This is a hot topic in the kitchen. Should you rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. You’re wasting your time and water if you don’t rinse your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. We want to dispel the myth that you have become a slave to the pre-rinsing routine. Modern dishwashers and dish detergents are capable of handling all your dishes. Continue reading to learn why.

Do you need to rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher?

The short answer is no.

Use Detergent with Dirty Dishes to Make Your Kitchen Cleaner

The dishwasher isn’t the only one working hard to clean your dishes. Only after the detergent comes in contact with food particles activates the enzymes. The detergent will work harder to clean dishes that are dirtier.

It’s a huge waste of water

Consumer Reports estimates that you use 22 713 litres per year to rinse dishes. Fail: Kitchen faucets typically expel between 5.2 and 8.6 litres per minute. That’s quite a lot!
You’ll use less than 5 gallons of water if you only use the dishwasher to wash dishes. This is a saving of just a few gallons a day. Did you know dishwashers marked Energy Star is said to reduce water bills by R800 per annum?

Your Machine is Your Trust!

Don’t be alarmed if food remains on “clean” dishes. Dishwashers heat up enough to vaporize food from your dishes and also completely clean dishes at 63 degrees Celcius. Modern technology has enabled many dishwasher models to come with sophisticated sprayer technology and sensors that detect food and grime levels.

Your kitchen will be bustling with holiday preparations as the holiday season approaches. You may be flooded with holiday recipes and ideas, but have your thought been about how well your oven can handle the task? We know! Here are some tips for oven maintenance to avoid any last-minute repairs this holiday season.

These Oven Maintenance Tips will help you avoid costly repairs

Tip #1: Clean your Interior and Exterior

Although it may seem easy, one of the most important oven maintenance tips to follow is to clean both the interior and exterior. This will help avoid costly oven repairs. Cleanliness improves oven performance and can reveal problems before they become too serious.

• Control Panel – Clean the knobs and surfaces of the panel with a non-abrasive cleaner such as a vinegar spray with a soft cloth. The decals on the control panel may be removed by vigorous scrubbing. Be gentle. Vinegar can be used as a natural cleaner and degreaser.
• Door – Use vinegar spray to clean the exterior and interior of the door panels. You can mix baking soda with vinegar to make a paste if necessary. After cleaning, wipe the surface with a clean cloth. To clean the interior of your door panel properly, you may need to use a heavy-duty detergent for stubborn grease or food debris.
• Stovetop – Use a plastic scraper to remove any debris from the electric stovetop. Apply a protective coating to the cooktop according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Gas cooktops can be cleaned by removing the burner grates, and bowls/covers and cleaning them thoroughly. You can do this by simply putting soap and water in your sink.
• Oven Interior – Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for each model of your oven. Use an oven cleaner according to your model’s instructions. To make a safe scrubber, you can also use baking soda, vinegar and salt. After cleaning, rinse the oven thoroughly. This is an essential step in oven maintenance tips as food particles built up inside the oven can cause fire hazards.

Tip #2: Keep the Blower.

The blower motor is one of the most critical parts of an oven. The blower motor is essential for the oven’s longevity and performance. Oil cups should be lubricated at least once every six months if your oven has them. Additional lubrication is not required for ball-bearing motors that have been pre-lubricated by the manufacturer. Be sure to clean the blower and all surrounding parts. When oiling the oven’s motor, refer to the instructions provided by your manufacturer.

Tip #3: Use the Correct Power

The wrong oven power can cause a reduction in performance. You may have an oven that is not producing the required voltage. A buck-boost transformer can be used to correct an oven that has been running at reduced power.

Tip #4: Check Heating Elements

Check the heating elements if your oven takes a long time to heat up. Your oven’s performance will be affected if the heating elements are damaged.

Turn off the power supply to the control system. Next, turn off the power to the control system. Then use a multimeter at the ohms setting and test each heating element. A high reading means that the heating element is damaged, while a low reading (below 100ohms), indicates that it is working properly. Replace any defective heating elements.

Tip #5: Inspect Door Gaskets

Inspect the gaskets around the oven door and port inserts. Check for cracked, dry, or worn areas. This damage can cause heat to escape from the oven when it is closed. The oven will lose its ability to maintain the right temperature.

You should replace the gaskets if you feel heat escape through the oven door, even when it is closed.

