Are You Ruining Your Appliances During The Holidays?

The holiday season is a blur of cooking, baking, and hosting, and there is no other time of year that our kitchen appliances are so front and center. But did you know that the way you use your appliances this holiday season could be ruining them? 

At Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas, we get a lot of service calls during the holidays and we want to help you avoid that predicament. Here are some common mistakes we see homeowners make when using their appliances during the holidays:

Mistake #1: Overstuffing the Refrigerator

You’ve got a lot of mouths to feed, so you’ve stuffed every nook and cranny in your refrigerator with food. While this may be okay for a day or two, be sure not to make this a habit for any extended period of time. When you overstuff the refrigerator, it makes the refrigerator work harder to keep everything at the desired temperature. Also, air cannot move as freely around the refrigerator, causing stress on the fridge and Dallas refrigerator repairs.

 

Mistake #2: Sending Everything Down the Disposal

A garbage disposal is a wonderful thing, but it’s not meant to take everything! Be sure you do not send any fats (think bacon grease), bones, potato peels, or fruit pits down the drain. All of these things are known to wreak havoc on your components and back up your drain. When in doubt, just put items in the trash can to avoid garbage disposal repair. 

Mistake #3: Cooking in your Microwave

Microwaves are excellent for quickly heating or reheating items, but you really shouldn’t use your microwave to cook an entire entrée. Many microwave manuals will say you can cook in your microwave, but extended heat times can cause cracking or popping and damage to the interior of your microwave. 

Mistake #4: Not Cleaning the Range Hood

Cooking that big holiday meal is going to require proper ventilation, and if your range hood is not properly cleaned, it can prevent air from flowing freely, creating stress on your appliance. Before cooking, be sure to properly clean any range hood filters and check for clogs in the exhaust ports.

As always, if you experience any appliance issues and need holiday appliance repair in Dallas, Texas, call us at Appliance Rescue Service! We strive to be the best appliance repair company in Dallas with quick turnaround times, honest, highly trained technicians, and excellent rates. 

Use All Your Appliances To Get That Meal Done At The Same Time

Ahhh – the challenge: getting everything on the table at the same time, piping hot and ready to eat. If you’re anything like us, we typically have one or two hot things, and the rest end up cold before serving. As the holidays approach, Appliance Rescue Service is here with a few tips on how to use all your kitchen appliances to get that meal done – and on the table! – at the same time:

1.    Plan Out Your Dishes and Cook Times.

It’s impossible to be cooking everything at the exact same time and having it all done at the exact same time. The key is to understand what can cook early and simmer, what can be prepared in advance, what needs to be done last, etc. Having a good idea of what steps go into each recipe – and which appliances are needed – will go a long way toward getting dinner on the table hot.

2.    Prep as Much as Possible in Advance.

Before you ever turn on an oven, cooktop, or microwave, plan to prep as much as you can in advance. This will prevent you from scrambling when certain steps – particularly chopping – take longer than you think they will! 

3.    Roasting is Your Friend.

When preparing a large meal, remember the value of your oven and how wonderfully easy it is to roast vegetables or meat as part of your meal. Roasting is great because most roasted vegetables are very hearty, meaning they are flexible if you need to take something out a little early – or leave it in a few minutes longer to stay warm. If your veggies are done roasting early, simply turn the oven off and leave them in there with the oven door shut to help them stay crispy and warm.

4.    Start Cooktop Dishes First.

When planning out your cooking order, plan to start dishes on the cooktop first. Boiling water can be time consuming, as can simmering. Plus – if you’re making a stew or soup, those are easy to leave simmering on low while you prepare other dishes.

Ready to host your big holiday meal? Make sure those appliances are ready too! Call Appliance Rescue Service in Frisco, Texas today to request a service on your oven, cooktop, refrigerator, range, dishwasher, or other kitchen appliances. We are DFW’s best appliance repair company!

How To Get Rid Of Bad Odors In The Microwave

Ever burnt a bag of popcorn in the microwave, and it smelled like that for weeks?

Or had a microwave dinner explode in the microwave and the smelled lingered?

It’s the worst.

Here’s the good news: there are ways to get rid of those stubborn, bad microwave odors, and Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas is here to show you how:

1.    Vinegar and Water

The last thing you want to do when trying to remove stubborn bad odors is to add new chemical smells to the situation. That’s why we love using all-natural products to get the job done! Start by trying a microwave safe measuring cup with half vinegar and half water. Microwave the mixture for 4 minutes, and not only will the mixture sanitize, but it will deodorize and absorb the scents as well. You can also try soaking a sponge in vinegar with a little baking soda, microwaving for 1 minute, then scrubbing the microwave with the sponge.

