Longer life of home appliances
When we buy a brand new appliance, we’re so happy and expect it to last forever! In truth, every appliance and gadget has a life span. It’s just a matter of how well we can maintain them to prolong the use of these products.

1. Sweep under the fridge

You should sweep under the fridge and at the back as well. Most of us clean the inside of our fridge every once in a while by removing the bottles, wilted produce and foodstuff, cleaning the spills and wiping the shelves. Beyond that, make it a point to clean away the cobwebs and dust balls beneath the fridge at least once every six months. Dust will accumulate over time and may cover the coils and other important elements at the exposed back which may clog and impair your refrigerator’s performance. And if your fridge comes with a drain pan, clear that regularly to ensure no one slips on the wet floor. Also, here’s a pro tip for the freezer: use a tray or large container to store meat so that it’s easier to catch spills and drips.

2. Clean air-cond filters

It’s so hot these days that air-conditioners are running full steam in many houses. Thank goodness for this modern invention! But if they’re not well-maintained, you might find that they’re not running as cold as they should. Short of asking the air-conditioner guy to come regularly to clean the whole unit, we can do our part and take out the dust filters to clean regularly. Vacuum the parts you can see to suck out dirt and dust. Check the outdoor compressor unit if it’s near overhanging branches or vines, and make sure those are trimmed and not growing too near, or even inside the compressor unit!

3. Don’t overload the washing machine

Washing machines are a boon that have made modern living so much easier! Our washing machines, however, come with a loading limit. If we keep stuffing our laundry to the max, including heavy bedsheets, blankets and everything else at one go, the machine will surely give up on us! Wash a few loads if you have to; you’ll find the laundry cleaner and drier when the machine gets to work more optimally. Also, make a point to clean the lint tray. Run the machine empty with a washing machine cleanser once a month for a cleaner tub.

4. Wipe down the stove

This goes without saying: wipe your stove every time after you finish cooking. Some people, however, prefer to leave it until “they have time.” By then, some of the leftover bits of food might have stuck and dried on the grills and heating elements, interfering with the purity of the flame of your hob/burner (if you’re using gas to cook). The build-up will in time reduce efficiency, increase energy usage, cause your stove to malfunction or worse, be a fire hazard; so you should clean your hob regularly. Some burners can be taken out. Clear the tiny holes with a toothpick or something sharp, and you’ll find the fire burning more cleanly and you won’t get an orange flame anymore.

5. Care for your rice cooker

Rice cookers have made cooking rice a cinch as we don’t have to watch the fire and if you get the water measurement right, it comes out perfect every time! When cleaning, soak the inner pot for a while to ensure all the sticky rice bits are removed properly. Don’t use abrasive sponges that will scratch the surface of the inner pot. Always wipe the inside of the outer pot so that it stays dry, and clean the top of the lid with a damp cloth to remove evaporated rice stains.

6. Check your toaster health

If you’ve got a toaster, clear out the crumb tray and shake out leftover crumbs that might have accumulated inside. You can wipe the outside easily enough with a damp cloth, but inside, use a gentle cleaning brush that won’t damage the delicate heating elements. Similarly for a toaster oven, remove all the trays and racks for washing. You’ll be left with a bigger empty space that can easily be cleaned and wiped down. Usually there’s also a crumb tray, so clear that too.
StarExtra
The key is regular cleaning, it’s as simple as that.