Household News
6 habits that will slowly destroy your household appliances
You might think you’re looking after your household appliances with regular cleaning and maintenance, but your everyday habits could be causing unseen damage, costing you thousands in the long run.
Are you guilty of these common mistakes? Matt Ayres, an appliance expert at RDO Kitchens & Appliances reveals the six habits that will slowly destroy your household appliances.
1. Overstocking your fridge
A good rule of thumb is to keep your fridge at around 75 percent capacity.
When you overload your fridge, it can stop air circulation and make it more difficult to regulate the interior temperature. This, in turn, makes the appliance work harder and places strain on the compressor and condenser coils, causing damage.
Overstocking can also spoil food, leading to more food waste and an increased risk of poisoning.
2. Washing towels and bed linen together
If, like many of us, you group dirty towels, sheets and duvet covers into one washing load, you might be causing unnecessary damage to your washing machine.
Once water is added during a wash, the weight of these items significantly increases, meaning you’re likely exceeding your machine’s recommended weight limit. Over time, loads that are too heavy can damage to the bearings and drum shaft.
Towels, sheets and duvet covers also form a single ball when washed together which can bounce around during a wash, causing damage to the drum and internal parts of the machine.
3. Closing the dishwasher door after emptying
Any appliance that has rubber components like door seals and uses soap and water are prone to mould. Dishwashers are particularly at risk of mould build up which can be difficult to remove. Not only does this make the machine look dirty, but it can also be unhygienic too.
Once a cycle has ended, open the door slightly to allow the warm air to escape. This will prevent mould build up and help to dry the contents quicker.
4. Neglecting your air fryer’s coils
It’s best to clean your air fryer’s basket after each use, but did you know you should also clean the coils above at least once a month too?
It’s easy for dirt to build up inside the hull of the fryer over time, caused by oil, sauce and even bits of food spitting upwards during cooking. This can damage the fryer and cause a fire risk.
It’s difficult to see how dirty your air fryer is without tilting the machine backwards or turning it upside down. Avoid using excessive amounts of water or soap when cleaning the coils. Instead, use a damp sponge and wipe the coils at least once a month.
5. Using foil to catch oven spills
It may seem like a simple solution to keeping your oven cleaner for longer, but placing a sheet of aluminium foil on the racks or at the bottom of your oven to catch spills can do more harm than good.
Using foil can block airflow and circulation, increasing the likelihood of a malfunction of the heating elements. Its reflective surface can also increase the intensity of heat inside the oven, causing surfaces to overheat and become damaged.
Instead, use a damp sponge to clean up any spills after each cook.
6. Adding clothes straight from the wash to the dryer
When a washing load is finished, it’s tempting to bundle everything straight into the tumble dryer. But this can cause damage over time.
The clothes may be too wet, meaning the dryer must work harder to do its job. If the load is sopping wet, put it back in the washer for a second spin to remove as much moisture as possible.
The load is also likely to be tangled from being spun in the washing machine. Take the time to separate each item before filling up the tumble dryer, making sure everything can move freely in the drum.
Matt Ayres, Appliance Expert
