FAQs: Everything You Need to Know about Your Oven’s Self Cleaning Mode

An oven’s self cleaning mode can be a homeowner’s best friend – and then it can also be a nightmare. Many homeowners simply don’t use it because they don’t understand it or how it works. Here are a few frequently asked questions we get here at Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas about the oven self cleaning mode and how it can work for you:

How Does the Oven’s Self Cleaning Cycle Work? 

The oven’s self cleaning cycle works by heating your oven to above 900 degrees Fahrenheit and then burning any baked on grease and food debris into ash. This is not harmful to your oven because the oven is coated in a porcelain resin that is fireproof and resistant to the high heat. 

Should I Leave My House During the Self Cleaning Cycle?

Yes, the North Texas Poison Center recommends that you leave the home while running the self cleaning mode. Putting the Teflon coating of your oven under extremely high heat conditions can produce fumes, and possibly, carbon monoxide. Be sure your home is well ventilated when running a self cleaning cycle. 

Do I Pre-Clean My Self Cleaning Oven?

As sad as it may be, you can’t just run the self cleaning cycle and expect it to do all the work. For best results, use an oven cleaner prior to running the self cleaning cycle to remove any larger crumbs of food or debris that might be lurking in the oven. You want to run the cycle when the oven basically looks clean, but you want to remove baked on, hard to remove spots. 

Do I Leave the Racks in When Running the Self Cleaning Mode?

No, racks should be removed prior to running the self cleaning cycle. If you leave the racks in, they are likely going to warp and discolor due to the high heat, rendering them useless the next time you try to bake with them. 

When Can I Use My Oven After Self Cleaning?

The self cleaning mode will lock the oven shut until it has properly cooled down, and this time period varies based on your model. Check your user manual for details on your specific model, but this can vary from 30 minutes-2 hours post cycle. 

Want to learn more about the self cleaning mode on your oven? Do you suspect you need oven repair after running your self cleaning cycle? Call us at Appliance Rescue Service – the #1 oven repair company in Dallas, Texas. We’ll inspect your oven and give you a full estimate before starting any work. 

The BEST Way to Clean Baby Clothes

As a new mom myself, I am CONSTANTLY ensuring that what goes on/in my baby is free of allergens, dirt, dust, ANYTHING to do with contamination. Especially when it comes to the clothes my son wears every day. Here are some helpful tips when washing your infants clothes!

Prepping The Clothes

A BIG one to always remember is to wash the baby’s clothes before putting them in it. I mean to wash them, even if you just bought them from the store. All babies have sensitive skin, and washing prior to wearing will prevent their skin from having an allergic reaction

Washing The Clothes

When it comes to washing the babies clothes, you’ll always follow the same steps as you would for your clothes. Always separate colors, whites, and darks. Thanks to “Better Homes & Garden”, they have listed some amazing hacks when washing baby clothes!

• Place socks & other small items in a mesh bag when washing.

• Fasten all loop-and-hooks when washing so nothing becomes attached in the process!

• When folding the clothes, ensure that there are no loose buttons, fragments, or edges that might get stuck on baby’s skin.

Which is the best Baby Laundry Detergent?

One may think that washing a babies clothes can be done with regular laundry detergent. However, going back to one of my previous statements, babies have extremely sensitive skin. That means the detergent used is important too. Here is a list of the BEST laundry detergents you can get.

1. Best For Sensitive Skin - Puracy Natural Liquid

2. Best For Hard Water - Molly’s Suds Powder

3. Best Hypoallergenic - Dreft Stage 1

4. Best All Natural - ECOS Laundry Detergent

5. Best Liquid - Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day

6. Best For Baby Eczema - Dreft Purtouch

7. Best For Cloth Diapers - Rockin’ Green Classic

8. Best Powder - Grab Green

9. Best Organic - Eco Nuts Organic

10. Best Smelling Detergent - Purex Liquid

(List Courtesy of Moms Love Best)

Following these steps & products should leave you with the best care for your baby’s clothing! Even though they grow into and out of those clothes within minutes it seems like, you always want to take great care of them. And if you are facing any issues with your washer or dryer, contact Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas for a service call!

How Do I Decide Which Dishwasher Cycle to Use?

Today’s fancy dishwashers have so many built-in settings it can be hard to determine what cycle to use! While these settings can be perplexing, they are actually there to help you get your dishes cleaner and do it more efficiently. 

So how do I decide which dishwasher cycle to use? Appliance Rescue Service – the #1 appliance repair company in DFW – is here to help you figure it out!

Auto Clean

Consider this your go-to if you aren’t sure which setting best fits your load. The auto clean cycle assesses how many dishes are in the dishwasher – and how dirty they are – and then adjusts the cycle and water temp accordingly. 

Heavy 

This cycle will use the highest water pressure and the hottest water to get baked on gunk off your dishes and leave them sparkling clean. Do not put any delicate dishes in this cycle and be aware that this cycle normally takes the longest. Reserve this cycle for that night you baked lasagna and it’s really caked on your dishes. 

