30+ Examples of How We’re Damaging Our Home Appliances Without Knowing It

According to statistics, we spend 5-10 hours a week doing housework: cleaning, laundry and other tedious responsibilities. In fact, the washing machine is the one who washes the clothes; and the pizza is heated by the oven. We are just intermediaries. But have you ever imagined being without a washing machine? And how frustrating it is when an appliance breaks down and we need to buy a new one, especially since the vast majority of these “household gifts” have a very high price.

we, from awesome.club, we did a little research: we read the repair expert forums, and found out how people damage their home appliances daily without noticing. But, calm down, we will also give you some tips on how to avoid this. Check out!

The microwave needs to be cleaned from time to time because of the accumulated grease, otherwise the appliance will stop heating food evenly and will start to spark. There is a mica plate on the inner side of the microwave: it works as a selective filter, covering the hole in the cooking chamber, thus allowing the microwaves to reach the food. If this board is not washed frequently, or is scratchedthe microwave will not work properly.

By the rules, you can’t turn on the microwave without putting any food inside. Products weighing less than 5 g should also not be heated in the microwave. If you want to heat something very light, use the oven, along with a glass of water.

Microwaves should not be installed near appliances such as TVs and radios. The radio waves emitted by these types of devices can cause them to malfunction.

Cleaning products that contain soda and other small particles can easily corrode the inner lining of the device. Therefore, you should wash the inside with a sponge soaked in soapy water only.

Limescale-based products can damage and break your washing machine. Even citric acid, commonly used for cleaning, is a very aggressive chemical reagent. And if it is used too often, the internal parts of the machine may stop working.

If not in use, unplug the power cord. Vending machines are sensitive to voltage spikes and, if there is a power outage, the device can simply burn out.

The vast majority know that it is necessary to clean the pump filter, where dirt, fabrics and hair accumulate. However, the washing machine also has a filter in the water inlet pipe. To clean it, you need to disconnect the pipe through which water enters the machine. This filter should be washed with lukewarm water, little soap and, if necessary, limescale agents can be used.

Do not run multiple wash cycles in a row. The washing machine needs to rest at least 2 hours between washes, otherwise the motor and belt will wear out quickly.

The machine should only be installed in the bathroom if there is good ventilation. Lack of air can cause internal parts to corrode very quickly, not to mention the proliferation of fungi.

Leave at least 5-7 cm of free space around the fridge to prevent it from overheating. If the refrigerator is too close to the wall, for example, the motor could burn out.

For the same reasons, you shouldn’t put anything on top of the fridge, like the microwave, for example.

A fridge full of products is undoubtedly pleasant to look at, but if you keep the fridge always full, you will most likely have problems with it later. There must be enough space for air to circulate freely. A clogged refrigerator will run at the highest power, and products can spoil due to lack of sufficient cooling.

The black grid behind the fridge is called a condenser and we need to be careful with it. The condenser needs to be vacuumed regularly (if you installed the fridge correctly, leaving enough space between the appliance and the wall, you will have no problem with this) or cleaned with a dry cloth.

Also don’t forget about the food in the freezer: your freezer needs a general cleaning once a month. Food can be frozen for a long time, but not indefinitely — it should be discarded after a certain amount of time so as not to overload the appliance.

The dishwasher doesn’t clean cooked protein well, so it’s best to avoid putting pans in the dishwasher with leftover scrambled eggs stuck to the rim, for example.

In general, food scraps and crumbs should also be removed before putting dishes in the dishwasher to prevent the drain from clogging up. Some modern dishwashers have a prewash mode, which allows you to put dishes and utensils in the appliance without even rinsing. Just throw the leftover food in the trash first.

Before installing the dishwasher, you can check the intensity of the water jet by doing a few “test” washes. So you can use the washing programs in the best way and regulate the consumption of detergent.

Limestone formation occurs when carbonic acid salts are broken down into carbon dioxide and insoluble precipitates. This process happens when there is a high concentration of salts in the water and you regularly use the intensive wash mode at 60°C. However, current washing products are already effective at temperatures of 40-50°C and, therefore, energy can be saved and, at the same time, protect the appliance from limescale formation.

If sludge starts to form in the area where the wash tablet is placed, try to place only half a tablet.

The slices of bread should preferably be of the same thickness, or the browning may be uneven.

Due to the accumulation of crumbs, the toaster may have a burnt smell. You should remove the inner grid and clean it frequently.

should not do toast with stuffed breads (butter, jam, nutella).

Don’t try to remove pieces of bread stuck in the toaster with a fork: the heating element of the frame is basically a large, thin wire that can easily be broken. Also, contact with metal items can cause electric shock.

The vacuum cleaner’s HEPA filter doesn’t last forever. It needs to be replaced at least once every six months, and if you’re into cleaning, maybe even less time. Otherwise, the suction power of the appliance will decrease and the dust will simply remain on the floor you are trying to clean.

After each cleaning, you should check that the hose and tubes are not clogged with anything. If the vacuum cleaner manages to suck up a coin, it means it is working perfectly. If not, you must clean it first so as not to overload the motor.

The stiff bristles on the cleaning brush also need care: home cleaning experts recommend brushing them for the best end result.

According to statistics, stoves and ovens are the least stable household appliances. They often break, within the first year of use or the second, and this is often due to improper use.

A dirty oven is not only unsanitary, but also dangerous. The grease settles in the heating elements, a crust is created and, thus, the efficiency of the appliance is reduced.

The oven flame should be blue, not red or orange. The change in flame color can indicate serious problems such as lack of oxygen, soot, etc.

Respect the proportions of the ingredients as described in the instructions. If you change the recipe too much, the food can burn and even damage the appliance.

The steam valve needs to be cleaned after use, otherwise the food will have a very unpleasant smell.

The heating element of the pan does not need to be washed often: once or twice a month is enough. The main thing is to always keep it dry.

What are the most durable appliances in your home? How long are they with you?