Tag Archives: cooktop repair

How To Take Care And Repair Ceramic Cooktop

ceramic cooktop

Do you have a ceramic cooktop in your home? You should take good care of it for it to last for a long time. If you don’t know what to do, here are tips that you should put into consideration:

How To Take Care Of Ceramic Cooktops

When cleaning the cooktops you should never use abrasive cleaners or metal pads which can easily scratch them. Instead of using these cleaners, you should use a soft sponge, clothes and creams that are designed for ceramic cooktops.

If you cook with pots, you should be careful that you don’t drag them on the cooktop.

Sugary substances can discolour your cooktop; therefore, you should be cautious that they don’t land there thus leaving yellowish areas that are impossible to remove.

You should also not place a hot glass bakeware on the smooth cooktop.

How To Repair A Ceramic Cooktop

Although, you might be taking good care of your cooktop, accidents do happen. For example, the ceramic cooktop might get chipped. When this happens you should repair the damaged cooktop.

There are two ways in which you can repair a chipped ceramic cooktop: with the chipped piece and without the chipped piece.

To repair using the chipped piece you should clean the chipped area in order to prepare it for the chipped piece. You should use a ceramic epoxy adhesive in order to glue the piece back into place. For the pieces to stick together, you should apply some pressure on them. After you have replaced the chipped piece you should protect the area with a ceramic sealer and let the area dry for 24 hours.

If you want to repair the area without the chipped piece you should mix the filing compound from the ceramic repair kit. As rule of thumb you should follow the given mixing instructions. Once the mixture is ready you should use a flat edged tool to spackle the filler compound into the chipped area. If there are rough areas you should smooth them with steel wool. You should then wipe the area, seal it and allow it to dry.

Conclusion

These are tips on how to take care and repair a ceramic cooktop. If your cooktop is damaged and you don’t have the skills to repair it, you should hire the services of a ceramic cooktop repair professional to help you out.

5 Cooktop Best Practises

As a responsible homeowner, you want to keep your cooktops clean and well maintained, don’t you? The good news is that it’s possible to do it. All you need to do is to put into place these cooktop best practices:

Wipe the spills as soon as they happen

Spills might seem harmless to your cooktops, but they aren’t. According to appliance repair professionals, spills on your glass or ceramic cooktops are ugly to look at and hard to remove, especially when you let them dry on your surfaces.

Your cooktop controls are also affected and fail to respond as well as they should, especially when spilled with sugary liquids or grease.

Use the right cookware on your cooktop.

The cookware you use on your cooktop is of vital importance as it not only affects how well you cook, but also how long your cooktops last.

As a rule of thumb, don’t use cat iron cookware on a smooth top cooktop. This is because the cast iron cookware is most likely rough, and any movement of the top on the cooktop will leave scratches on the surfaces. You don’t want your cooktops to have any scratches, do you?

If you have an induction cooktop, don’t use any pan on it. Besides the fact that it doesn’t make sense to use a cheap pan on your expensive cooktop, remember that induction cooktops work extremely differently from ceramic cooktops.

They use a magnetic field under their surfaces to transfer heat directly to the pots and pans. As a result, they need special induction cookware with a ferrous base to transfer the heat as well as they should.

Use a fridge magnet to tell whether your cookware will work with your induction cooktop. If the cookware doesn’t stick on the magnet, get new units.

As you are choosing the right cookware for your home, remember to go with pans that sit flat on your cooktops as they provide even heat distribution. They also tend to be more stable on the cooktop.

This calls for you to avoid pans and skillets with rounded edge bottoms as they won’t provide you with an even heat distribution. The pans also tend to rock while on the cooktop; you don’t want this.

Clean the cooktops

You need to clean the cooktops to not only keep them looking good, but also remove any damaging materials that might be there.

While you might want your cooktops as clean as possible, be cautious about the materials you use. As a rule of thumb, don’t use harsh cleaners as they will damage your surfaces.

While a glass cleaner might seem like an obvious choice, don’t use it as it can leave streaks on your cooktop surface.

The right way to go about it is to use a dedicated ceramic cleaner and a microfiber cloth. These won’t cause any damage and will leave your cooktops looking as good as new.

When cleaning the surfaces, don’t forget the knobs. You should remove any dirt and scraps that might still be trapped under them.