Tip #6 – Hire a professional

These tips will ensure your oven runs smoothly and performs at its best. It is not a good idea to plan for a wonderful holiday filled with delicious foods and tasty treats only to find out that your oven needs repairs unexpectedly.

It’s best to contact a professional to diagnose and service your oven if you suspect it is in need of service.

It’s almost winter, so it’s time for you to get out your favourite winter coat! Many people choose goose down because of its warmth and comfort. But do you know how to wash your down jacket in the washing machine? Our down jacket cleaning guide will save you the trip to dry cleaners and increase the thermal performance of your coat.

How to wash a down jacket at home

Our customers frequently ask us about down sleeping bags and down coats. We are happy to tell them that you can machine wash down jackets. However, these steps will ensure the garment’s insulation, appearance, performance, and performance.

Here are the steps to washing a down jacket at your home.

What you’ll need:

• If necessary, stain remover
• Front-loading washing machine
• Tumble dryer
• Tennis balls

Step 1 – Prepare Your Jacket

To get the best results, pre-treat your coat with downwash or stain removal before you start a wash cycle. Make sure to zip up all zippers. Secure any snaps or buttons so that nothing is left open.

Turn your jacket inside out and you’re ready to wash it! Because feathers can break, we recommend only washing your down jacket one to two times per year.

Step 2 – Fill your washing machine

A front-loading washing machine is the best choice to wash a down coat at your home. Top-loading washing machines have agitators that can be harsher on down and could potentially ruin down garments.

Warm water is best.

Step #3 – Run Gentle Cycle

It is important to choose the right washing machine settings when washing a down jacket. You can wash your jacket with the most delicate cycle on your washing machine and then just throw it in.

Allow the wash cycle to run its course but don’t take your coat off yet. There’s still one more cycle left to go.

Step 4 – Perform a second rinse cycle

You should wash your down jacket twice without using detergent to get the best results. Because down is so well-insulated, soap can get trapped in it after washing. So wash it again with warm water.

Step #5 – Dry Your Down Jacket

Drying a down jacket takes time and requires a special process. Place your jacket in the dryer at the lowest heat setting, without other clothes. To help loosen any down clumps, add three clean tennis balls.

You can also use sock balls if you don’t own tennis balls. You should allow it to dry for at least two hours. Don’t hurry or you might end up with a fried jacket.

Step #6: Fluff your down jacket

You can reduce clumping by using tennis balls, but it is important to take your down jacket out of the dryer every 20-30 seconds and remove any large clumps from your hands.

It will become easier to separate the down as your coat dries. Your jacket should feel fluffy after several cycles.

Oven repair problems can be frustrating. There is no way to avoid them. Sometimes they’re inevitable so it’s best to be prepared. Knowing the most common causes of oven problems will help you diagnose any problem that may be occurring and to identify potential solutions. These are the most common oven repair problems and their likely causes.

Most Common Oven Repair Problems

The oven does not heat/Oven doesn’t bake evenly

These are the most common complaints we hear about oven repair. The cause(s) of the problem(s), however, are often the same. An oven that is not heating evenly or baking evenly can often be caused by a faulty igniter. The two-fold job of an igniter is to draw electricity through the safety valve to make it open and then heat up enough to ignite the gas. If the igniter becomes weak, it won’t be able to properly open the safety valve, which can cause high temperatures or no heat. A failed bake element is another possibility. It is possible that it needs to be repaired if it doesn’t glow red or shows obvious signs of damage. Because the oven is being heated only by the broiler, this will result in uneven baking.

The oven broiler is not working

Oven broilers use high heat to quickly cook food (ideal for meats) and then give it a brown crust. There are several reasons your oven may not be cooking properly when the setting is turned on. The igniter is one possibility, but it’s worth checking the spark electrode and broil element. The broil element should glow red hot if it is functioning correctly, just like the bake element. The broiler spark element is located right next to it and acts as a spark plug. The broiler will not ignite if it is damaged or worn out.

The oven does not need to be cleaned by itself

The most common parts that fail when your oven doesn’t self-clean are:

• Door Switch. The cycle won’t start if the door is not locked.
• Temperature Control Thermostat. The thermostat may work fine for baking or broiling but not for self-cleaning. This makes it difficult to test the thermostat on your own. It is likely that you will need the assistance of a technician to determine if the part needs to be replaced.
• Thermal fuse. To prevent your oven’s overheating, thermal fuses are used. If the fuse trips (turns off the oven’s power), it will need to replace. After it has tripped, a thermal fuse cannot be reset.

