Appliances are designed to simplify people’s lives, but using them incorrectly or not maintaining them properly can create endless challenges. Unsurprisingly, many people worldwide make common mistakes while using popular appliances like dishwashers, coffee machines, ovens, air conditioners, etc.
Let’s explore 12 common appliance mistakes and see how many you make.
Overloading Appliances
Many people unknowingly overload their appliances, especially washing machines, to clean a bigger batch of clothes in a single go. While seemingly harmless, overloading can damage your washing machine. It can stress the washer, throw the spinning drum out of alignment, and prevent water from draining properly. The worst part of overloading is that it doesn’t clean the clothes properly and often reduces the appliance’s longevity.
Skipping Repairs
Even if you own the best appliances from premium brands, they can break down anytime. The biggest mistake some people make is continuing to use those appliances without getting them repaired. Professional appliance repairers say skipping timely repairs can cost them big time by spiking their energy bills. Sometimes, the appliance may stop working altogether and require a replacement.
Neglecting Cleaning
The costliest mistake people make is leaving their appliances dirty for an extended period. This is especially true for air conditioner owners, who continue using their units throughout summer without cleaning them at frequent intervals. If you don’t clean your air conditioner’s filters, coils, etc., it will affect its overall efficiency and spike your energy bills. The same holds true for other appliances like dishwashers, dryers, microwaves, etc.
Using Incorrect Cleaners
Not every appliance is built the same and requires different cleaning products for proper upkeep and maintenance. People often make the common mistake of using the same cleaning product for all their appliances. If you often clean your device screen with rubbing alcohol and paper towels, you’re stripping device screen of is protective coatings. It is best to check the specific appliance’s product manual to find the right cleaning product to avoid further damage.
Randomly Filling Blenders
It may catch many people off-guard, but randomly filling their blenders is one of the most common mistakes. Whether you’re making a smoothie or dip, always pay attention to the order of ingredients you put into the blender because it influences the blender’s performance. Many people believe that the correct order of filling blenders starts with liquids, followed by ingredients from smaller to larger sizes, and finally, tougher ingredients like ice at the end. This order ensures that blender blades can move easily and not get stuck on harder pieces at the bottom.
Ignoring Range Hoods
People often overlook range hoods because they are placed at a slightly higher level than most other appliances. Since range hoods are designed to collect and eliminate cooking odor, smoke, steam, etc., they require frequent cleaning to prevent any clogging in the filters. If you make the mistake of ignoring range hoods, it can result in releasing all that collected muck into your house environment and reducing the hood’s efficiency.
Using Dirty Ovens
Ovens are among the most used appliances in most kitchens, yet they’re also the most neglected. Many people continue using their ovens without cleaning them after heavy usage. According to professional cleaning experts, dirty ovens can affect your oven’s efficiency over time, making it harder to use. They will also start affecting the flavor of food items you cook in unclean ovens. So, don’t make this mistake. Make it a daily ritual to clean your oven, especially if you use it a lot.
Not Descaling Coffee Machines
Many coffee lovers make the mistake of not descaling their coffee machines every few months. Whether you use coffee pods or make fresh bean-to-cup brews, you must descale your coffee machines routinely. The process helps remove any limescale buildup in the machine from minerals like magnesium, calcium, etc. These minerals generally make their way to coffee machines via the water you use, and they continue accumulating over time. If you don’t descale your coffee machine, the mineral buildup can cause your machine to stop working.
Abandoning Irons
While irons are among the most used items in people’s daily lives, they don’t receive the care and attention they deserve. Many people use it to iron their clothes and instantly put them back in the drawer without checking their soleplate condition. If you continue using the iron without cleaning it regularly, it will eventually degrade in efficiency and lifespan. It will also become unusable after a period because its soleplate won’t glide smoothly over the fabric and can even burn the clothes.
Ignoring Dishwasher’s Rust
Another common mistake people make is ignoring the rust developing in their dishwashers. The racks inside dishwashers are generally made with rubber or metal coated in vinyl. Every usage exposes these racks to excessive water that can eventually remove the rack’s protective coating, exposing the metal directly to water. This creates the perfect premise for rust development, which, if left unattended, can reduce the dishwasher’s performance and lifespan. It can also leave unsightly stains on your dishware.
Not Emptying Vacuum Cleaners
If you also make the mistake of not cleaning your vacuum cleaner after every use, its filters can soon become clogged with debris and dirt. Clogged filters prevent the vacuum cleaner from operating at its full efficiency and also make people living in the environment prone to various health hazards. Even if you cannot clean it every day, make it a ritual to clean it fully every alternate day.
Lining Oven with Tin Foils
Many people have a misconception that lining their oven bottom with aluminum foil can keep it clean and protected from food spillage. In reality, it is a risky activity that can put your and your entire family’s health at risk. If the foil fails to withstand the extreme heat, it can melt inside the oven and damage it permanently. It can also begin overcooking your food items, affect its flavors, and become a potential fire hazard.
