Washing Machine Tips: How to Clean Sport Uniforms

Fall is in full swing, which means your laundry room is likely bustling with laundry. And if you have anyone in your family who plays sports – football, baseball, soccer, etc. – it’s likely you’ve seen a stinky uniform or two come through your washing machine and dryer.

Getting a sports uniform clean and fresh can be difficult, but our team at Appliance Rescue Service in Plano, Texas is here with a few tips to make your life easier:

1.  Wash it as Soon as Possible

This isn’t always possible, but the sooner you wash the uniform, the easier it is to get dirt, stains, and unpleasant odors out of the uniform. If you can’t wash it right away, at least pre-treat the stains with a stain remover to prevent them from setting in.

2.  Pre-Rinse Dirt

This may seem like a no-brainer, but your washing machine is not a miracle maker. The caked on mud from a wet day at the soccer field is going to go somewhere. Prevent that dirt and mud from clogging up your washing machine and causing Plano washing machine repair by pre-rinsing all caked on mud and dirt before it gets laundered.

3.  Add Vinegar and Baking Soda

One of the simplest ways to remove unpleasant odors from sports uniforms is to add a little white vinegar to your bleach dispenser. Adding the vinegar neutralizes the odors, leaving your uniform clean and fresh. Baking soda is also a great laundry booster and odor neutralizer, helping remove stains and odors. Sprinkle a little in after adding your detergent and clothing.

4.  Air Drying is Best

After laundering your uniforms, skip the dryer and let them air dry instead. Heat and plastic/synthetics don’t go well together, and many uniforms and gear have plastic letters or synthetic fibers that can get warped or all-together ruined in the dryer. Play it safe and air dry instead. If using a front loading washing machine, always remember to leave the door cracked after unloading. This lets the washing machine air out, preventing mold or mildew that can cause Plano appliance repair.

Here’s to a successful sports season, and as always, if you need washing machine repair in Plano, McKinney, or anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, give Appliance Rescue Service a call today!  

Icemaker Not Making Ice? This Could be Why

In our experience, icemakers often last around 3-10 years, so with that being said, they tend to be less reliable than the refrigerator itself. Often, the refrigerator is working great, but the icemaker is not making any ice. It’s a problem.

If you are experiencing issues with your McKinney icemaker not making any ice, here are some possible reasons:

1.  Faulty Water Inlet Valve

The water inlet valve is the part of the icemaker that controls how much water gets to the icemaker. If you know that your water pressure is good and your icemaker has power, then a faulty water inlet valve could be the culprit. These can just break on their own, or they may get stuck due to mineral build-up over time from the water running through.

2.  Temperature is Too High

This is a simple one you can troubleshoot on your own! Icemakers produce ice best when they are running at a temperature below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. If your freezer is running around 10 degrees or higher, try bumping the temperature down a few notches and see if it begins to produce ice more efficiently. Sometimes it’s an easy fix that saves you the cost of any icemaker repairs!

3.  Faulty Ice Maker Assembly

Unfortunately, if one of the above does not fix the issue, you may need a new icemaker assembly. Most manufacturers do not sell the icemaker parts separately, so a new assembly may be in order. At Appliance Rescue Service, we always do everything we can to ensure a specific part cannot be ordered to fix the issue before recommending an entirely new icemaker assembly.

If you need appliance service in McKinney or anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, give Appliance Rescue Service a call today! Our team is expertly trained in all icemaker repairs – along with refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, cooktop, and washer/dryer repairs.

How to Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel Appliances

Stainless steel appliances remain the most popular appliance finish out there, and this doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon. After you’ve had your beautiful stainless steel appliances awhile, you may notice an unsightly scratch here or there and wonder – is there a way to get that out?

While removing a scratch may be impossible without professional help, there are some home stainless steel scratch removal techniques you can try to remove the scratch yourself:

Mild Abrasive & Water

Start by purchasing a dry powder cleaner with mild abrasive properties. Examples include Comet, Ajax, and Barkeepers Friend. When combined with water, each of the products forms a paste that can buff out mild scratches and water spots from your stainless steel appliances without major stainless steel appliance repair. Simply apply this solution to a soft cloth and rub WITH the grain of the stainless to watch those scratches disappear.

