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Dishwashers – Use It or Lose It

admin — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 19:32:16 +0000

The first dishwasher was invented in 1892. Having grown tired of clumsy servants breaking her dishes, Josephine Cochrane rigged a copper pot with stiff brushes and a motor. It worked so well she showed it at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, and won first place. Today, most homes have one, but unlike other appliances, the less you use it the more likely it is to break down. Water that remains in the bottom of your dishwasher is there for a reason. It keeps seals moist. This prevents leaks and protects the motor. But when it’s not used for long periods, the water evaporates, seals dry out, and leaks and motor problems become likely. To prevent this, when a dishwasher will sit unused for more than two or three weeks, pour in a half-cup of liquid bleach to prevent bacterial buildup. Then, add three tablespoons of mineral oil. It coats the surface of the water and prevents evaporation, even over long periods of time. With dishwashers — use it or lose it or protect it. Source: OnTheHouse.Com

Clothes Dryer Check-up

admin — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 22:08:33 +0000

Clothes Dryer Check-up

It’s dryer-vent safety awareness month. You know what that means. It’s time to check your clothes dryer for potential problems. Have you cleaned your clothes dryer lately? If not, it’s probably due for some maintenance. The lint screen should be removed and cleaned after every load; otherwise, the heated air can’t circulate properly. The dryer will work too hard, clothes won’t dry quickly and it could even be a fire hazard, due to overheating. At least once a year you should remove the big vent tube on the back and clean out any accumulated lint. The same goes for the dryer cabinet. Get inside and remove all lint by hand or by vacuuming. You might be surprised at how much there is. And remember, it’s flammable. If your dryer has a plastic-flex vent tube, consider replacing it with an aluminum one — for safety. Plastic, just like lint, can catch on fire. Give your dryer an annual checkup. It’ll dry better, faster and more safely. Source : OnTheHouse.Com

Care for your oven

admin — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 16:57:27 +0000

Aluminum Foil No-Nos

You want to keep your oven sparkling clean so you protect it by adding aluminum foil on racks, under food as it cooks and down on the oven floor where food drops and burns to a crisp. Instead of helping, you’re hurting your oven. Foil placed on the oven floor reflects and intensifies heat which can cause the bake element to burn out prematurely. Foil placed under foods on the racks is bad because it traps heat in the bottom of the oven, keeping it from circulating and reaching the heat sensor near the top. Severe overheating is possible, and besides damaging the bake element, it could also affect insulation in the oven wall and discolor or even crack oven-door glass. By disrupting temperatures and air circulation, aluminum foil messes up cooking times too. A quickie clean just isn’t worth it.
Source : OnTheHouse.com