12 Ways You’re Shortening the Life of Your Home Appliances
Updated: Mar. 28, 2024
Are your appliances and devices on the fritz frequently, or do they need to be replaced sooner than expected? Spoiler alert: It's probably your fault.
Common mistakes can cause big problems
Buying electronics and appliances can be a huge investment, and when something goes wrong with them, it can also cause a huge headache. So, of course, you want to keep everything working for as long as possible. While many of us blame the seemingly shorter lifespan of these products on the fact that things just aren’t made like they used to be, that’s not entirely true. It turns out that much of the time, the culprit is us! Read on for the mistakes you probably don’t even realize you’re making, which can cause the early demise of everything from your laptop and your phone to your stove and your toaster. And if it is time to buy something new, make sure you know the most reliable (and least reliable) home appliance brands.
Laptop
There’s nothing more frustrating than a laptop that goes from on the fritz to suddenly needing to be replaced. It turns out the key to keeping our laptops longer is turning them off at least once a day. This allows the operating system to install software updates and patches so everything can run smoothly and up to snuff. Another mistake that causes the early demise of this essential and expensive device? Failing to install anti-virus and malware programs. And that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Smartphone
If you feel you need to replace your smartphone way before the newest one comes out, it’s probably because you’re letting it overheat. According to PCMag, a major cause of this is something most of us are guilty of: charging our devices overnight. In fact, your phone is at risk of overheating every time you keep it plugged in with a full battery.
And while many of us know it’s best to leave our phone at home when we go to the pool or beach, water damage isn’t the biggest risk. An article from Time reveals that too much heat exposure from the sun can cause lots of problems, including battery leakage and loss of data. If you want to extend the life of your phone (and who doesn’t?), don’t miss these helpful tips.
Washer/dryer
It may be tempting, but shoving that extra towel or T-shirt into your washer is a bad idea. Constant overloading wears out mechanisms like the central agitator. Another culprit is using too much detergent. While you might be tempted to put in an extra pod or capful for really dirty clothes, it can increase the time of the rinse cycle. Why is this such a big problem? Washing machines have a finite life, so every wash brings it closer to the end. If you have a high-efficiency machine, you need to use even less detergent or a detergent formulated specifically for this type of washer, such as Brooke and Nora Liquid Goat Milk Detergent. Buying a new appliance earlier than you anticipated certainly feels like sending your wallet through the spin cycle, so keep these tips in mind to extend the life of your machine.
Vacuum
No one wants to empty the dirt cup after vacuuming your entire home or even before you vacuum, but an overfilled unit will not only run less efficiently—it will also ultimately shorten the life of the appliance. While most bagless units have a line indicating it’s time to empty the cup, it’s less obvious for bag machines. A sudden decrease in suction is a good indicator. But that’s not the only problem you need to watch out for if you want to keep your vacuum running as long as possible.
Car
A good car doesn’t come cheap, and to get yours to last as long as possible, you can’t skimp on regular maintenance. One biggie: oil changes. If you wait too long to change the oil, you’re asking for trouble. So how often are you really supposed to be doing this? According to Cars.com, it depends on the make and model of your car. Check the owner’s manual. Changing the oil keeps the corrosive material and debris out of your engine, so if you live in a city, it’s best to change the oil even a little sooner than the manufacturer recommends. But that isn’t the only thing you’re doing that’s shortening the life of your car. Even seemingly harmless mistakes can land your car in the junkyard early.
Coffee maker
A broken coffee maker is one of the worst ways to start your morning. So why did yours stop working? Most likely, it’s because you failed to clean it. Yes, you have to clean and descale your machine on a regular basis. This removes minerals, mold, dust, and other debris that build up in your coffee maker over time, causing it to overheat and break down. If that’s not motivation enough, ingesting all of that can make you seriously ill. So it’s vital to follow these steps to thoroughly clean your coffee maker.
Dishwasher
Don’t try to fit in as many dishes as possible, like a game of Tetris. You’ll lose when it comes to the life of your appliance. Overloading a dishwasher can cause wear and tear to the components and lead to overheating. You’re also more likely to break dishes and glasses when trying to shove it all in. Those tiny shards of glass and ceramic can then make their way into the drain pump, where they cause all sorts of problems. But these aren’t the only precautions you should take to extend the life of your dishwasher. Here are some more tips you should follow.
Fridge
If you have a big family and you find yourself with a fridge that’s constantly full, it might be time to consider buying a larger one. That’s because overloading it places pressure on the fan blades, causing them to work improperly or even break.
Cleaning the fridge is another way you can extend its life. The coils, the internal mechanism, and the outside of the fridge need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Here are some other facts to be aware of if you want your fridge to last as long as it should.
Stove
Ron Shimek, president of Mr. Appliance, a Neighborly company, says that placing foil on the bottom of the oven can shorten its life. “You might think this trick makes future appliance cleaning easier. But in the long term, this isn’t a good idea. It can block airflow and interfere with the heating element, which can cause oven failure or make recalibration necessary,” he explains.
If you’re worried about keeping your oven clean, Shimek says simply staying on top of regular cleanings is the way to go. But cleaning your stove the wrong way, like spraying the controls and knobs with regular household cleaners, can also create problems: “The liquid could get behind the knobs and switches and short out the control panel.” Shimek instead suggests spraying a rag with liquid cleaner and then rubbing the controls to prevent shorting. It’s easy to make mistakes with your oven. Here are 10 things you should never do.
Microwave
Splatters on the inside of the microwave seem harmless, so people are often lax about cleaning them up. However, according to Shimek, over time, they can turn rock-hard and even burn the walls of this small appliance. “Clean out the microwave with all-purpose cleaner regularly to prevent the need for premature repairs and replacement,” he says. You should also take care of microwave malfunctions as soon as possible and avoid ignoring these common problems.
Toaster
Is your toast not as perfectly toasted as it should be? That’s probably because you’re not cleaning your toaster (including the crumb catcher every week), and that really is something you need to do, especially if you make toast every day. If, however, your toaster doesn’t have a tray, Shimek suggests cleaning the appliance by turning it upside down in your sink and shaking out as many crumbs as possible. “Be sure to wipe down the outside of the toaster with a damp cloth to remove any crumbs that might have missed the sink,” he says.
Blender
While it’s safe to say that a majority of blenders are technically dishwasher-safe, it’s best to carefully hand-wash this appliance. “This ensures the blades stay sharp, and ultimately keep your soups and smoothies well, smooth,” explains Shimek.
And while reading the owner’s manual before you start using this appliance might not feel like a big deal, it’s actually essential if you don’t want early blender burnout. “It’s important to fully understand the power of your appliance before attempting to prepare your food in the blender,” he says. Also, there are some things you should never put in your blender.
Originally Published: August 13, 2020
