Our home appliances work hard day in and day out. So, if you want to enjoy their powerful performance for as long as possible, you need to keep them properly maintained. While this can seem daunting at first, the experts at FixEm Appliance Repair are here to provide tips that will make the whole process easier. Check out our guides for properly maintaining your home’s kitchen and laundry room appliances below.
Dishwasher Maintenance Checklist
Your dishwasher saves you from countless hours standing at the sink. However, it can collect food particles, mineral deposits, and soap scum over time, leading to clogs, unpleasant odors, and poorly washed dishes. For these reasons, you will want to invest in monthly and quarterly dishwasher maintenance.
Monthly Tasks
- Clean the Filter: The filter, usually located at the bottom of the tub, traps food debris. If it gets clogged, water can’t circulate properly, and you’ll find grime redeposited on your “clean” dishes. Most dishwasher filters twist out easily, so once you remove it, you can rinse it under hot water and use a soft brush to gently scrub away any stubborn gunk.
- Wipe Down the Gasket and Door: The rubber gasket around the door creates a watertight seal, but it’s also a prime spot for mildew and food residue to hide. Use a damp cloth with a bit of vinegar or a mild detergent to wipe it down thoroughly, paying close attention to the bottom edge where debris collects.
- Unclog the Spray Arms: The spray arms are what shoot water onto your dishes. Their tiny holes can easily get blocked by small seeds or mineral buildup. Inspect them and use a toothpick, paperclip, or a small wire to poke out any visible obstructions. For a deeper clean, many spray arms can be removed for soaking and rinsing.
- Clean the Dishwasher’s Door: A simple wipe-down with mild soap and water helps keep the exterior of your dishwasher shining and free from fingerprints or smudges.
Quarterly Tasks
- Run a Cleaning Cycle: Give your dishwasher’s interior a deep clean to eliminate limescale, grease, and soap scum that you can’t easily scrub away. To do this, place a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl on the top rack and run a hot water cycle. To deodorize, sprinkle a cup of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher and run a short, hot cycle.
- Clean the Utensil Holder: Remove the utensil holder and give it a good scrub with a brush and hot, soapy water to remove any trapped food particles.
Refrigerator and Freezer Maintenance Checklist
The refrigerator is one of the few appliances in your home that runs 24/7. This means that preventative maintenance is more important than ever. With proper care (quarterly and biannually), you can help your fridge keep food safe and fresh without consuming more than its fair share of electricity.
Quarterly Tasks
- Clean the Interior: Every three months or so, remove all food from your refrigerator and either turn it off or set it to its warmest setting. Then, take out the shelves and drawers and wash them with warm, soapy water. Wipe down the interior walls with a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda in a quart of warm water to clean and neutralize odors without leaving a chemical smell.
- Check and Clean the Door Seals: Dirty or brittle seals allow cold air to escape, forcing the compressor to work overtime. When you clean the fridge’s interior, make sure you wipe down the seal with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water. This is also a good time to test the seal for deterioration. Close the door on a dollar bill. If you can pull it out easily, the seal may need to be replaced.
Biannual Tasks
- Clean the Condenser Coils: The condenser coils are responsible for releasing heat from the refrigerant. When they’re coated in dust, pet hair, and dirt, they can’t dissipate heat effectively, causing the compressor to run longer and hotter. Unplug the refrigerator and locate the coils (they are typically on the back of the fridge or at the bottom behind a grille). Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently remove all the buildup.
- Empty and Clean the Drip Pan: The drip pan, located at the bottom of the refrigerator, catches condensation. It can become a breeding ground for mold. Carefully slide it out and clean it with a household cleaner or disinfectant.
- Change the Water Filter: If your refrigerator has an ice maker or water dispenser, the filter should be replaced every six months or as recommended by the manufacturer. This ensures your water and ice are free of contaminants and taste fresh.
Oven and Cooktop Maintenance Checklist
Your oven and cooktop are central to family meals, holiday gatherings, and everyday cooking. Regular upkeep, then, keeps them performing reliably. It also prevents them from becoming potential fire hazards.
Weekly Tasks
- Clean Your Cooktop: For glass or ceramic cooktops, use a cleaner specifically designed for that surface to avoid scratches. For gas ranges, remove the grates and burner caps and soak them in hot, soapy water. Use a non-abrasive scrub brush to remove cooked-on food.
- Wipe Down the Oven Door and Knobs: Clean the exterior and interior of the oven door with a gentle cleaner. Remove control knobs if possible and wash them in warm, soapy water to remove grease and grime.
Quarterly Tasks
- Deep Clean the Oven Interior: If you have a self-cleaning feature, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and ensure your kitchen is well-ventilated. For manual cleaning, use a commercial oven cleaner or a paste of baking soda and water. Let it sit overnight, then scrub and wipe clean.
- Clean the Oven Racks: Remove the racks and let them soak in a tub of hot, soapy water for several hours before scrubbing them with a stiff brush.
Annual Tasks
- Inspect the Oven Gasket: Check the seal around the oven door for any signs of wear, cracks, or brittleness. A faulty gasket lets heat escape, leading to inefficient cooking and higher energy bills.
Washing Machine and Dryer Maintenance Checklist
Your laundry machines handle load after load of dirty clothes. Without regular maintenance, they can develop musty odors, lose efficiency, and, in the case of the dryer, even become a serious fire risk. Don’t worry about any of these problems with our complete appliance maintenance checklist.
After Every Use
- Clean the Dryer Lint Screen: This simple, two-second task is the most critical part of dryer safety. After all, a clogged lint screen restricts airflow, makes your dryer work harder and longer, and causes lint to build up in the vent system, creating a fire hazard.
Monthly Tasks
- Clean the Washing Machine: For front-loaders and top-loaders, wipe down the rubber door seal to prevent mildew and run a cleaning cycle with a washing machine cleaner or a solution of vinegar and baking soda. Leave the door or lid open between uses to allow the drum to air out.
- Clean Dispenser Drawers: Remove the detergent and fabric softener dispensers and rinse them thoroughly to prevent clogs, mold, and mildew.
Annually
- Deep Clean the Dryer Vent: In addition to collecting on the lint screen, lint can accumulate deep inside the dryer vent and ductwork that runs to the outside of your home. To prevent problems, you should have this venting system cleaned once a year. Unplug the dryer and disconnect the duct from the back. Use a specialized vent cleaning brush kit to snake through the entire length of the duct and remove all the trapped lint. Don’t forget to clean the exterior vent flap.
Stay Ahead of Costly Problems With Timely Appliance Repairs
By following our home appliance maintenance checklist, you can keep your kitchen and laundry machines in peak condition for years to come. Of course, when problems do arise, you can turn to our team of Diamond Certified technicians for timely and professional repairs.
We’ve been helping Alameda County and Contra Costa County homeowners tackle appliance issues for over ten years and can easily get to the bottom of your unit’s problem. Whether your dishwasher won’t drain, your refrigerator won’t cool, or your dryer won’t heat up, we’ll be there for you — often on the same or next day!
Contact FixEm Appliance Repair today, and let us keep your home’s appliances running at their best for years to come. We work with most major appliance brands.
