Look around your home and pinpoint the common household appliances that you use every day. Dishwasher. Refrigerator. Washer/Dryer. Garbage disposal. Freezer. Water dispenser. Each of these appliances play a key role in your kitchen and household routine, but can come loaded with wrong or misleading information about their proper usage from friends, family members and even retail store staff.
Since we have a lot of experience dealing with broken appliances and servicing our customers with replacement appliance parts, we wanted to dispel some of these notions about certain household appliances.
Refrigerators
Many homeowners think the purpose of a refrigerator is to keep food cold for suitable eating. But this is a function myth. Refrigerators are actually running to prevent or slow down the emergence of bacteria in food. The USDA recommends that refrigerator temperatures are set for 40 degrees or less. Most Americans set their temperature settings in refrigerators at about 38 degrees.
Garbage Disposals
People think you can put any kind of food down the garbage disposal. This is a myth. Pouring too much food into the disposal can clog up the rotary and cause a breakup of the pieces inside the disposal. Other certain food items like the skins of potatoes or the husks of corn can cause a disposal to become clogged. It’s best to run water during all uses of the garbage disposal to make sure the food items get soaked down the drain. If you need help with your garbage disposal check out some of the disposal repair products we carry.
Washing Machines
One well-known myth that has been passed down by our mothers and maybe even our grandmothers is that you absolutely need hot water in washing machines to clean stained white clothing. While you may enjoy that luxury from time to time, it’s no longer necessary. Today’s new washers are designed to clean in hot or cold water. And since most of the cost of a hot load comes in the heating of the water, you’re likely just wasting your money by heating the water for a hot load. Rather, keep it cold and watch it stay clean.
Dishwashing Machines
Another myth in the kitchen is that food-encrusted dishes should be run in the sink before placing in the dishwasher. That’s no longer necessary. Today’s new Energy Star dishwashers uses small amounts of water per load (under 3-4 gallons). You no longer have to spend a lot of water and time pre-rinsing your dishes BEFORE putting them into the dishwasher.
Your appliances should last you 5 years (or more) depending on usage by busy families. If they don’t, then it’s time to reach out to us to find the missing appliance part you need to fix your broken household appliance. Head over to Appliance Parts Company and browse through our catalog to find the piece you’ll need to extend the life of your appliance.
Appliance Parts Company 