Stainless Steel Scratch Removal Kit

There are several products on the market that are specifically designed to restore the stainless steel and remove scratches and abrasions.  We recommend trying the Scratch B Gone Stainless Steel Scratch Removal Kit or the Siege 63001 Stainless Steel Scratch Remover. Both products give you step-by-step instructions with specially designed products included to give you the best results possible.

Before attempting any scratch removal technique, always make sure to check the owner’s manual to determine any tips and tricks from the manufacturer specifically and make sure you aren’t doing anything that would negate an appliance warranty!

If you are nervous about attempting a stainless steel appliance repair on your own – even if is just a scratch removal, call Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas! We’re happy to help with your Dallas appliance repair needs – big and small! Proudly serving Plano, McKinney, Allen, Frisco, and the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

4 Reasons You Must Change Your Refrigerator Water Filter

When was the last time you changed the water filter in your refrigerator?

Chances are you might not remember – or it may feel like you just did it! But bottom line: if it was longer than 6 months ago, it’s time to replace your water filter again, and here’s why:

1.  Your Filter Will Stop Filtering

This may seem obvious, but a water filter won’t work forever. When it has been overused, it gets clogged and can no longer filter out new impurities, microbes, and chemicals in the water. Instead, it just runs your water through, leaving everything in it from the tap. This is not necessarily bad, but it’s not optimal either. A filter can’t do its job if it’s been overused and become clogged, so replacing your water filter is vital.

2.  Shortens the Life of your Refrigerator

Okay, so maybe your whole refrigerator won’t be affected, but certain parts of it can be. If hard water is consistently run through the dispenser or ice maker, mineral deposits can build up inside the tubing or dispensers, creating issues that can lead to Dallas refrigerator repairs, or worse, a new refrigerator purchase.

3.  Cloudy Ice

Freeze unfiltered water and you’ll be surprised at how cloudy it looks! The cloudiness represents the mineral deposits, chemicals, and other impurities that haven’t been filtered out yet. If you want crystal clear ice, then replacing the filter is a must. 

4.  City Water is Not Always Perfect

We’re not saying that a new water filter makes your water perfect, but it certainly provides additional protection against unnecessary microbes, heavy metals, and chemicals that appear in the water. Our local municipalities do their best to produce water that is safe and held to the highest standards, but the truth is that they can’t always remove everything.

Check your refrigerator’s owner’s manual today to find out where your water filter is and how to change it. Need help? Call Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas, the leading appliance service in Dallas, Plano, and McKinney.

Refrigerator Buying Guide: Pros and Cons of French Door Refrigerators

Maybe you’ve had our team of appliance repair experts at Appliance Rescue Service out to the house to assess your broken refrigerator.

Maybe you’re buying a new home and your old refrigerator just doesn’t fit in the new home.

Or maybe you’re just in the market for a newer model.

Whatever the reason, buying a new refrigerator can be daunting! French door refrigerators are one of the most popular refrigerator styles these days, but they aren’t for everyone. Here are the pros and cons of the French door refrigerator to help you decide what’s right for you:

PROS

Ease-of-Use:

French door refrigerators are a big draw because everything you need in your refrigerator is easily accessible at all times. No need to bend down and look for things in the back of the fridge. Freezers get a lot less use on a day-to-day basis so it’s just common sense to put it on the bottom.

Spacious:

French door refrigerators provide more room for storing large baking dishes, platters, etc. – particularly those that need more width than a side-by-side refrigerator or a traditional freezer-up model.

Aesthetics:

Because French door refrigerators don’t need the same range-of-motion as a traditional refrigerator, you can often find more compact models to fit tight spaces. There are also considered very stylish, with many stainless finishes available.

CONS

Large Objects in Freezer:

If you store large turkeys or meats in your freezers, they could be cumbersome to lift out of a bottom freezer.

Clutter:

Some models have drawers or shelves within the bottom freezer; some do not. Without some way to separate out where food is stored, it can be difficult to find what you need, when you need it.

Cost:

 French door refrigerators are more expensive that more traditional styles. Also, opening and closing two doors can let more air out than a normal refrigerator, which can lead the refrigerator to work harder, thus costing you in refrigerator repairs, longevity, or energy bills.

And as always, if you begin having issues with your French door refrigerator, do not hesitate to call Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas! We do French door refrigerator repairs daily!