Besides the cooktops, keep the bottoms of your pots and pans clean. This is because when the pots are dirty, they transfer grease and other forms of dirt on the cooktop, and you don’t want this. While you can remove the grease and other forms of dirt from the surfaces, they are usually hard to clean.

Don’t use your cooktop as a preparation space.

The smooth and tough nature of the cooktops can tempt you to use the cooktops as a food preparation surface, but don’t. The reason for this is that you can easily damage the cooktops.

To protect your surfaces, always use a chopping board.

Don’t stand on the cooktops.

The glass on your cooktops might appear tough and can stand your weight, but don’t stand on it. This is because it can easily shatter and break, especially when hot.

Don’t stand on the cooktops if you have to reach the top shelf. Instead, use a ladder.

Cooktop repair Northern VA also recommend against placing any heavy item on the smooth cooktops, even if you are doing it temporarily.

7 Things That Will Destroy Your Glass Cooktop

Glass cooktops come with plenty of perks. They are sleek, contemporary and when spills happen, the spills remain on the surface, making the cooktops easy to wipe and clean.

Unfortunately, cooktops repair professionals report that homeowners do several things that damage the cooktops, and they are forced to replace them before their time. Would you love to learn about these things? Here they are:

Sliding the cookware

When you slide your cookware across your glass top, the aluminum and copper can rub off the cookware and leave permanent marks on the cooktops. For your cooktops to last for a long time, avoid sliding anything on them. If you accidentally slide anything on the cooktops, move with haste and remove it. As a rule of thumb, don’t put on the stove before you remove the marks made as the heat will cause them to adhere to the surface permanently.

Placing soiled cookware on the cooktops

It’s normal for food debris such as grease to remain on the cooktops, and when you place the cookware on the glass cooktop, the grease can melt onto the glass and stain the cooktop. To avoid these stains, inspect the bottoms of your cookware and if they have any grease on them, clean them. You shouldn’t place any soiled cookware on your cooktop.

Allowing spillovers to stay on the cooktops

It’s sometimes impossible to prevent spillovers from happening as you might lose your attention by just a few minutes, then the food you are preparing spills over.

When this happens, you shouldn’t ignore it, hoping that you will clean it later on. Instead, move with haste and clean it as soon as the glass top cools. The reason for this is because the spills will be difficult to remove later on. In fact, the spills might lead to a permanent stain.

Using scrubby sponges

Cleaning glass cooktops is vital as it leaves the surfaces clean and inviting, but you need to watch the materials you use for cleaning. One of the mistakes homeowners make is to clean the surfaces using the scrubby side of the sponge. While the side might remove the stubborn stains, it’s too abrasive and can lead to serious scratches.

When you are cleaning the cooktops, stick to using the soft side of the sponge. Regardless of how stained the cooktops are, don’t give in to the urge to flip over the sponge and use the scrubby side.

In the same way, you shouldn’t clean the cooktop using the scrubby side, you also shouldn’t use steel wool. While the steel wool might remove most of the tough stains, it can leave deep unsightly pits on the cooktop’s surface.

Food particles can get stuck in these crevasses, and bacteria grow on them, putting your life and that of your loved ones in danger.

Cleaning the cooktops when hot

When you have a spill or are in a hurry to get the cooktop clean, you might be tempted to clean the cooktop while hot but don’t do it. This is because the cleaning products you use can quickly burn, damaging the glass cooktop’s finish and, in return, leave you with pits or boils.

The right thing to do is wait for the cooktop to cool down, then slowly clean it, removing all the spilled products.

Putting a lot of pressure on the cooktop

Homeowners know better not to sit on the cooktop, so most of them find themselves placing a lot of pressure when cleaning them. As you try to reach the hard-to-reach areas, it’s common to find yourself placing your elbow on the cooktop, which is wrong as you can easily crack the cooktop.

When you are doing the cleaning, be conscious of the location of your hands, so you don’t unknowingly put all of your weight on the cooktop’s surface and crack it.

Cleaning the cooktops using a glass cleaner

It sounds logical to use a glass cleaner on the glass cooktops, but this isn’t the right thing. According to appliance repair Northern VA professionals, the ammonia in the glass cleaner can be too strong for the glass that the glass gets damaged.

To protect your glass cooktop, don’t use the glass cleaner. Instead, use white vinegar.