Do you want to organize your home before school starts? Although it may not be on your priority list, knowing how to organize your fridge is vital. Your refrigerator and kitchen are where most family time is spent. These refrigerator organization tips will help you organize your fridge and make your family run like a well-oiled machine.

The Best Tips for Organizing Your Refrigerator

Shelf Mats – Make shelves look pretty and protect them!

Plastic table mats can be found almost anywhere. They can be cut to any size you need, making them both affordable and ideal for refrigerator shelves. These mats can be easily removed and cleaned anytime. They also come in a variety of beautiful patterns that will make your refrigerator interior look stunning! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to use shelf mats in your fridge.

Snack Bins – Keep them visible

Everyone loves snacks. What better way to provide healthy snacks and keep them organized than by using designated snack bins? Old refrigerator drawers, bins or baskets can be used to store snacks. You can choose the snacks you and your family love to eat and put them in the snack box. Individual containers can be used for carrots, celery, and berries. You’re sure to get your snacks eaten quickly when they are already prepared and ready to go.

Lazy Susan – Easy access to all items!

Are you tired of reaching for the back of your refrigerator blindly to find what it is that you are looking for? You can add a lazy Susan to your refrigerator’s middle shelf. This is a great storage solution for small containers, sauces, jars and other items. Simply place your items on the rotating tray, and spin the tray until you find the item that you are looking for. This clever fridge organization hack makes it easy to find the foods you use less often.

Bacon Keeper – Cold cuts can also be stored in this container!

A bacon keeper is one of the best ways to organize your refrigerator. These can be purchased at your local Walmart or Amazon. The bacon keeper is great for organizing your refrigerator and making it easier to store uncooked bacon. A bacon keeper is a great way to keep your bacon, cold cuts and other cooked meats safe and ready to go.

Label Bins – Use scrapbook letter stickers/print onto Peel & Stick paper

Nothing is more attractive than bins that are clearly labelled to show where your items go. This can be done on your fridge. To create personalized labels for refrigerator drawers, shelves and bins, you can either buy scrapbook letters from your local craft shop or office supply company or use Peel & Stick papers at home. This is a great way to organize your fridge for your family. You’ll love looking at the pretty labels and knowing that everything is in its right place.

To prevent cross-contamination, vacuum seal raw meats.

Consider investing in a Food Saver if you are able. Vacuum sealing food is a proven way to preserve freshness, especially meats. The appearance and freshness, as well as the health, of meats exposed to the air, can be affected by oxidation. You can extend the life of your meat by using the vacuum-seal technique. It prevents oxidation and keeps meat juices contained. You can store meats with or without a vacuum seal on the bottom shelf in a container pan/tray. This will prevent raw meat juices dripping onto other foods and contaminating them.

To maximize your organizing efforts, ensure that your refrigerator is working efficiently.

The New Homebuyer’s Guide To Evaluating Appliances

You’ve just bought a home and are now ready to assess the long-term prospects of your new property. Sweet. It’s delicious. It is best to assess the worth of appliances before you make an offer. However, it is better to do so later than never. Let’s look at the questions to ask and the steps you can take to ensure that your home is equipped with durable, high-functioning appliances for the long term.

1. What age are my appliances?

Appliances are designed to last 10 to 20 years before needing to be maintained or replaced. Plan to have your appliances repaired or maintained every 3-4 years if they are older than 20 years. It’s important to answer questions 1 and 2, as the condition and age of appliances can have an impact on the property’s value.

2. Which condition are they in?

When it comes to appliance assessment, the age rule is more a guideline than a hard rule. Older appliances can still work just fine, even if they are not as efficient or as energy- and cost-efficient. Examine the appliances thoroughly for any issues and functionality. Is there water around the machine or under it? What is the condition of the interior? How are the microwave and fridge seals? If possible, ask the previous owners of the house and the realtor. You can make a list of the deficiencies and determine what you can live without and what needs to be fixed.

3. Is it worth paying for repairs?

When deciding which appliances to replace, it is important to consider repair costs. These can vary depending on the appliance. Which appliances are essential to ensure that your appliance functions well without any problems? What problems can you resolve instead of having to replace the appliance? Dishwashers, gas grills and ovens are more affordable to fix, while kitchen appliances such as microwaves and refrigerators can be costly. It all depends on what you are able to afford and how much risk you’re willing to take. Find out more about the cost of our services here.

