Keep Your Appliances in Tip-Top Shape (And Limit Calling For Repairs)

Home appliances. Those stalwart tenets of our homes that seemingly never fail us. But, wait. What happens when they do? Our peaceful and seamless home routine is suddenly thrown into chaos—how can you prepare meals without the oven? Where do all the frozen pizzas go when the freezer breaks? How do we make coffee without the coffee machine?

There are many, many home appliances that we come to count on, day in and day out. So, we need to make sure that we’re doing our part to ensure the long lifespans and healthy workings of our essential appliances. One way to ensure the long lifespans and healthy workings of our essential appliances is to schedule regular home appliance repair and maintenance.

Oven

Clean it weekly – Save yourself hours of sweaty scrubbing by giving your oven a simple wipe out once a week. It’ll take you 5 min, and you don’t even need to use an oven cleaning spray; just some countertop cleaner will do great.

Maintain it monthly –  Once a month, take the racks out (throw them in the dishwasher if you have one, if not, give them a scrub in the sink with a spritz of oven cleaner and an SOS pad. Lightly spray the inside of your oven with oven cleaner, let it sit for an hour, and wipe. Doing this regularly will save you from having to deal with the nightmare of scrubbing a year’s worth of baked-on crust out of your oven. 

Give it a little extra love – Give those door hinges a squirt of lubricant to keep them in tip-top shape. While you’re at it, clean the glass, or, if you’re really getting after it, take the inside panel off of the door so you can scrub the inside of the glass! 

Fridge and freezer

Clean it weekly – Take stock of what’s in your fridge and freezer each week. Overstuffing these appliances cause them to work harder than they need to, shortening their lifespan and causing your electrical bill to be higher than it could be. Give away food that you’re not going to eat, plan your weekly meals to use up food that’s sitting in there, and throw out anything that’s spoiled. 

Maintain it monthly – Shelves get dirty and dusty just like anything else, so once a month, take everything out and wash your fridge shelves and crisper drawers. This is also an excellent time to pull out your fridge and freezer and dust the back. Chances are, there will be some dust clogging up the air intake. Getting rid of this helps your appliance stay at the right temperature and means the motor will last longer.

Give it a little extra love – Twice a year, take everything out of your freezer and clean out all of the frost that builds up over time. Not only will this make your freezer run more efficiently, but you’ll be amazed at how much extra space you have.

Dishwasher

Clean it weekly – There’s no need to rinse your dishes before putting them in your dishwasher, but you do need to make sure that you scrape chunks of food off. This is the easiest way to help out our dishwasher on a day-to-day basis. 

Maintain it monthly – Your dishwasher has an internal filter, generally in the center of the appliance floor. This filter can be removed and cleaned out. You’ll notice cleaner dishes right away.

Give it a little extra love – Many companies make dishwasher cleaning tabs. It might seem silly to clean your dishwasher, but the purpose of these products is to descale the inside of your dishwasher and get rid of hard water buildup. Once a month is enough to make sure your dishwasher is running well.

Air purifier

Clean it weekly – A quick surface clean will help your air purifier to look new and, as a bonus, keep even more dust out of the air.

Change the filters – Changing the filters on your air purifier heavily depends on what type of product you’re using, your conditions, and how frequently you run your filter. Some companies recommend that no matter what kind of filters you have, if you’re running your air filter for twelve hours a day or more, you’ll need to replace the filters every few months. 

Coffee machine

Clean it weekly –  A quick rinse each day is good to keep that old coffee smell away, but you’ll need to run your coffee pot through the dishwasher or give it a good scrub once a week to prevent staining and odors.

Maintain it monthly – Pick up a coffee machine cleaning solution; they’re cheap and will keep those mineral buildups from making your coffee taste funky. There are great guides to maintaining your espresso machine or coffee machine in perfect conditions. 

Give it a little extra love – If you have a removable basket instead of filters, give that a soak in hot water and vinegar every few months. This will help refresh it and get rid of that old coffee smell.

Air fryer

Clean it after each use – Wash the basket, tray, and pan with hot soapy water. Check your specific product manual to see if these parts are dishwasher safe. Make sure they’re dry before putting them back in. Wipe the outside with a microfibre cloth and gentle cleanser.

After every few uses – Check the heating coil to see if there’s any oil buildup there. If you do find some, clean it off when the machine is entirely cool.

Give it a little extra love – Once a month or so, give your air fryer a thorough cleaning by going through all of the steps above in one go.

Microwave

Clean it weekly – Wipe out any splashes or crumbs with a damp cloth and give the outside a quick clean with a multisurface cleaner.

Maintain it monthly – Once a month, put a microwave-safe measuring cup with two cups of water and one cup of vinegar in on high for four minutes. When it turns off, let it sit for another five minutes. The steam created by the vinegar and water is doing all the hard work for you. After five minutes, carefully take the measuring cup out and wipe out the inside of the microwave and tray.

Stove

Clean it weekly – Using a gentle scrubbing pad and surface cleaner, get all of the small splashes and spatters off the stovetop and control panel. Wipe the top of the control panel as well; this is a culprit for greasy dust to collect.

Maintain it monthly – Take the knobs off and clean them as well as underneath. If you didn’t know they pop right off, get ready for a scrub the first time you take them off.

Give it a little extra love – Most conventional stoves (not glass tops) let you pop the whole top off, like the hood of a car. Under the top of your oven at the front, you’ll find a little lever that will release the top and allow you to prop it up. If you’re not having any luck finding this, Google your stove model and find a step-by-step on yours. This is an easy way to take care of anything that might have dripped over the edges of your stove.

Washing machine

Clean it weekly – Make sure there aren’t any loose items that could get caught behind the drum and cause your washing machine to break down. 

Maintain it monthly – Clean under the seals at the door; these areas can collect some nasty stuff if they’re neglected. If you have a front loader, scrub the drawer to avoid getting clogged with old detergent and dust.

Dryer

Clean it each time – Clean out your lint trap each and every time you use your dryer. Not only will your clothes dry faster, but you’ll also use less energy and reduce the risk of a fire.

Maintain it monthly – Similar to your washing machine, cleanout under the door seals monthly.  

Water filter

Regular cleaning routine – In order to avoid the build-up of minerals, contaminants, or dirt in your filter, you need to clean the inside of your water filter system frequently. It’s important not to use any harsh cleaning products and gently rinse the system with warm water. Normally, it is advised to do your cleanup weekly or biweekly.

If it is difficult for you to find the time to do this, you can do it every month or every two months. When cleaning your water filter, you need to make sure to wash through each corner of the pipe, the filter system, and the surrounding areas, including the sink. In the end, don’t forget to sanitize with vinegar, alcohol, or lemon.  

Water filtration system replacement – It’s really important to pay close attention to the guidelines provided by your water filter system provider because some cleaning products can damage the system. Changing the filter regularly is recommended; continuing to use an old water filter can result in contaminated water.

Taking care of your appliances is important to ensure they remain in tip-top shape and continue functioning efficiently for years to come. Regular maintenance, such as cleaning and servicing, can prevent breakdowns and extend the lifespan of your appliances.

Additionally, investing in a home warranty can provide an added layer of protection and peace of mind. With a home warranty, you can rest assured that unexpected repair or replacement costs for your appliances or home systems will be covered, which can help you avoid financial stress and inconvenience. By combining regular appliance maintenance with a home warranty, you can keep your appliances in great condition and avoid unexpected expenses down the line.