Simple Steps for Cleaning your Washing Machine

Sure, a washing machine is there to clean your clothes – but what happens to the dirt and grime that was on those dirty clothes? Hopefully, it gets removed from the washing machine when it drains, but can you be sure? Over time, dirt, oils, and minerals from the water can build up in the washing machine, causing clothes to get less than clean.

Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas recommends physically washing your washing machine every 6 months to maintain its longevity and ensure that your clothes are getting as clean as possible. Follow these easy steps to a clean washing machine today!

Front Loading Washing Machine

1.     Clean the Gaskets: One of the dirtiest parts of a front loading washer is the gasket around the front of the washing machine door. Take a wet cloth doused in white vinegar and scrub down the gasket, removing hair, lint, dirt, and other debris that may be wedged down in the cracks.

2.     Clean with Vinegar: White vinegar disinfects the interior of the washer drum, ensuring a clean finish. Add two cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser - as if it was detergent – and run a full cycle on the hottest setting possible.

3.     Clean with Baking Soda: Do the exact same thing you did with the vinegar, but this time you are adding half a cup of baking soda. Baking soda deodorizes and leaves the washing drum fresh and clean.

4.     Wipe it Down: Use a damp cloth to wipe down all the surfaces and now you’re done!

Top Loading Washing Machine

The process is very similar for a front loader and a top loader, with just a few minor differences.

1.     Clean the Dispensers and Exterior: Grab a wet cloth and wipe down all of the surfaces of the washing machine and all of the dispensers with white vinegar.

2.     Clean with Vinegar: Start a wash cycle on the hottest setting, add 4 cups of white vinegar, let the water sit in the drum for about one hour, then allow the cycle to drain the water.

3.     Clean with Baking Soda: Run another cycle on the very hottest setting, but this time add one cup of baking soda to the mix. Let this cycle run from start to finish.

4.     Wipe it Down: After everything is drained, take a damp cloth and wipe down the interior of the drum to ensure there is no grime remaining.

Taking these steps will ensure that your appliance lasts longer and gets your clothes cleaner. Having problems with your washing machine? Don’t worry – call the experts at Appliance Rescue Service immediately! Our team is well-trained in Dallas appliance repair and specializes in all brands of washing machines. We will be out quickly to diagnosis and fix the issue. Proudly serving Dallas, Richardson, Plano, Garland, Irving, and the greater Dallas area.

Is it Really Necessary to Change my Refrigerator's Water Filter?

In short – yes!

When you buy a new refrigerator – whether it’s a Maytag, GE, Jenn-Air, Sub-Zero, etc. – chances are it’s going to have a water filtration system to keep your water crystal clear and clean. Most manufacturers recommend changing these filters every 6 months, and for good reason! Check out these 4 reasons to change your water filter regularly:

1.     Changes in Taste & Smell:

Ever tasted tap water after you’ve gotten used to using filtered water? Does it smell or taste different? This is because the filter is there to filter out minerals, chemicals, and microbes that could be floating around in your water. The filter is there to take the filtering the city does to an extra degree to ensure tastier, fresher water.

2.     Clogs in the Dispenser:

When the filter begins to breakdown and stop doing it’s job, hard minerals are not scrubbed out and make it through to the water. These minerals can not only change the taste of your water, but they can clog up the tubing to your dispenser, making it difficult for the water to pass through.

3.     Cloudy Ice:

If you are looking at a cup of unfiltered water, you many not be able to notice the additional minerals, chemicals, and microbes in the water. But freeze it – and it will tell a different story. When you haven’t changed your filter, these deposits are not filtered out of the water, and when frozen, the water will appear cloudy – giving you anything but crystal clear ice.

4.      The City Doesn’t Always Get it Right:

Our local municipalities work their hardest to filter the water and meet appropriate standards for drinking water. But this varies from city to city, state to state. A water filtration system in your refrigerator – with a good filter – is going to give you the maximum protection from heavy metals, microbes, chemicals, or added minerals that could be in the water supply.

Need help understanding your refrigerator’s water filter or need to order a water filter in Texas? Give Appliance Rescue Service a call today! Proudly serving Dallas, Texas and the surrounding North Texas communities. 

Tips for Preserving Food When the Freezer Goes Out

We rely on our freezer to preserve our food and keep it ice cold for weeks – and months! – at a time. But what do you do on that ill fated day when you need freezer repair in Dallas? Call Appliance Rescue Service and follow these simple tips to preserve your food longer!

Keep the Door Closed:

Opening the freezer door repeatedly to check on the food is a bad idea. Keep your freezer securely shut and only open it when it’s an absolute necessity in order to keep the cold air in and the seal in tact.