4. Are there any new appliances that I can fit into my house?

It may sound absurd, but it is crucial to determine if your house can accommodate new appliances. This is not a problem if your home has a garage or double door. However, if you live in an apartment or a small house, it could pose a problem with larger appliances like washers and dryers. To ensure that your replacement appliances fit in the same space, you will need to measure the dimensions.

5. How can I dispose of appliances that I don’t want?

There are many ways to dispose of appliances. You can pay the person who delivered your appliance to remove the old one.

There are a few options when it comes to cleaning your oven.

Commercial cleaners: They can be very effective but come at a high price. You probably won’t want them to be used where you prepare your food.
Self-cleaning feature: Many ovens have a self-cleaning feature that allows for quick and easy cleaning. Although it is convenient, we recommend that you only use this feature sparingly. It can damage your oven due to its self-cleaning nature (it heats up to 427+ degrees Celsius) if it is used frequently.

OR

It can be cleaned naturally. This is the best option. There are no harsh chemicals or extreme heating. It’s possible to do it right, and it will be easier than you might think.

Step 1: Get ready

Gather your ingredients (baking soda vinegar, water) first. Then, take the oven racks out of your oven.

Step 2: Create the solution

You will need one cup of baking soda, six tablespoons of water and six tablespoons of water. Make a paste by mixing the ingredients.

Step 3: Apply the solution

To apply the solution to your oven’s interior, use a sponge. Use a sponge to apply the solution liberally, especially to dirty areas.

Step 4: Get your spatula out

You can try to remove any stuck-on bits with a spatula. If your oven has a self-cleaning feature, be careful. Too much scraping can damage the oven’s pyrolytic coat, which is necessary for self-cleaning.

Allow the baking soda mixture to absorb overnight.

Step 5: Add vinegar to the mixture

The next day, spray the vinegar onto the interior of your oven with a spray bottle. Let the vinegar sit for a while before you use warm water to wash off any remaining residue.

Step 6: Enjoy your sparkling clean oven

These are some amazing results!

Tumble dryer vent cleaning should be included in your spring cleaning list. This task is often neglected, but it is important for two reasons. Lint buildup can cause a fire hazard and increase drying time. Lint buildup in tumble dryers is one of the most common causes of home fires. These instructions will help you clean out your tumble dryer vent and eliminate the risks.

How to Clean Tumble Dryer Vents

#1. Clean out the lint trap.

You should do this every time you use your tumble dryer. But if you have not done it before, now is the time. Take it out, remove all the debris and use a vacuum attachment with a hose attachment.

A soft brush and soapy water are good options for cleaning the lint trap, especially if softeners are used frequently. This can cause wax buildup. You can reduce the buildup of wax by using organic wool tumble dryer balls.

#2. Clean the vent of your lint trap.

Small fibres can get trapped in the vent and will pass through the trap. To remove the lint, use a small appliance brush.

Although it can be difficult to manoeuvre, the brush should be flexible enough to remove most of the lint. To remove the remaining lint, you can use a vacuum attachment. It may take patience to clean your vents if they haven’t been cleaned in a while.

#3. Clean the tumble dryer vent.

You may also find lint in the tumble dryer vent, which is located at the back of your unit. You will need to remove the tumble dryer from the power source (home electrical box) and move it to a location where you can access the vent duct. A large brush will be used to clean the duct.

Use a brush to gently spin a flexible tumble dryer tube made of foil or plastic. Your vent may be damaged if you don’t. To speed up the cleaning process, attach a drill to the end if you have a tumble dryer duct made of metal.

To ensure tumble dryer safety and performance, we recommend that you repeat this cleaning procedure every six months. Happy Spring Cleaning!

Is your compressor running longer than usual? Are you seeing an increase in your energy bills? You may have a simple solution: Clean the condenser coils of your refrigerator!

The compressor will work harder and for longer if the refrigerator’s condenser coils become clogged with pet hair, dirt, and dust. This can have a significant impact on the efficiency of your refrigerator. The compressor will run harder and cool less efficiently.

Industry-standard for coil cleaning is every 6 months. Because pet hair can clog condenser coils quickly, owners of pets should clean them about once every three months. To make sure you don’t forget, we recommend that you add a “Clean Refrigerator Coils” reminder to your calendar.

