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Cleaning Tips For All Household Appliances

The more homes we service, the more we realize how easy it is for a customer to take their appliance for granted. Not properly cleaning, or not taking care of your machine in general can cause damage without the customer even knowing it. Follow these simple cleaning instructions to avoid premature repairs that could either break your machine completely or put a very large hole in your pocket.

Refrigerator & Freezer Cleaning Tips

The number one most important maintenance tip for your refrigerator/freezer is to clean the condenser coils. The condenser coils are usually located in the bottom of the machine. Over time, the coils collect dirt, dust, hair, grease, grime, and other debris that reduces refrigeration efficiency and could eventually cause the appliance to overheat and break down. This can cause an ice build up on your coils. When an ice build up occurs, it means that the condenser is either producing irregular temperatures or that the defrost drain is blocked with debris causing the water to freeze in the drain house. This will allow no water down to the evaporator fan causing the water to keep flowing and freezing into one giant ice build up. This is one of the most common causes for water leakage. The drain house leads down to the evaporator pan which evaporates all excess water coming through. When the evaporator pan is getting too much water it will overflow, causing a leak. When it is getting no water, check your freezer for an ice build up, especially on your coils because this will also cause a leak and possibly a new refrigerator. To clean the condenser coils, first locate the coils (usually at the bottom of the freezer section), UNPLUG the refrigerator, remove base grille if necessary, and use a refrigerator coil brush (part number PM14X51) to remove any dust, dirt, hair, etc. from the coils.

Second, clean your door gasket. A grimes gasket creates air leaks in the door seal, causing the refrigerator to run longer, work harder, and wear out sooner. Over time that grime and gunk can cause your door to glue shut, which will cause the seal to tear when you yank the door open. To clean the door gasket, wipe it with a damp sponge. Avoid using detergents and soaps which can actually cause damage to the gasket.

Lastly, if something spills in your refrigerator, clean it immediately. Having a build up of sticky foods and liquids can cause serious damage to a machine. Use a damp sponge or rag to clean your shelves, drawers, etc.

Dishwasher Cleaning Tips

Clean all dishes before throwing them into the dishwasher. There are plenty of machines that advertise the ability to clean even the grimiest dishes, but food particles can gum up moving parts and become stuck in one of the many crevices inside of your dishwasher. Rinsing your dishes before running them in the dishwasher will help prolong your machines life.

Use a dishwasher cleaning product every three to six months. Run an empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaner to remove calcium deposits. This prevents the spray arm from being clogged, so you don’t have to worry about a premature repair. Believe it or not, a little piece of food smaller than the size of a pea can clog your spray arm and cause a leak. Using 2 cups of white vinegar and 1/4 th baking soda is a cleaning solution that works well. Just simply add these to an empty load and run the machine.

Clean the dishwasher screen located on the floor of the machine regularly. Most models have a filtering screen underneath the bottom spray arm. This screen blocks chunks of food from getting inside of the machines moving parts. Cleaning the screen regularly prevents trapped food from forming into a sludge that blocks water flow and ultimately will cause damage to your machine.

Microwave Cleaning Tips

Clean the inside of the machine with a damp sponge or rag to remove food particles. Splatters on the inside of the microwave seem harmless, but over time, they can turn rock-hard and even burn the walls of the microwave. You canalso use an all-purpose cleaner to prevent repairs and replacement parts.

Stove & Oven Cleaning Tips

DO NOT place aluminum foil on the bottom of the oven. You might think this trick makes future cleaning easier, but really the aluminum foil can block airflow and interfere with the heating element. This can cause oven failure or make recalibration necessary. Instead, regularly clean your oven to keep the inside looking good.

Clean knobs and switches very carefully. If you usually spray the controls directly with a household cleaner, break this habit immediately. The liquid can get behind the knobs and switches and could short the control panel. Instead, spray a rag with a liquid cleaner and then rub the controls to prevent shorting the control board.

Dryer Cleaning Tips

Clean the lint filter. A clogged dryer lint filter makes your clothes dry slowly and forces the machine to work harder. The dryer vent can also clog, leaving clothes damp, causing internal damage to the machine, and a potential fire. If the thermal fuse blows, you’ll need to call and schedule an appointment for a repair. (443-847- 8434)

Washer Cleaning Tips

We have plenty of customers that despise the nasty smell and mold coming from their washing machine. The best way to tackle this problem is a step by step list of instructions.

What You Need: Top Loaders

  • -Quart of white vinegar

  • -Cup of baking soda

  • -Toothbrush

  • -Cloth or Sponge

  1. Fill the washer using the highest load size, hottest water setting, and longest wash.

  2. Open the lid and as the washer tub fills add a quart of white vinegar.

  3. Next, add a cup of baking soda.

  4. Meanwhile, remove any parts you can and soak them and clean the nooks and crannies under the lid with the toothbrush.

  5. You can now clean the outside of the machine while the cycle completes.

  6. Run one more hot wash with a quart of vinegar to remove any residue loosened and left behind by the first cycle.

What You Need: Front Loaders

  • 2 cups of White Vinegar

  • 1/4 cup of baking soda

  • 1/4 cup of water

  • Hand towel/Sponge

  1. Mix the water and baking soda in a small bowl, pour vinegar into measuring cup

  2. Add the baking soda and water mixture to the detergent container of your machine and pour the vinegar in the drum

  3. Use a clean hand towel or sponge to rub around the door boot (the rubber boot around the opening of the machine)

  4. Leave the door open for it to air out

It is ideal to keep the door open with a hand towel draped over it after every load. This will help you develop the routine of cleaning the door boot of any excess water after each load to avoid a mold build up.

Call Scott & Sons Appliance Repair Today!!!

Even the most efficient cleaning can’t prevent all repairs. When one of your laundry room appliances or kitchen appliances decide to act up, call Scott & Sons Appliance Repair to handle the job. Call us at 443-847- 8434 for honest and affordable service.

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