Cooktops Repair: How To Remove Scratches From A Glass Cooktop Stove

The reason you installed a glass cooktop is that you enjoy the design aesthetics of the cooktop. While the cooktop is elegant and a great appliance to have, it often easily develops scratches that give it a cheap, dingy look. You don’t want this, do you?

To restore your cooktops to their original glory, you have to remove the scratches. The beauty of it is you don’t have to hire cooktops repair professionals to remove the scratches as you can easily do it on your own at home.

Want to learn how to do it?

Here are ways on how to remove scratches from a glass cooktop stove:

Baking soda

The good thing with baking soda is that it’s easy to find, and when properly mixed, it’s not dry or abrasive. To eliminate scratches using baking soda, make a loose wet paste by combining baking soda with water in a small container.

You should then apply the paste directly to the affected area using your fingers, then using a soft cloth, buff the scratches in a circular motion. Once you are done, wipe away the paste using a clean, damp cloth.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste sounds like an odd choice, but it contains several valuable ingredients, such as baking soda and peroxide. These ingredients buff out small abrasions without damaging your cooktops.

Begin with getting whitening toothpaste and two soft cloths. Squeeze a small amount of toothpaste onto a soft cloth, then apply it to the damaged area. Rub it in circular motions for at least one minute, then use a wet cloth to wipe out as much toothpaste as possible.

To clean up any leftover liquid, wipe the stovetop with a dry cloth. Repeat this process until you get your desired results.

Metal polish

You can use some metal cleaners to get rid of glass scratches. The cool thing is the metal polish removes scratches and scuffs and at the same time polishes the stove.

To get rid of scratches using this method, you need a soft cloth, glass safe metal polish such as Brasso, and a wool pad. Begin with pouring the cleaner on your cloth pad, then gently buff the scratched or scuffed areas by moving the pad in a circular motion on the affected area.

Once you are done, use another damp clean piece of cloth to remove the cleaner. For best results, dry the area with a separate soft cloth.

Nail polish

You need to combine clear nail polish with glass polish to get rid of scuff marks and scratches, leaving you with a clear, shiny stovetop. To get rid of the scratches using this method, use glass polish, clear nail polish, and a light buffing pad.

Use a brush to cover the scratches or the damaged areas, then wipe away any excess polish before it dries, so it doesn’t stick to the stove. Allow the remaining polish to dry for 30 minutes, then using a non-abrasive pad, gently buff each area with nail polish for at least 30 minutes.

Once you are done, place a small amount of glass polish on the buffing pad and touch up the areas you just worked on. When done right, this will hide even the worst of the scratches.

Glass repair kit

You might have the impression that the glass repair kit will be harmful to the finish on your cooktop, but this isn’t the case. Get a glass repair kit and multiple wool pads or soft cloths.

Then follow the instructions given on the repair kit to remove the annoying and embarrassing scratches.

Valuable tips when removing scratches

As much as you want spotless cooktops, you shouldn’t scrub the cooktops with abrasive materials as you will scratch the surfaces, causing more damage and dulling the surfaces further.

To prevent scratches, appliance repair Springfield professionals recommend always checking the bottom of pots and pans before using them. Remember, any burned-on food particles are more than likely to cause damage to the cooktop.

Also, never move the pan back and forth on the glass stovetop, as this will cause scratching. Some people argue that cold pans don’t harm the stovetop, but this is a lie. Any pan has the potential to scratch your surfaces, whether hot or cold.

Cooktops Repair: Common Cooktop Problems And How To Fix Them

According to cooktops repair professionals, cooktops develop problems like any other kitchen appliance. The most common problems being:

Failure of the cooktop to turn on

You can’t cook on a cooktop that doesn’t turn on, can you? So when you switch the unit on and it doesn’t work, you should move with haste and restore it.

In most cases, the cooktop will fail to turn on when you haven’t properly plugged it in. Before you think of any other reasons why the unit isn’t working, first confirm it’s properly plugged in.

If it’s plugged in but still not working, check the outlet and confirm it’s not defective. You can use a multimeter to test or use any other small appliance such as blow dryer or iron. If all of these fail, hire an electrician to help you out.

It’s common to find an appliance providing power but still the cooktop isn’t working. This might be a problem with the internal components. If you don’t have the skills, let an expert take a look at them.

