Most household items go bad right after the warranty expires or a few years after purchase. However, many costly failures can be easily avoided. These are the worst practices that contribute to shortening the lifespan of popular devices.

Mistakes that shorten the life of household appliances

The purchase of equipment such as a washing machine, refrigerator or dishwasher is often associated with considerable expense. By paying an exorbitant amount, we expect a reliable operation for a longer period of time. It is no wonder that we are very irritated by unexpected failures that make devices require expensive repairs or replacement with a brand new one. Very often we ourselves contribute to the formation of defects, for example, through the use of devices contrary to their intended purpose and the recommendations of manufacturers. Here is a list of common mistakes that shorten the life of appliances.

Washing machine

During spinning, the washing machine moves and jumps slightly – do not restrict its movements, do not place heavy objects on it or sit down. However, if it works too intensively (it jumped across the room), let’s check if the device has been leveled correctly.

Before putting clothes in the drum, be sure to check the contents of the pockets of your clothes. Small objects, such as coins, can damage the inside of the washer.

A good habit is to leave the door open and slip out of the chamber where the powder and fabric softener are poured into. Drying these items prevents the growth of harmful mold.

Once a month, turn on an empty washing machine (set to wash on high heat and with additional rinse). Add vinegar or descaling agent to the powder chamber. In this way, we will avoid the deposition of scale and other deposits.

Fridge

Never put hot food in the fridge! This threatens not only faster food spoilage, but also excessive consumption of electricity. The device will have to take additional energy to cool the food and keep the temperature inside it at a sufficiently low temperature.

Refrigerators with the frost-free system do not require defrosting as frequently as older models. However, this does not mean that we do not have to periodically wash the device, quite the contrary! It should be cleaned at least once every three months. The best specificity that will quickly remove residual dirt and unpleasant odors is vinegar.

When washing the device, let’s not forget about its outer walls, especially the back, where a lot of dust usually accumulates. In large quantities, it can block the vents, leading to damage to the mechanism.

Dishwasher

Before putting dirty dishes in the washing chamber, clean them of large food residues (bones, skins, meat residues, vegetables). They can clog drains or sprinklers, significantly reducing the effectiveness of the device.

Filters also clog stickers and labels that cover dishes and other containers washed in the dishwasher. If you buy new dinnerware or breakfast boxes, be sure to scratch off all the stickers.

Let’s also pay more attention to the way we organize dirty dishes. The smallest ones should go to the upper baskets, the larger ones – to the lower ones. Objects should not touch, this will ensure a better distribution of the water. Glasses and cutlery must be immobilized, otherwise they may scratch or knock against each other during rinsing.

Microwave

To prevent the microwave from overheating, avoid stacking multiple items on the device.

Never run equipment empty – it’s a simple way to damage the magnetron, which emits microwaves that heat food.

The weight of the dishes placed on the turntable must not exceed the maximum load allowed by the manufacturer.

Although everyone knows this, it is worth remembering at this point that not all types of containers and dishes are suitable for microwave placement. Heating metal, stainless steel, or Styrofoam items may cause a fire.

Under no circumstances should closed containers be heated in the microwave, as they may explode.

The most common cause of microwave damage is dried grease and food residue inside, so regularly, after each use, wash with a sponge soaked in warm water.

Blender

Crushing hard products, such as nuts or cookies, should be carried out with short breaks. During long and uninterrupted mixing, you can overheat and even burn the device.

The blender, especially the cup blender, should be washed immediately after use. Dried food residues are difficult to remove, in addition, they dull the blades, which makes the device useless.