Technology is an incredible thing. Think about how many tasks you do every day that involve technology. From the mug of coffee, you need in the morning to start your day to the TV you use every night to binge Netflix in bed. We rely heavily on technology to go about our day. But does that mean we treat our appliances right?
No, it doesn’t. In fact, there are many ways that you could be damaging your appliances and reducing their lifespan as a result. Technology might be a wonderful thing, but it’s also overpriced. It’s in everyone’s best interest to preserve their lifespan! Here are 10 ways you might be reducing the lifespan of your appliances without realizing it.
Overfilling The Fridge/Freezer
Fridge/freezers are the heart of a home. They’re super expensive to buy brand new. Most home warranty packages would cover the cost of replacement, but it’s good to know how to keep it in working order. Whether you’re reaching in there for the ingredients for your dinner or whether your kids are rummaging around for snacks, you can guarantee the fridge/freezer will be one of the most used appliances of the day.
It’s also one of the appliances it’s easy to damage. Regularly overfilling your fridge/freezer puts pressure on the fan and limits the circulation of cool air. Not only will this reduce the lifespan of your fridge/freezer, but you’ll also be reducing the lifespan of your food!
It’s good practice to clean out your fridge/freezer once a month. Pick a day when your fridge/freezer is nearly empty and give it a good clear-out. From then on, ensure you’re only filling your fridge/freezer rather than packing it full of food.
Overfilling The Washing Machine
It’s tempting to wait until you have a good pile of clothes to put in the washing machine. The thought of the cost of bills for multiple loads of washing is too much for money-savvy homeowners. But waiting until you have a big load of washing to shove into the machine could be causing damage.
All washing machines will have a weight limit applied. Weight limits are indicated because the drum needs to turn at high speeds to wash your clothes. Stuffing too many clothes inside the washer puts pressure on the motor, making it hard for the drum to turn and the motor to burn out. Stick to the weight limit of the washing machine!
Most washing machines will display this on the machine somewhere, but it will say in the manual if not. If you want to take care of your washing machine, run a cleaning solution through once a month. This removes dirt and grime and keeps it smelling nice and fresh.
Forgetting To Empty The Vacuum
Emptying the dust and dirt from your vacuum is probably one of the most tedious chores there is. But boy, neglecting it brings problems. Like with most of the appliances that will be discussed today, the motor pays the price. If you have a build-up of dust and dirt in your vacuum, it will put a high level of pressure on the motor.
If you look at your vacuum now, you will notice there is a maximum line on it. This line is there for a reason. Anything going above that line will damage the motor and the filter, causing a loss of suction power and even the risk of overheating. Empty your vacuum as and when it needs to be.
If you have furry pets in the home, pay attention to clearing the roller brush at the bottom. You will find hair gets tangled.
Overusing Any Appliance
Every appliance has a sell-by date. Some last well over 10 years, some can last two. It all depends on the type of appliance, how much you use it, and how you take care of it. One of the easiest ways of running an appliance into the ground is overusing it. A prime example is a portable fan. When the temperatures soar, we look for ways to cool ourselves down. A portable fan is a great way of doing so.
But during the summer months, it may feel almost impossible not to have a fan blowing a cool breeze on you all day long. Using a fan for that long in hot temperatures will shorten its lifespan. Try to use a portable air conditioning unit and a fan. Use one during the day and one during the night. That way, you’ll stay cool without overusing either appliance.
Too Much Toast in Your Toaster
Every time you toast some bread, you’ll notice that tiny toast crumbs fall to the bottom of your toaster. At the bottom where you can’t see is a crumb catcher specifically designed to, well, catch crumbs. If you can tell that your toast is not toasting as it should do, it may be that too many crumbs are building up at the bottom.
A build-up of crumbs can damage the heating elements of your toaster, which will reduce its lifespan as a result. If you notice that your toaster doesn’t have a crumb catching tray, tip your toaster upside down in the sink and shake the crumbs out. You can then clean inside the toaster to ensure all the heating elements are free of toast debris.
Blender Burnouts
A blender is a superb home appliance that people use for blending all sorts of things. From fruit for your morning smoothie to spices for a tasty homemade meal, there’s plenty of things to throw in there. One common mistake blender owners make, however, is piling in too many items. You can hear the motor working far harder than it should do.
Although the ingredients will probably blend eventually, they will be at the expense of the motor. If some food items are frozen solid, such as ice or frozen fruit, you may even cause damage to the blender blade. If you need to blend a lot of ingredients, do it bit by bit. Blend a few items at a time and add to it as the mixture becomes smooth.
A Clogged Dishwasher
There are two ways that a dishwasher can become clogged. The first is because you are neglecting a cleaning cycle. Most grocery stores sell cleaning tabs that help to clear limescale and dirt. Try running a cleaning cycle once a month to remove any build-up that might be forming.
A lack of a cleaning solution isn’t the only problem. If you’re filling your dishwasher with dirty plates that haven’t been washed down first, you will notice that food begins to clog the pipes. Clogged pipes might cause a terrible smell, or you may find that your dishes are coming out of the dishwasher still dirty.
If you want to increase the lifespan of your dishwasher, rinse before you load the dishes and run a cleaning solution once a month!
Poor Microwave Maintenance
A microwave is one of the most efficient ways of heating your food. Whether you’re heating a ready meal or heating yesterday’s leftovers, a microwave becomes a staple appliance in your home. You will notice, however, that microwaves are prone to splatters. Although it’s lovely that microwaves can superheat your dinner in just a few minutes, it does so at the expense of splatters and explosions along the way.
Along with your oven, your microwave is likely to be one of the dirtier appliances. It might be tempting to leave the odd splatter or two, but they can cause damage over time. Food will turn hard and can damage the walls of the microwave. Take the time to clean it out once a month, and you will extend its lifespan.
Too Many Appliances to One Outlet
Plugging too many appliances into one power outlet can damage both the appliances and the power outlet itself. The more you have plugged in, the more electricity demand is generated. This can cause the fuse to blow. If this doesn’t cause damage to your appliances, overheating will. Home appliances need a cool environment to function properly.
Overheating causes fans and electrical circuits to work harder, which potentially leads to damage. If you’re using an extension cord, try not to plug in more than two appliances. Home appliances generally tend to work better when only one appliance is plugged into a socket.
Overusing Any Appliance
The more you use it, the more you’re going to reduce its lifespan. Like with most things in life, the older they get, the sooner they are to their sell-by date. So if you are using your appliances far too much, you’ll notice they won’t last as long as they should do. It is one of the reasons why mobile phones deteriorate as they do. A prime example of overused appliances is the vacuum.
It’s easy to feel the need to vacuum more than once a day, especially if you have a particularly furry pet. But this leads to quicker motor burnouts, electrical wires becoming frayed, and the roller blade stops turning as it should. Try and limit the number of times you repeatedly use appliances to increase their lifespan.
As you can see, there are a few ways that you can improve the lifespan of your appliances. Take better care of them if you want to reduce the need for repairs or complete replacements.
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