Damaged electric coils

It’s normal for the electric coil burners to wear out especially if you frequently use your cooktop. Signs of damage include: bubbles, cracks, and blisters on the coils. Coils are irreparable so when they develop problems, you should replace them.

When buying new coils, buy those of the right size as loose coils often result to plenty of cooking issues and put your property at the risk of fire.

Cooktops create sparks when you turn them on

A properly functioning electric cooktop shouldn’t spark the same way as a gas cooktop so if your electric cooktop is producing sparks before its lit, you have a problem you need to address as soon as possible.

Electric cooktops produce sparks when the heating element is damaged. The element can be damaged by plenty of things including excessive weight and temperatures.

Your cooktop will also produce sparks when you have loose wire connections around the electric coil burners. These sparks are extremely dangerous and a potential source of fatal electric shock so when you notice them, fix your appliance as soon as possible.

Failure of electric coils to heat

Traditional electric cooktops have electric coil burners that heat when you turn the appliance on. If your cooktop is receiving power but the coils aren’t heating, you have a problem in your hands you need to address fast.

This problem often comes about due to a loose connection between the coils and cooktop and this happens when you clean the coils and fail to return them the way they are meant to. As a result, they don’t receive power.

You need to inspect them and ensure they are in their right place. Also confirm there is nothing stuck between the coil elements and stove.

Your coils will also fail to heat if you have an issue with the cooktop’s ignition switch that provides the action necessary to heat the burners. Unless you have the necessary skills, this can be a complex problem to fix on your own.

Problem adjusting the temperature of the burners

One of the main reasons homeowners invest in cooktops is because they provide precise temperature settings. Unfortunately, the appliance develops problems and you can’t adjust the temperature of the burners hence you can’t take advantage of the features the appliance comes with.

You might have a problem adjusting the temperature of the burners when you have a problem with the unit’s infinite switch. The switch is connected to the dial that regulates the power levels and a faulty switch that can force the burners to heat to only a specific level regardless of the settings.

This problem will also come about when you have a faulty internal ignition switch.

Regardless of the reason you can’t adjust the temperature of the burners, contact an experienced professional to help you with the diagnosis and fixation of the problem.

Parting shot

These are some of the problems your cooktop can have. If you have the skills you can attempt to fix some of the problems, but if you have tried everything within your knowledge level and still the problem doesn’t go away, let an expert appliance repair Northern VA professional handle it.

Refrigerator Repair: Valuable Fridge Tips

appliance repiar

As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to keep your refrigerator in top shape. The cool thing is that there are plenty of tips you can use as given by refrigerator repair professionals. Some of these tips include:

Set the right temperature

For your refrigerator to function efficiently, you need to set it at the right temperature. The right temperature to set the unit is between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. When it comes to the deep freezer, you should keep it at 5 degrees Fahrenheit, for optimal freezing.

When you set the refrigerator at the right temperature, you ensure that the food tastes good, the fridge isn’t overburdened, and the electric bill is low all the time.

Avoid setting the fridge too low as you will damage the food. You also should avoid setting it too high as the food might rot.

Some thermostats are difficult to set. If this is the case with yours, you should ask a professional to help you out.

Keep the fridge full all the time

If you ask many people, they will tell you keeping the fridge full makes it work harder as there is a lot of food to cool, but this isn’t the case. You should note that cold foods help each other to stay cool.

When there are a lot of empty spaces in your fridge, the compressor tends to work harder to cool the empty spots, hence it ends up consuming a lot of energy.

Do you want to conserve energy? Keep your fridge well stocked. When you look inside the unit and notice that you are running low on foods, you should simply restock it.

If you don’t have the money to run to the store, consider restocking it with bottles of water that will make up for the wasted space

Give the fridge some space

Where have you placed the fridge? If you are like most other people, you have placed it close to a wall. When it’s at this position, it doesn’t breathe as well as it’s supposed to, which makes it work too hard.

For the refrigerator to function optimally, you should keep the fridge as far away from the wall as much as possible. You also should keep it away from direct sunlight and other sources of heat.

You should note that when the fridge is in a hot area, it tends to work harder hence you end up with a large energy bill at the end of the month.

Keep it clean

It goes without saying that you should keep the refrigerator clean at all times. A dirty fridge is not only unsightly to look at, it also tends to consume a lot of energy. A dirty fridge has also been found not to cool the food as fast as it should.

