So, the holidays are here, and if I had a dollar for every voicemail left on Thanksgiving Day for a “broken” appliance I would be retired. This is because we tend to overload, over stuff, and over work ‘em all in one day!
- Ranges/Ovens:
One thing I seriously recommend is that you don’t self-clean the oven! Wait till after the holiday, this is because 75% of the calls I get are, “I just self-cleaned my oven and now it’s locked!” This happens a lot. The last thing you want is a non-functioning oven before your family is over and now you need to order UberEats for Thanksgiving dinner.
I would also say play it safe over the next few days, test your stove and make sure that all the burners are working, and that your oven will heat up. Then you’re ready to bake!
- Refrigerators:
Do not overpack. One of the biggest things that will break a fridge is overpacking them. There are air vents on the top and the bottom that need to be clear or the fridge cannot recirculate air. A fridge that can’t recirculate air will just never get cold, and the compressor will work overtime. Try not to overpack, especially the top shelf.
If you have a spare fridge, try to utilize it to even out the food, drinks etc. I like to put the kids’ drinks in a cooler outside, because they like to open the door and spend 10 minutes deciding what drink to take.
- Dishwashers:
Be careful that your relative who likes to be “helpful” does a little plate scraping first. Although a dishwasher really doesn’t need to be pre-rinsed, many dishwasher filters will clog up with things like pasta etc. Just be sure there’s not a glob of food at the bottom.
Prior to running it check by the lower area. Nieces and nephews like to drop plates of cake right on the rack! Also, it is a big time of year for the broken wine glasses at the bottom. I would run a few smaller loads throughout the day.
- Cleanup:
If you have stainless steel appliances, always start with soap and warm water to clean off the dirt and grime. In the showroom, I use Stainless Steel Magic, the aerosol version. I have found this to be the most effective stainless cleaner on the market. One trick I learned many years ago is to spray and let it sit a minute, stainless can be porous and it is more effective if it sits a little. The newer fingerprint-free stainless has a coating, so it’s not as necessary, but letting it sit I have found really improves the sheen afterwards!
If any of you have tips or cleaners that you use during the holidays, please share! I may be an appliance expert, but I will be the first to admit if you’re looking for Al during cooking or cleanup time I will most likely be on the couch…
Looking to grill a turkey for Thanksgiving? Watch Chef David Burke show you how it’s done.
Need new appliances? Head to Plessers.com or call 1-877-957-5377 and tell them Al sent you!
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