*How to Look After Your Home Appliances

Friday, May 17, 2019
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Many of us rely upon a variety of household appliances to see us through the day. From toasters and kettles in the kitchen to hair straighteners in our rooms, and the boiler in the wall, there are an array of important appliances to be found in any home. Having an appliance break can be a major inconvenience, having a seriously detrimental impact on our comfort and happiness.

Fortunately, looking after your appliances better doesn't have to be difficult or involved. If you can follow a few simple pieces of advice, you can easily maintain your appliances for years and years. Don't waste money buying brand new appliances when you can still get some more mileage out of your existing ones. Below are some common household appliances and some simple tips for ensuring that they last as long as possible and you maintain them properly. If you look after your home appliances right, you shouldn't have to replace them very often.

Boiler
Your boiler is one of the most important pieces of infrastructure in the home. Without it, you wouldn't be able to heat your home properly, nor will you have access to hot water if your boiler isn't up to scratch. This is one appliance that you don't want to fail on you unexpectedly, so make sure that you look after your boiler properly. One of the easiest things you can do to maintain your boiler is to lag the pipes every now and then. The best time for pipe lagging is right before winter sets in, when it can prepare your pipes for the cold weather ahead. Most DIY shops sell ready-made pipe lagging that can simply be slipped over pipes for around £1 per metre.

During warmer weather, keep your boiler switched off. If you have a combi-boiler, then you can switch it over to hot water only mode instead. Switching your boiler on once a month for 15 minutes during the summer should be enough to keep it running smoothly. When the pressure on a boiler is too low, it won't run properly. You need to keep the pressure between 1 and 1.5 bars. Your boiler should have a pressure gauge on the front that you can check easily. If you need to adjust it, you will need to find specific instructions for your manufacturer and model. Over time, sludge and gunk will accumulate in your boiler. This will naturally reduce the efficiency of your boiler. Having your boiler professionally cleaned is the best way to ensure that it can keep running smoothly. Removing all the debris from your boiler's pipes and radiators will enable you to get more heat at a lower cost. This will help to extend the life of your boiler significantly.

Boilers need regular check-ups to make sure that they stay working properly. The more regularly you service your boiler, the longer it will last. Not only this, but it will keep running efficiently and will save you money. If you keep on top of the maintenance, it should be easy to clean and maintain your pipes, instead of having to wait for something to go wrong. It is also worth taking out boiler cover from a business like Certi, or any type of home emergency cover designed to cover your boiler specifically. This will give you someone to call if things go wrong with your boiler. Certi have a 24-hour helpline which is handy when your boiler fails you in the early hours of the morning.

Kettle 
Without a kettle, mornings would be hell for most of us, which means it's a disaster when your kettle unexpectedly dies. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to extend the life of your kettle. When your kettle is brand new, you will need to fill the kettle to just below the seam and boil it. Discard the water afterwards. Routine care will involve a de-scale with a non-acidic de-scaler once every three months.

Hair Straighteners 
You should always store your hair straighteners lying flat, rather than hanging them by their cable. This will gradually loosen the connection and will ultimately lead to issues with powering the straighteners. It is worth investing in a heatproof mat to lay your straighteners down on. This is especially important with ceramic straighteners, as these get much hotter than regular hair straighteners and can present a hazard.

Finally, avoid using shampoos and conditioners that leave a lot of residue in your hair. These residues can create all kinds of problems and will prevent your hair from looking its best. Not only this, but the residue will stick to the paddles and can even cause the plastic on your straighteners to melt. If you take proper care of your appliances, you can get the most out of them in terms of lifespan. Appliances that aren't cared for properly will fail sooner than they need to, costing you money in repairs and replacements. Check online for more advice on how to look after your appliances.

Do you look after your home appliances? 

*collaborative post - check out my disclaimer for more information

24 comments

  1. great tips! I always struggle with the upkeep of things like the kettle as we live in a hard water area and limescale build up is terrible

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  2. I never really thought about residue from hair products damaging my hair straighteners before! xx

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  3. I never knew that about hanging straighteners by their cable

    Jenny
    http://www.jennyinneverland.com

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  4. My boiler is a pain in the ass, its so needy!

    Erin || MakeErinOver

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  5. You've reminded me I need to de-scaled my kettle! x

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  6. Certainly pays dividends to look after yiur possessions

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  7. As a huge tea addict, I'm always keeping an eye on our kettle - I won't cope without it!
    Emx

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  8. Great tips, I really need to look after my stuff better xx

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  9. I love my heatproof mat, it makes the world of difference!

    Love, Amie ❤
    The Curvaceous Vegan

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  10. I'm not the best at looking after my appliances but I guess I should, as everything is so expensive xx

    Gemma • GemmaEtc.com ❤️

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  11. Thanks for the tips on the kettle. That is a hard one.

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  12. I always forget to de-scale my kettle and it's just a matter of time until my boiler packs in. I've always had the worst luck with them.

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  13. I also think that maintaining our appliances for years is much better solution that buying brand new ones, not is it a waste of money, but also environmental destruction. Thanks for great tips!
    xx
    Mona Bednarska

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  14. Thanks for sharing these tips! Very handy x

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  15. I can vouch for kettle lives because mine died last week! *sniffle* I really need to get another kettle and remember these tips. Ugh, being an adult is hard! xD

    Daisy xoxo | TheDeeWhoLived

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  16. Ooh great tips! A lot of stuff I never really think about xx

    Tiffany x www.foodandotherloves.co.uk

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  17. Yes this is such an important topic. You so have to be on the ball with these things. xx

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  18. Thanks for the tips! I definitely think my straighteners are reaching the end of their lifespan...

    Jasmine xx

    Jasmine Talks Beauty

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  19. These are great tips, you never really consider appliance care! My washing machine just died and I realised I've had it nearly a decade!

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  20. I never think of cleaning the kettle.

    https://littlemissmelanie.com/

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  21. Great tips! My kettle died last year and it was a nightmare boiling pans of water for a few days before we got a new one x

    Sophie

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