At least once a week, you should inspect the unit and get rid of any dirt it might be having both inside and outside the appliance. You also should get rid of the expired food products that might be inside.

When you are cleaning it, you should use a food-safe solution. Avoid using chemicals that can harm you or the fridge.

Keep the food covered

If you are like most other homeowners, you return leftover foods to the refrigerator. It’s always wise to keep the food covered at all times. When you cover the food, you lock in the moisture, preventing the refrigerator compressor from working too much.

What is the consequence of this? You have a low energy monthly bill.

Fix the faulty parts

Regardless of how well you maintain your fridge, it will come a time when it will break down. Problems with the fridge range from failure to start, to noises when working. When your refrigerator develops problems, you should fix them as soon as possible.

As a rule of thumb, you should ensure that the issues are fixed by an experienced and certified appliance repair Springfield professional. You should avoid working with a cheap contractor as he/she will most likely cause more problems than were already there.

Appliance Repair: 7 Tips On How To Maintain Your Oven

As an appliance owner, it’s your responsibility to take care of your gas stove.  The cool thing is that there are plenty of things you can do to keep your appliances in top shape. Here are some of these things as given by appliance repair professionals:

Wipe down as soon as spills happen

When you are cooking, it’s common for spills to come about. When you allow the spills to settle on the gas stove, stains result. It’s recommended that you get rid of the spills as soon as they happen to prevent permanent stains from developing.

The cool thing is that it’s easy to remove the spills. All you need to do is to wipe down the surfaces with water and a scrubber. You also should remember to use a soapy detergent and apply some elbow grease to get the stains off.

For you to prevent the spills from coming about in the first place, use pots, and pans that are deep enough. This is to prevent boil-overs and splattering.

Regularly clean the stove parts

In addition to wiping down the stove after cooking, you also should periodically clean the parts of the stove. You need to wash the burner drip plates and other removable accessories. When cleaning, take care that you don’t clean the electric burner coils.

You can clean the parts using your hands or by running them with your next dishwasher load.

You also need to clean the knobs. You should note that you need to first remove the control panel knobs before you clean them. After removing the knobs, wash them in hot, soapy water. You should then rinse and dry them, before replacing them.

Clean the burner

The burner heads are the heart of the gas stove and it’s here where you supply the gas. The burner is made from high-grade metal with many pores in it. Moderate amounts of gas are emitted through these pores in a circular pattern.

This enables the fire to spread more out, and cover a large surface area.

When oil and grease spills happen, they might drip down and cover the pores, which reduce the overall performance of the burner head.

For you clean the burners, you need to soak them in hot water and a liquid detergent. Do this for 20-30 minutes, then use a toothbrush to scrub off the stains. For you to clean the pores, you should use an unwound paper clip.

Clean the grates

Grates provide support for the utensils and at the same time prevent them from touching the burner head. When you are cleaning them, you should follow the same cleaning procedure you use when cleaning the burner head.

You need to soak the grates in hot water and liquid detergent for 20 minutes then use a scrubber to remove the grime.

Pay attention to the hood

If your stove doesn’t have a sealed cooktop, it’s common for food and grease to fall down under the burners. It’s easy to forget about the debris that you aren’t seeing; therefore, remember to lift the cooktop and clean beneath it.

While lifting the stove seems straightforward, many homeowners make the mistake of lifting too the wrong way, causing damage.

After lifting the top, clean the buildup with a sponge and warm, soapy water. Once you are done, rinse with clean water and sponge.

Undertake regular inspections

For you to avoid the surprise of your appliance grinding to a halt in the middle of a busy day, you should make a habit of hiring an oven repair professional to inspect the unit and if there are any issues, fix them.

For you to get the most from the inspection, ensure that the contractor you hire to undertake the inspection is certified and experienced enough. The last thing you want is hiring someone who will cause more harm to your appliance.

Remember the range hoods

The range hoods work hard at absorbing grease, moisture, and cooking odors when you are using the cooktop. For you to keep them working efficiently and looking good, commercial appliance repair Alexandria professionals recommend that you clean them regularly.

You need to clean the metal with a non-abrasive cleaner or ammonia and water solution. When cleaning, pay attention to the filters. If they are too dirty, clean them. If you find them damaged, you should simply replace them.