Stack Food Together:

If your freezer is not full, consider opening the freezer briefly and grouping frozen foods together so that they can better keep each other cold. Most full freezers will keep food for 48 hours; 24 hours for a half-full freezer.

Buy Dry Ice:

Dry ice will do wonders for keeping food in your freezer frozen! Buy some at your local convenience store and place it near the food to increase longevity.

Be Mindful of Meats:

If you think your meats may begin to thaw, consider placing them on a cookie sheet in the freezer or at least grouping them in one area. That way, the juices released during thawing do not run all over the freezer.

Install Appliance Thermometers:

Not sure what the temperature of your freezer is? An appliance thermometer can easily show you what is going on. A freezer must be kept at 0 degrees or below. After the appliance comes back on, anything that was over 40 degrees for over 2 hours will most likely need to be discarded.

As soon as you suspect you have a Dallas freezer issue, give the experts at Appliance Rescue Service a call! Or if you feel more comfortable, you can text or book an appointment online. Our team will get back to you promptly to setup a time to diagnose the issue and get your freezer up and running again in no time.

I Have a Leak in my Fridge...Now What?!

It’s the sight no homeowner wants to see. They walk into the kitchen, only to see a giant puddle originating from the refrigerator. Of course, it’s late at night and you don’t think Appliance Rescue of Dallas, Texas can get to you until tomorrow.

The best way to try to stop your leak in a pinch is to understand where the leak is coming from. Obviously, there are many makes and models of refrigerators, but here are a few common places that leaks come from in the refrigerator, which can help you diagnosis the issue:

Leak Location: Lower Front; Issue: Drain Line has Become Clogged on a Self-Defrosting Refrigerator

Unplug the refrigerator and remove the front guard on the lower part of the fridge. This will expose a plastic tray. Slide the tray out and search for the end of the drain line. Once you’ve located the line, put the end in an empty bucket to let remaining water flow out of the tube. Many times, the line can just get jammed with ice, so if you’re feeling froggy, take a look at the line and see if you see a chunk of ice blocking the path. Remove the ice, reinstall, and you should be back in business.

Leak Location: Bottom Rear; Issue: Water Line or Water Valve

If you are able, unplug the refrigerator, pull it out, and inspect the area around the water line. A leak could be coming from the line or the valve in the refrigerator.

Leak Location: Bottom Middle; Issue: Drain Pan Malfunction

Either your drain pan has a crack or is misplaced. Inspect pan for cracks and make sure it is installed properly within your refrigerator.

Leak Location: Interior; Issue: Drain Line from Defroster is Clogged

Many refrigerators drain on the inside of the refrigerator, typically behind the crisper drawers. Remove the drawers and inspect the area for the drain line. If possible, take a look in the line and see if you immediately notice anything clogging it up.

These are just a few of the refrigerator leak issues that we see at Appliance Rescue in Dallas. If you have a leak and need a refrigerator repair in Dallas, give the experts at Appliance Rescue a call today and our staff will be out there quickly to diagnosis the issue and get your refrigerator working properly in no time.

The Truth About Self Cleaning Ovens

It’s the holiday season. You want your kitchen to look perfect. You open your oven to find – to your horror! – that it’s caked in cooking grease and grime. What to do?

Self Cleaning Mode

Many ovens these days have a self cleaning function that works by heating your oven up to approx.. 900 degrees, and those ultra high temperatures then burn off any residue left on your oven from baking. The cycle typically takes about 3 hours, and during the process, the oven locks itself closed so that you cannot open accidentally. The beauty of the self cleaning cycle is that there are no harsh chemicals used – just heat. After the cycle is completed, you typically open your oven to find what looks like soot in the bottom. Just wipe it out with a damp cloth and your oven is as good as new.

Is this the best option?

For most, the self cleaning cycle will work like a charm. However, there are some caveats. First off, we’ve seen some issues in the past with the high heat temps actually causing issues to key elements in your oven, causing you to call a Dallas oven repairman asap. Why? One of the big reasons is that many newer ovens have hidden heating elements beneath the upper and lower oven cavity. Sometimes the self cleaning mode just makes the oven too hot, and those fuses pop and bust.

Another point to be aware of? Some research suggests that Teflon coated items in the oven can release odorless fumes that are harmful to animals.

A Safer Way to Clean

Since most oven’s these days have hidden cleaning elements, one of the easiest ways to clean the oven is with a little baking soda and water! Rub baking soda and a little water inside the oven to make a paste. Let it sit and the wipe off with a damp cloth. Easy as that!

Having issues with your oven? Remember you can always call your friendly Dallas appliance repair at Appliance Rescue!