How to clean your refrigerator coils

You will need a condenser coil brush, optionally, and a vacuum to clean the coils. To prevent damage to your hardwood or linoleum floors, we recommend that you use appliance glides to move your refrigerator.

Shopping List

• Brush for cleaning condenser coils
• Vacuum
• Appliance glides

The majority of refrigerator condenser coils can be found on the back or bottom of the refrigerator (accessed via the front toe/grille panels). To determine where your coils are located, consult your Owner’s Manual.

How to clean bottom-mounted coils

1. Move your refrigerator carefully forward and unplug the fridge. You only need to move it enough to unplug your refrigerator. If the refrigerator is integrated, you can turn it off at your house circuit breaker.
2. To reach the coils, remove the grille at the bottom of the refrigerator.
3. Use the Condenser Coil Clean Brush to gently brush the coils. ).
4. Clean up any dirt by vacuuming or sweeping it away. For best results, use the vacuum’s narrow, long attachment.
5. Reinstall the grille after the coils have been cleaned thoroughly.
6. Turn on the circuit breaker or plug in the fridge.
7. Place the fridge back in its original position.

How to clean rear-mounted coils

1. Use the appliance glides to move your refrigerator forward. To fully access the refrigerator’s back, you will need to move it forward.
2. Unplug your refrigerator.
3. You will see the rear-mounted coils along the backside of your refrigerator. They are typically black or grey in colour.
4. Brush the coils with a soft cloth to remove dirt and dust. Do not puncture or crimp the coils. ).
5. Once the coils have been cleaned, turn on the refrigerator and then slide it back in place.

This easy, ten-minute task twice a year will save you hundreds of rands on fridge repair costs.

Although it is recommended that comforters be washed at least once a year, most people can’t recall when the last time they were cleaned. We often avoid washing heavy bedding because we don’t think it is worth the extra effort of taking it to the Laundromat. What if you could clean your comforter at home? Once you know how to clean a comforter at home, your comforter will look cleaner.

How to clean a comforter without going to a laundromat

It is easy to wash comforters at home by using the right water temperature, washing settings, and detergent. These 6 steps will help you care for your comforter from the comfort of your own home.

#1 – Learn Washing Instructions

We recommend that you read the care instructions on your comforter before you go near the washer. Dry cleaning is an option for some materials. Most labels will include important instructions regarding washing and drying temperature.
#2 – Pretreat Sain
Pretreating stains before washing is a good idea to maximize stain removal. Use detergent or a mixture of baking soda and warm water to gently rub the stain. Let it sit for at most 30 minutes.

#3 – Choose the right type of washer

It’s important to ensure that your comforter fits in your washer properly if you want it to be easy to wash. Although it might be tempting to just stuff it in and forget about it, there is a chance that the comforter will not get clean enough. Worse, your washer could be damaged. To maximize space and cleaning potential, it is recommended that you wash your comforter by itself once you have determined that it fits correctly.

Don’t worry if your comforter is too big for your washer. For tips on cleaning a comforter that doesn’t fit into your washer, see our Bonus Step below.

#4 – Select Wash Settings

The right settings and temperatures are key to washing a comforter in the washer. Coldwater is best as it can shrink the comforter’s fabric and cause damage to its filling. We recommend gentle washing to further reduce damage.

#5 – Use the Right Detergent

As chemical additives can cause comforter to become less soft over time, we recommend that you use mild detergents or those made from natural ingredients. A fabric softener is also a bad idea. It can cause down to be less fluffiness than other down options.

#6 – Dry Comforter

After washing your comforter, we recommend that you dry it on a low heat setting for at least 1-2 hours. This will reduce heat damage to the comforter’s filling. To prevent clumping, place a few tennis balls inside the comforter. After 30 minutes, take it out of the dryer to fluff the filling and distribute the heat.

Bonus Step: What to do if your comforter is too big for your washer?

You can still save money by not having to take your comforter to the Laundromat if it’s too large. This is how to clean your comforter at home.

• Warm water and a cupful of detergent will fill your bathtub to the halfway point.
• Put your comforter into the tub, and gently swirl it for several minutes.
• Rinse the tub and drain it. Repeat as needed to get rid of suds.
• Take out the comforter, and squeeze it to get rid of excess water.
• Dry the comforter on a low setting if it fits in your dryer. If it does not, hang the comforter in a sunny, grassy area and flip it as necessary until completely dry.

You can clean your comforter safely at home with a little knowledge and a few basic steps.