Appliance Repair: Dishwasher Dos And Don’ts

Do you have a dishwasher? For the unit to last for a long time, you should take good care of it. One of the most effective ways of doing it is by observing a set of dos and don’ts. Here is what you need to do as given by appliance repair professionals:

Do run full loads

The purpose of doing this is to minimize the amount of water that the appliance uses when doing the dishwashing. When you run the unit half full, you tend to spend a lot of water that you shouldn’t.

For you to conserve water, you should always run full loads of the appliance.

While you should run when the unit is full, you should take care that you don’t overfill it. This is because doing so leads to a malfunctioning appliance. You also tend to damage your utensils.

Don’t face all the plates in one direction

How you place plates has a great impact on how clean they get among many other things. One of the mistakes you should avoid making is placing the plates in such a way that they all face the same direction.

The best way of going about it is placing the plates on the bottom rack while they are facing inwards towards the spray arms. When it comes to the small plates, place them in front of the larger ones. This is to ensure that the spray reaches them.

When you are arranging the utensils in the dishwasher, you should arrange them in such a way that you are going to save time when unloading. This calls for you to put the forks with the forks and the knives with the knives.

You should place the handles facing up so that you don’t get poked or punctured as you are taking them out.

Spoons are bound to stay dirty if you place them in a spooning position; therefore, you should insert some of them with the handles facing down.

Do clean the dishwasher

It’s a no brainer that you need to clean the dishwasher. The cool thing is that it’s easy to clean it; therefore, you don’t need to worry about hiring a professional to help you out. All you need to do is to remove all the dishes in the unit and carefully clean the unit. You should also remember to clean the outside.

For you to keep all the parts running, consider running an empty cycle at least once a day. The best time to do it is at the end of the workday.

Don’t wash the dishes beforehand

To make the work easy for the dishwasher, it’s recommended that you remove the excess food that might be on the dishes. Some people go to the extent of pre-washing the dishes.

You don’t have to do this as it would be pointless putting the pre-washed dishes into the dishwasher.

It would be better simply washing the dishes by hand, don’t you think? If you have to remove the excess food materials, you should simply scrape them off—don’t go to the extent of washing them off.

Do use hot water

Most of the dishwashers are connected to the hot water. This water is meant to melt the fat that might be present and at the same time disinfect the machine and plates. Hotter always means cleaner; therefore, you should always use hot water.

If there are plastics in the batch that you are cleaning, you should take care that you don’t use extremely hot water that will cause damage.

Don’t unload from the top to bottom

Did you know how you unload the dishwasher is important? If you unload it the wrong way, you might have to repeat the cleaning process all over again. As a rule of thumb, you should avoid unloading the dishwasher from the top rack. This is because the rack might be containing water that can spill onto the dishes below.

Commercial appliance repair Northern VA professionals recommend that you unload the dishwasher from the bottom. Obviously this way there is no way you can spill the water onto the other dishes.

Commercial Appliance Repair: Ways To Keep Your Washing Machine In Top Shape

commercial appliance repair

As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to take care of your washing machine. According to commercial appliance repair professionals, there are plenty of tips that you need to consider for you to keep the unit in top shape. Some of these tips include:

Use the right detergent

When it comes to the detergent, you should use one that is made for high-efficiency machines. You should avoid regular detergents as they tend to produce more suds and when you use them for a long time, they build up a film on the drum and hoses. The film becomes a breeding ground for mold.

You should note that some detergents are marked as high-efficiency compatible, but they still produce a lot of suds that are difficult to rinse out.

Even when you get the right detergent, you should take care that you don’t use a lot of it. Just use minimal amounts of it and you will be good to go.

Watch out for fabric softeners

If you need your clothes to be ultra soft, you should wash them with a fabric softener. When using the softener, be on the lookout that you don’t use too much of it as you can end up damaging the machine.

If you can go without the softener, you are better off without it. When it comes to bleach, you also should take care that you don’t use too much of it. High efficiency machines use less water; therefore, when you use too much of fabric softener and bleach, you will have a hard time getting rid of it.

When buying the softeners and bleach, ensure they are of high quality.

Run a monthly cleaning cycle

At least once a month, run a cleaning cycle aimed at keeping the machine clean. For you to do it you need to pour distilled white vinegar instead of laundry detergent into the dispenser then add one cup of baking soda directly into the drum.