2.     Citrus

Citrus fruit is an excellent deodorizer and all-natural too! If the vinegar and water option doesn’t work, try slicing some lemon or orange slices and placing it in a microwave safe bowl with 1-2 cups of water. Microwave the mixture for 4 minutes, then let it sit for 12 hours. When you open the refrigerator, the microwave should be fresh and clean.

3.    Baking Soda

Most people have baking soda on hand, and in fact, baking soda is perfect for neutralizing odors and is a great all-natural cleaning product. Leave an open container of baking soda in the microwave for 12 hours to absorb bad microwave odors. 

Hopefully these tips help remove the bad odors and help make your microwave like-new! However, if you suspect a more serious issue is going on with your microwave and need microwave repair in Dallas, call us at Appliance Rescue Service – the #1 appliance repairman in Dallas, Texas. 

Prevent Dallas Refrigerator Repair with these Tips

Refrigerators can be one of the most costly appliances to replace – and to fix. But here’s the good news: most Dallas refrigerator repairs can be avoided if you just perform routine maintenance on your appliance. 

What type of maintenance should I do on a refrigerator, you ask? Here are a few tips from the experts at Appliance Rescue Service:

1.    Clean the Condenser Coils

If you’re going to do anything to prolong the life of your refrigerator, this is it! Refrigerator condenser coils are located at the bottom of the refrigerator, and could be in the front or back depending on the model. With a coil cleaning brush – or another stiff brush – gently brush the coils to release any dust, hair, or other debris that has set in on the coils. When the coils get dirty, it prevents them from properly releasing heat, which in turn, makes your refrigerator less efficient and can lead to damage over time. Plan to clean out the condenser coils once every 6 months. 

2.    Clean the Door Gasket

Have you ever stopped to look at your refrigerator’s door gasket? Chances are, it’s in need of a little TLC. The door gasket is your refrigerator’s line of defense against cool air leakage, but if the gasket is sticky or worn, then it won’t seal properly. Give your door gasket a good scrubbing with warm, soapy water and a sponge to prevent Dallas refrigerator repair.

3.    Maintain the Proper Temperature

Did you know that a temperature between 36 degrees and 42 degrees is optimum for your refrigerator? Anything outside of this realm, and your refrigerator might be working on over-drive, which can lead to repairs and replacement more quickly.

If you sense there is something going on with your refrigerator and are in need of a Dallas refrigerator repair, be sure to call the best appliance handyman at Appliance Rescue Service! Our team is focused on getting your appliance fixed as quickly as possible with quality parts and service every time. 

5 Things That Should Never End Up In The Washing Machine

Your washing machine is a workhorse and it can handle a lot, but let’s face it. There are certain things that just don’t belong in a washing machine! Some are obvious and can wreck havoc on your machine and clothes; others less obvious. 

Are you putting the right items in your washing machine? Read on as Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas brings you 5 things that should never end up in your washing machine:

Metal Objects

Here are two likely culprits when it comes to metal objects in the washing machine: keys and coins. Both of these items get left in pockets, and then cause issues in your machine. Often coins can be harmless, but there is a chance that these small metal objects end up stuck in your filter or pipes. Another thing to worry about with coins and keys: scuffing on the interior of the washing machine drum. Your keys are the biggest culprit of washing machine drum damage, but they can also damage themselves by short circuiting in the washer. 

Rubber Mats

Bath mats with rubber bottoms and other rubber mats don’t belong in the washing machine. Overtime, the rubber can wear down and disintegrate in the washing machine, clogging pipes and filters and ending up in places you don’t want it. 

Gasoline-Stained Clothing

Pretreat flammable stains – like gasoline – by hand before ever placing in your washing machine. If not, the gasoline can be flammable and it’s just not worth the risk. 

Excessive Laundry Detergent

Many people think that more laundry detergent = more clean clothes, but that is false. Using too much laundry detergent can interfere with the sensitivity sensors on your control panel and it can actually stay in your clothes and leave a soapy residue that ruins the clothes. 

Pet Hair

Excessive pet hair can clump in your washing machine and find its way into the little holes of the drum. Not only is this exceedingly difficult to remove, but it can then clog the drain pipes as well. 

If you experience issues with your washing machine from any of these items or for other reasons, call Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas immediately for Dallas washing machine repair.