Tag Archives: cooktop repair

Dishwasher Repair: 5 Things You Need To Know About The Dishwasher

If you have a dishwasher in your home or place of work there are a number of things you should know about it. Here are some of these things as given by dishwasher repair professionals:

Be cautious of the type of water you have

Your home has hard or soft water.  The nature of the water not only determines how clean the dishes get, it also determines the amount of detergent that you use. If you have hard water, you tend to use more water and vice versa. You also tend to use a lot of detergents.

On the other hand, if you have soft water, you don’t need to use a lot of detergents to keep the dishes clean. For you to avoid wasting your detergent and using too much detergent that ends up etching your dishes and glasses, you should determine the nature of the water in your home.

If you don’t know how to test it, ask a professional to help you out.

Ensure that the water getting into the dishwasher has the right temperature

For the water to easily break up the food particles that are left on the dishes, it should be between 120 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is lower than this, it will take longer for the dishwasher to clean the dishes. In some cases, you will find that the dishwasher doesn’t clean the dishes as well as it’s supposed to.

For you to help the dishwasher have an easy time keeping the water at the right temperature, you should run hot water at your sink for a short time before you start the dishwasher cycle.

Load the dishwasher properly

There is no way the dishes will be clean if you don’t load the dishwasher properly. You even end up damaging the unit if you don’t load it the way it’s supposed to.

One of the mistakes people make is putting the wrong ware on the wrong rack. You should note that some things are dishwasher-safe when they are on the gentler top rack while others require rigorous cleaning from the bottom rack.

For proper cleaning, place cups, bowls, glasses, and big utensils on the top rack. Pans, pots, and plates should go to the bottom rack.

When placing the dishes, take care that you don’t overfill it with too many dishes as they won’t get as clean as they are supposed to.

Every dishwasher has a little grid on top of the silverware basket that is meant to hold the silverware in place. Always make use of it so that the dishes have enough space for the water and suds to move freely between, thus ensuring that everything gets squeaky clean.

Use the right detergent

The detergent that you use determines the results that you get. It also determines how clean the dishes get. For ideal results, use biodegradable, eco-friendly, non-toxic brands.

When cleaning, avoid using a lot of detergents as using a lot of it leads to many soap suds that cause an overflow of condensation and water. A lot of detergents have also been shown to affect the dishwasher pipes leading to leakages.

Commercial appliance repair Fairfax professionals also show that using too much detergent speeds up the process of etching. This is the formation of a cloudy film on the glassware that is often difficult to remove.

Keep the dishwasher clean

While the dishwasher is meant to clean the dishes, you should remember to also keep it clean. At least once a week, clean both the insides and outsides of the unit with your favorite cleaning products.

Cooktop Repair: 6 Ways To Clean Your Cooktops

For you to keep the cooktops in good condition, you need to clean them regularly. Cooktop repair professionals observe that there are plenty of ways in which you can clean the countertops. Some of these ways include:

Ammonia

Ammonia isn’t ideal for cleaning all types of countertops, but there is nothing better in the market that gets rid of baked on grime like on the right countertops. The cool thing is that it’s easy to work with it. You need to put the removable burners into a zipper-top bag then add ammonia and seal it.

Let the burners stay in the bag overnight after which you should remove and rinse them. If you have done a good job, they should be shinning.

Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda

These are usually safe to use in most cooktops. You should start with brushing off and discarding any debris that is on your stove. Cover the entire surface with baking soda then drizzle with hydrogen peroxide.

Leave it for some time and it will fizzle and break down any baked-on-gunk that might be there. After the baking soda has removed all the gunk, rinse the surface and you will have a beautiful looking countertop.

Boiling water

Lacking baking soda or ammonia doesn’t mean that you should have ugly looking surfaces. Boiling water is enough to give your cooktops a great look. After boiling the water, pour it over the dirty surface and let it sit there until it cools.

When you do this, the tough stuff will simply wipe away. In some cases, you might find that the material isn’t going away. In such a case, you should scrub the stubborn area with some soap and sponge.

The cool thing with this process is that it’s simple and eco-friendly as you aren’t using any chemicals. Due to this, you can use this method on different types of cooktops.

Baking soda and lemon

Lemons are known for their natural grease cutting characteristics. Baking soda on the other hand has natural antibacterial properties. The fine particles of baking soda have been shown to play a vital role at removing the baked-on stains that might be on the surface.