Light

The light wash cycle isn’t necessarily for a load with very little in it. Think of it as a load for delicate items. If you’re going to put fragile stemware or china in your dishwasher, then run it on the light cycle. The light cycle will use low pressure and cooler water to get things clean with little effort. Be sure all caked on food is removed before loading in the dishwasher or you’ll be disappointed with this cycle. 

Quick Load

So what cycle should I use if I don’t have many dishes and they aren’t that dirty? Quick load is your best bet! This option uses hot water and high pressure to get things clean, but doesn’t spend as much time (or water!) getting it done. Why waste a heavy load option that runs longer when your dishes only need a mild cleaning and sanitizing? 

So there you have it! Hopefully these tips help take the mystery out of which dishwasher cycle you should use. If you have more questions – or need dishwasher repair in Dallas, Texas – do not hesitate to call Appliance Rescue Service for all your appliance repair needs. 

6 Things You Should Never Put in the Dryer

Laundry – the necessary evil.

We love fresh, clean clothes and the idea of sorting and pulling things out that shouldn’t go in the dryer is well, exhausting. Many of us get lazy and just throw everything in there, but don’t! If you want to avoid dryer repair in Dallas, Texas, then here are 7 things our technicians here at Appliance Rescue Service say you should never put in the dryer:

1.    Wool

Wool sweaters, gloves, and socks get a lot of use, particularly during the winter months. Unfortunately, putting them in the dryer will cause them to shrink. Instead, take nice wool sweaters to the dry cleaner and take gloves and socks out to air dry flat.

2.    Overalls

What? Why not overalls? Well, you know those metal clasps. If you’ve never put a pair of overalls in the dryer, then chances are you’ve heard the metal clasps clanking around in there. The clasps are normally heavy and can damage the interior of your dryer. Instead, hang them to dry or put them in a pillow case to protect the dryer.

3.    Running Shoes

There are many tutorials online for washing running shoes in the washing machine, but just make sure you don’t transfer them to the dryer! Before washing, remove laces and insoles, then let them air dry after washing to avoid damaging the rubber or other layers of the shoe. 

4.    Rubber Bath Mats

Sure, bath mats can do in the washing machine, but if they have a rubber backing, never put them in the dryer! That rubber backing will break down in the dryer and cause Dallas dryer repair! And at worse, it can actually catch on fire! Instead, wash them air dry them. 

5.    Denim Jeans

Jeans don’t need to be washed often, and if you want to extend the life of your jeans, spot clean regularly, then wash and air dry sparingly. 

6.    Swimsuits and Bras

These are in the same category because both normally have a decent amount of elasticity that can break down and get ruined with the heat of the dryer. Instead, line dry both for long life. (Just make sure to dry swimsuits in the shade to avoid fading.)

Hopefully these tips help you extend the life of your dryer and your clothes too! As always, if you ever need Dallas dryer repair, call the experts at Appliance Rescue Service!

Additional Reading: 

What You Want to Know About Heat Pump Dryers

Dryer Deep Dive

Why You Need To Clean Your Dryer Vent 

9 Things Your Dryer Hates

9 Electric Dryers At 3 Different Price Points

Follow these 4 Steps If You want to Avoid Refrigerator Repair

It’s never fun when your refrigerator goes out. 

No one is excited to spend thousands on a new refrigerator – or even spend hundreds on refrigerator repair – and at Appliance Rescue Service, we get that. 

We make many refrigerator repair service calls, and we’ve noticed some trends in service. If you want to avoid refrigerator repair in Dallas and prolong the life of your unit, here are several steps we recommend you follow:  

Step 1: Clean the Coils

If there is one thing you take from this article, then it should be the importance of clean condenser coils. The condenser coils – normally located on the bottom of the refrigerator – should get a good scrubbing once a year. The best time to do that is now, before the summer heat hits and your refrigerator has to work harder to keep up.

Step 2: Allow for Airflow

When purchasing a refrigerator, consider the space it is going in and make sure it has adequate airflow on all sides once installed. Tight spaces don’t allow air to circulate, which prevents the refrigerator from cooling properly. Unless you have a built-in refrigerator, airflow and circulation is key.

Step 3: Keep the Doors Sealed

Many modern refrigerators have a chime that goes off if the refrigerator is left open too long, and that’s a good thing. When the refrigerator doors are left open, it allows cold air to escape, which in turn, makes your refrigerator’s condenser work harder to cool. (Think about the way your home’s air conditioner works.) Another tip – regularly clean gaskets to get a tight seal so cold air doesn’t escape even if the door is closed. 

Step 4: Avoid Overloading the Refrigerator

Just as airflow outside the refrigerator is important, it’s also important inside the refrigerator. This means you must not pack too many items into the refrigerator if you want it to work at maximum efficiency. Also – many people will go to Costco, buy huge containers of ranch, bbq sauce, etc., and then put them all in the refrigerator. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, too many heavy containers placed together can add strain to the refrigerator doors, shelves, etc. – causing issues with door seals and more.

Hopefully these tips help you avoid Dallas refrigerator repair and extend the life of your unit for years to come. If for some reason you do find yourself in a situation where your refrigerator isn’t working properly, please don’t’ hesitate to give us a call at Appliance Rescue Service – the #1 appliance repairman in Dallas, Texas.