Your Spring Appliance Checklist

Spring is officially here, which means warmer weather, budding flowers, and spring cleaning. If you’re preparing up your home for the change of seasons, we have just the thing for you. Follow this Spring appliance checklist, so you can rest easy knowing that your home and appliances are clean and working in excellent condition for the warmer months. Learning how to clean and maintain your appliances is very important.

Spring Appliance Checklist

Stove and Oven

To welcome the warmer weather, homeowners love cooking and baking spring recipes that are filled with favorite fresh seasonal ingredients like artichokes, asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, and more. Make sure your oven and stove are in excellent working condition by testing and cleaning them thoroughly. We’ve given you the following tip in several of our other blog posts, but just in case you haven’t had a chance to read our other posts, we wanted to reiterate this fact: Self-cleaning before baking or cooking a big meal can lead to failure, so avoid using the self-cleaning feature at all costs.

If your stove burners are having problems igniting, first try clearing any residue or debris. Consider calling a repair technician if you troubleshoot the issue but still can’t find the solution.  

Dishwasher

In the warmer months, it’s common for families to gather around the patio table outside for an evening of food and drink. After cooking and serving a meal, the last thing you want to do is spend over an hour hand washing dishes, so don’t neglect your dishwasher. Fortunately, many of the common dishwasher issues can be resolved with a little maintenance. 

Dishwasher maintenance tips: Turn on your kitchen faucet and run the water until it’s hot before you turn on the dishwasher. Turning on the hot water first will help the dishwasher pull hot water rather than starting with cold water. Always opt for high-quality detergent and rinse aid. Plus, clean the filter regularly. Contrary to popular belief, your dishwasher will last longer and clean better if dishes are loaded in the dishwasher dirty. Just make sure to scrape off any chunks of solid food. 

Refrigerator

Your refrigerator is the heart and soul of your kitchen. Its job is to keep food fresh for your family, so it’s critical to maintain it throughout the year to avoid costly repairs and spoiled food. Proper maintenance includes vacuuming the dust and debris underneath and behind the fridge, as the condenser coils can get clogged. We also recommend cleaning the coils using a brush. While most homeowners can get away with cleaning and vacuuming the condenser coils twice a year, you may need to clean more if you have pets.

Washing Machine

The number one priority with washing machines is ensuring proper balance. Stuffing your washer to the brim will most likely cause the appliance to perform poorly, resulting in dirty clothes. It’s best to have clothing articles of similar size and weight to ensure proper balance. Make sure to load towels with towels, jeans with jeans, and delicates with delicates. 

Plus, avoid using too much detergent, even if it seems counterintuitive. More soap doesn’t equal cleaner clothes. Too much detergent can leave residue on clothes and damage the pump, motor, and seals, dramatically reducing the lifespan of the machine. 

Dryer

Gone are the days when you have to hang up wet clothes are a clothesline to dry. If you don’t want to go back there, we recommend taking care of your dryer all year long, not just springtime. After each cycle, don’t forget to thoroughly clean your lint filter so it can adequately dry your clothing. But most importantly, lint is combustible and can cause fires. If your clothes are still damp after the first cycle, your dyer may need to be serviced by a professional repair technician. 

Microwave

As you clean and tune-up on your kitchen’s appliances, don’t forget to check up on your microwave. Keep it in tip-top shape by cleaning the inside regularly to avoid grease buildup that eats away the enamel, causing plastic components to become fragile. Filters need to be cleaned (or replaced) to prevent grease from blocking the ventilation. Most microwave manufacturers recommend replacing a filter every six months. Although you can go a bit longer depending on your usage, keep in mind that regular replacement is best if you want your microwave to perform well.

Wine Cooler

There’s no better time to enjoy a crisp bottle of white wine than a warm spring evening. If you’re one who enjoys wine with dinner or are the owner of an extensive wine collection, consider buying a wine cooler to keep your wine at the ideal storage temperature. To ensure it’s working property, we recommend placing a thermometer in the cooler to determine the precise temperature.

Experts agree that wine can safely be stored at from 40 to 65 degrees If you’re a real wine connoisseur, ensure humidity levels are accurate to prevent damaging the wine. The ideal level for your wine cooler is around 50-80% humidity.

The Takeaway – Are Your Appliances Ready for Spring?

If you want to save money on costly repairs, it’s crucial to perform consistent appliance maintenance. The key is to treat these valuable appliances as investments and maintain them for as long as possible. 

Call in the Appliance Repair Pros at iFiX in Utah!

At iFiX Utah, we treat your home as if it was our own. We know the same headaches and frustrations of waiting for a service company to arrive. Our technicians are honest, reliable, and dependable. We work hard to provide our customers with the best appliance repair experience as possible. If you’ve given your home appliances TLC and they’re still malfunctioning, give iFiX a call today for all your appliance repair needs this spring.

If this spring appliance checklist helped you extend the life of your appliances, please share it or leave a comment below! Make sure to check out our other articles that you might enjoy on our blog.