When you put the two together, you have a perfect cleaning solution.

You need to simply sprinkle some baking soda on the countertop then rub the surface with a slice of lemon. For you to remove any remnants of baking soda particles that might have been left, wipe the area with a damp piece of cloth.

White vinegar

Many people have reported this as the ultimate cleanser. It works by loosening streaks and stains, leaving your countertops clean and in top condition.

For you to clean the surfaces you need to mix one part white vinegar to two parts tap water. You should then spray the solution on a glass countertop and wipe. The acidity of vinegar will remove the grime. In addition to cleaning the surfaces using the mixture, you can use it to disinfect them.

Razor scraper

If you have tried removing stains with the above solutions and still the surfaces won’t get clean, you should try scraping them off with a razor scraper. You should hold the razor blade at an angle to the stovetop then firmly scrape away any residues that might be there.

Once you are done, simply wipe away the remaining residues. When scraping the surfaces, take care that you don’t damage the surfaces.

Regardless of the method you are using to clean the countertops, appliance repair Alexandria professionals recommend that you ensure that the surfaces are cool before you decide to clean them.

Cooktops Repair: Tips On How To Keep Your Cooktops In Good Shape

cooktops repair

For your cooktops to retain their elegant design and last for a long time you need to take good care of them. To help you out, here are tips given by cooktops repair professionals on how to go about it:

Protect them from damage

Everything starts here. You should know that cooktops are delicate and you need to protect them from damage. One of the ways of protecting them is watching what you put on them. As rule of thumb, never place cast iron or stone cookware on the units as they will get damaged.

The bottom of the cookware might be rough thus scratching the pieces. In most cases, the scratches are permanent thus leaving your countertops with an ugly look.

You also should never drag heavy pots on the cooktops. When preparing your meals, lift and transfer the pot to another area. This protects the cooktops from scratches.

When you are trying to reach out to something at a higher place, it’s common to have the urge to step on the cooktops. Don’t do this. Even if you are doing it for a short time, you should avoid doing it as you will end up damaging the pieces.

It’s common for the cooktops to heat up when you are cooking. What do most people do? They place the stirring utensils on the warm units. Avoid this as the utensils tend to leave permanent marks on the cooktops. In some cases, they burn the countertops giving them an ugly look.

Just as you shouldn’t place pots on the cooktops, you also shouldn’t place glass bakeware on the units. If you want the units to cool down, place them on the counter—not on the cooktops.

Regularly clean the pieces

The other thing you need to do to keep the units in top condition is to clean them regularly. One of the major mistakes that many people make is to use any products to clean their cooktops. The rule of thumb is that if you can’t use a product to clean your eyeglasses, don’t use it on the cooktops.

There are plenty of safe cleaners in the market you can go for. You can also make your own homemade cream cleaners in your home for use. One of the best cleaners you can make is a paste of 50/50 baking soda and blue dawn dishwashing liquid.

Are there tough spots on the cooktops? You should get rid of them using heavy duty cleaners. You can also use vinegar to get rid of the tough spots or stuck food.

When cleaning the units, always use a soft sponge or piece of cloth. You shouldn’t use a rough material that will end up damaging the cooktops.

Remove the discoloration

If you have used cooktops for a long time, it’s common for them to get discolored. For you to keep them looking great and retain the original color, you should get rid of the discoloration. One of the most effective ways of going about it is cleaning the cooktops.

You should use a cream cleaner to do the work. Rub using a soft scrubbing pad following the grains of the stain. In some cases, you might find that the stain is too disturbing and won’t come out. In such a case, you will be better off replacing the cooktop.

Get rid of scratches

Even with the best care, it’s common for the cooktops to get scratched. In most cases, the scratches are minor and you can live with them, but if you have large scratches that you can’t live with, you should go ahead and remove them.

One of the products you can use is an automatic scratch remover. The product is designed to remove scratches from the cooktops giving them a clear, glass-like finish. When removing the scratches, watch out that you don’t cause more harm to the cooktops.

Parting shot

These are some of the things you can do to keep your cooktops in top condition at all times. When the units develop problems, you should fix them as soon as possible. If you have the skills you can do it by yourself but for ideal results, let appliance repair Fairfax professionals handle it.