Are Your Appliances Back to School Ready?
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Sears Home Services and I was compensated for my time in creating it.Every one is getting ready for back to school. Families are going school shopping which is a chore in itself. Mom's and dads are making meals ahead, in order to save time, and many of you probably already have a back-to-school checklist. Something that may not be on your checklist is your appliances. It may be something you didn't even think about, but it's important to make sure your appliances are in tip top shape. Check out these tips to make sure your appliances are back-to-school ready.
Are Your Appliances Back to School Ready?
Refrigerator Tips
Family dinners, after-school snacks, and so many lunches to pack … We all know that back-to- school prep relies heavily on a fully functioning kitchen, specifically the fridge. Here are keys to keeping your fridge in shape for back-to- school season and year-round:
1. Keep Your Fridge Running Efficiently
a. Get acquainted with your refrigerator’s condenser coils. These coils help the refrigerator stay cool by releasing heat from the compressor. Dirty coils can lead to spikes in energy, expensive repairs and prevent the fridge from cooling – which can put your food at risk for spoiling. Clean your condenser coils at least twice per year, removing dirt, pet hair, food, and more. They are typically located under the refrigerator but there’s an easy solution for cleaning this hard-to- reach spot. Use a specially designed refrigerator coil brush, which you can purchase at Sears PartsDirect.
2. Organize Your Fridge to Keep Food Cool and Maximize Freshness
a. A well-organized fridge can make your life easier in a number of ways, from better preserving food to saving energy and making it easier to find your favorite foods. It can seem overwhelming at first to tackle a reorganization of your entire fridge and freezer— but Sears Home Services has put together this easy-to- follow infographic:
3. Check and Clean your door gasket
a. A leaky door gasket can result in your refrigerator trying to cool the entire kitchen.
Clean your gasket with a mild cleaner and then check the seal integrity with a solution of soapy water (just like you do with your inflatable mattress!). You can use the dollar bill approach – close a dollar bill in the door so that it is half in and half out of your fridge. If your gasket isn’t tight enough, it won’t hold the bill firmly in place. If the dollar bill falls out or slides down, look at replacing the gasket.
Washer Tips
With the kids back in school, laundry tends to pile up whether it be uniforms, jeans or sports outfits.
With these helpful washer and dryer tips, you can be sure your children have crisp clothes every day.
1. Wash your washer
a. Yes, your washer needs some TLC every now and then, too, in order to prevent mold and unpleasant odors from building up. If your washer has a self-clean cycle, now’s the time to run it. If not, check out this easy tutorial to give your washing machine a deep clean using household items such as bleach and vinegar.
2. Don’t use too much detergent
a. Using too much detergent can damage your washer, especially in high-efficiency (HE) washers. The residue will build up in the washer – and on clothes — and can cause odors and potentially, component failures.
3. Don’t overload your washing machine
a. Overloading your washing machine can damage your machine’s drum and decrease your washer’s efficiency. In the end, clothes will not get as clean, and you may have to wash a second time. Instead, be sure to properly separate your clothes and wash in smaller batches.
4. Check your washer drain hose
a. If your washer has a rubber drain hose, be sure to check it periodically for cracks, which can lead to leaks. Consider replacing the rubber drain hose with a more durable stainless steel hose.
Dryer Tips
1. Clean your dryer
a. It’s recommended that you clean the dryer lint screen after every single load to ensure your machine is drying clothes efficiently. A lint brush is a good tool to have and will help clean the dryer lint trap – use this at least once month or more frequently if you do daily laundry. If the automatic cycle isn’t fully drying your clothes, you should also clean the moisture sensors – these are thin strips typically located inside the dryer drum near the dryer vent. Use soap and water to remove the chemical residue dryer sheets can leave on the moisture sensors, as this residue can cause a build-up and trick the sensors into thinking your clothes are dry. Finally, it’s important to clean your dryer vent pipe every 12-18 months for optimal efficiency and to prevent fires caused by lint build-up.
You can clean it yourself using a vacuum attachment or call the professionals from Sears
Home Services.
2. Don’t overload your dryer
a. Sears Home Services says overloading is a top cause of washer and dryer issues. When you overload the dryer, you block the airflow, and it takes longer to dry clothes. As a parent, the last thing you want is to spend too many hours doing laundry. Overloading can also damage the drum, motor, and other important components. The rule of thumb to follow is to load your dryer no more than halfway full.
b. Too large of loads can also lead to a musty smell. If you’re cramming in too many clothes, it may take the load too long to dry, creating a breeding ground for bacteria.
If you encounter an appliance issue that you cannot fix yourself this fall, Sears Home Services, the house expert for homeowners, is there for you. You can easily schedule an appointment online to have one of their expert technicians repair or maintain your home appliances – no matter what brand or where you purchased them.