The purpose of doing this is to neutralize the pH while at the same time providing a scrubbing action. You should then run the machine on the hottest cycle.

For extreme cases of mildew, you should replace vinegar with bleach and run a few quick cycles with hot water. Does your machine allow a self-cleaning cycle? Follow the instructions given in the manual to the letter.

Keep the filter clean

Every washing machine has a lint filter. Depending on the type of machine, the lint collector is located in the agitator tube, which is the center column of most machines. You can also find it near the top of the washtub. For your machine to run efficiently, you should clean the filter.

At least once every few months, you should take a look at the filters and if dirty, clean them. Sometimes the filters are too dirty or damaged for cleaning. In such a case, you should simply replace them.

Don’t overload the machine

To save time and water, some homeowners load as many clothes in their washing machines as possible. While this might save you some time, it often leads to inefficient cleaning. It also sometimes leads to damage to the washing machine.

For you to keep the unit in top shape, you should avoid overloading it. Even when cleaning the clothes, wash the heavy and bulky items in small loads as these are often harder on the appliance.

Clean the washing machine

While the unit is meant to clean the clothes, it also should be cleaned. For a crisp look, you should clean both the insides and outsides of the machine. You should clean out the washing machine door’s rubber seal using water and vinegar.

Are there hard to clean areas? Use Q-tips to clean them. During the cleaning, get rid of any bits of hair or fabric that you may find. These materials tend to trap odors, sludge, and provide a breeding ground for mold.

Watch out for the small objects

The small objects can easily damage your machine; therefore, you should keep your eyes open for them. To protect your machine, check your pockets for foreign objects such as coins, hair clips, and any others. If they are there, appliance repair Fairfax professionals recommend that you remove them.

Refrigerator Repair: 5 Ways To Keep Your Fridge In Top Shape

Virginia Refrigerators Repair

A good refrigerator doesn’t come cheap; therefore, you should take good care of it. According to refrigerator repair professionals, there are plenty of ways in which you can keep your refrigerator running as good as new. These ways include:

Clean the coils

While you might not be seeing the coils from the outside of the fridge, you need to keep them free of debris, dust, and pet hair for the refrigerator to function smoothly and efficiently.

The coils are located at the bottom of the fridge or at the back. For you to access them, you have to remove the grill. This calls for you to snap off the plate and remove a few screws.

A vacuum cleaner is enough to give the coils a clean look. You only need to ensure that that the cleaner has an attachment or stiff brush. For you to give the coils a clean look, you only need to run the brush or vacuum over and under the coils and remove as much dust from it as much as possible.

When cleaning the coils, also remember to clean the condenser fan.

Set the right temperature

Just like your heating or cooling systems, you need to set the right temperature for the fridge to work efficiently. When you set a high temperature, the food in the fridge might rot. At the same time, if you set a temperature that is too low, you might end up damaging the food.

The ideal temperature setting is one between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. When it comes to the freezer, you should set it at 5 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal freezing temperatures.

When you maintain these temperatures you ensure that the fridge is working efficiently. The temperatures also ensure that the food tastes good.

Change the filters

Did you know that refrigerators have filters that need to be changed? You need to keep an eye on them and if dirty or damaged, replace them. When you keep the filters clean and in good condition, you keep the icemaker and water dispenser clean. This ensures that the components run efficiently.

Many people tend to forget replacing the filters in their refrigerators. A great way of remembering to do it is to replace them when you are replacing those of the heating and cooling systems.

When buying the new filters, ensure that they are of high quality. This way you are sure they will provide you with excellent services and at the same time last for a long time.

Keep the fridge door closed all the time

You might have grown up in a family where the mother used to tell you to keep the refrigerator door closed all the time, right? Turns out she was right. For your fridge to function as good as new you need to keep the fridge door closed all the time.

When you keep the door open, you make the fridge work harder than it should, hence it consumes more energy than it should. You should minimize the amount of time you keep the door open by thinking about the items in the fridge beforehand so that when you go to the fridge, you retrieve them all at once.

After getting what you want, keep the door closed tightly.

Keep the fridge full

For the refrigerator to cool the food better, you need to keep it full all the time. While it’s good to keep it full, appliance repair Alexandria professionals warn against filling it too much to the extent that you block the vents and controls.

When you fill the unit too much, you make it hard for the air to circulate which makes the fridge work harder than it should.