will continue to run well, and you’ll be able to spot small problems before they become big problems.