It Does What?

What do a toaster, non-stick pans, and laundry detergent have in common? You’re probably using them incorrectly. Most kitchen and laundry appliances seem simple enough to forgo the manual, but using them incorrectly can cause unnecessary wear and tear, lower the lifespan of your appliances, create more work for you, or even cause fires.

Fear not! You don’t need to unearth your long forgotten appliance manuals and read them cover to cover. As your friendly neighborhood appliance experts, we’re here to help guide you with our list of 8 things in your kitchen you’re using incorrectly (and the right way to use them)!

1. Using the Warming Drawer for Storage

One you may have heard of already is the infamous warming drawer. Unfamiliar? It’s the drawer under your range that (more than likely) you’re currently keeping your cookie sheets. While most use this area as storage space, it’s actually designed to keep food warm. Whether you’re bringing home takeout, or just need to keep the lasagna warm, it’s worth cleaning out this space!

Not too keen on having your food so close to the floor?

We have plenty of standalone warming drawers to explore.

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2. Using the Wrong Temperature Water in Your Disposal

Here’s something to think about! What temperature is the water you run through your disposal? Most people seem to opt for hot, but this can have expensive consequences. Hot water combined with the agitation of disposal can cause any fats and oils to be broken up and cause blockages further down the pipe, making a small problem into a “call the plumber” ordeal!

Run cold water when grinding food and then after grinding is off, run hot water down the drain for one full minute a day to help sanitize and reduce blockages!

3. Mixing Up Dish Soap and Dish Detergent

Dish soap and dish detergent are easy to confuse. However, doing so call result in an unplanned foam party in the middle of your kitchen. Dish soap is what you would use to hand wash items in the sink. It produces suds and foam to help remove grease. However, if you put dish soap in the dishwasher it creates too much foam, occasionally causing the machine to overflow with bubbles!

Dish detergent on the other hand, doesn’t foam. So, you should avoid using it when washing dishes by hand, because it’s easy to use too much without the aid of bubbles!

4. Arranging Dishes Incorrectly in the Dishwasher

While we’re on the topic of dishwashers, did you know there’s a wrong way to load the dishes? The dirtiest dishes should always be placed in the middle of the bottom-most rack, so that they are in direct proximity to the spray arm. This will ensure they get the attention their mess requires.

5. Not Taking Full Advantage of Your Pot Handle

At some point you may have noticed a hole in the handle of your saucepan. While the actual intent of this hole is to help hang the pot up, it also doubles as a waste-free spoon rest. Not only does it hold your spoon for you, but any sauce that drips off the spoon lands right back into whatever you’re cooking!

6. Leaving Your Toaster Plugged In

While it may seem harmless, leaving a toaster plugged in can easily cause a fire! Plus, even though the toaster may be off, it’s still drawing power, increasing your electricity bill! The best course of action is to leave small kitchen appliances unplugged unless you’re using them.

7. Using Too Much Laundry Detergent

Sometimes, less is more. Doubly so when it comes to laundry detergent. While using a little extra laundry detergent may seem harmless, it can actually leave residue on ‘clean’ clothes, cause excessive foaming in the laundry machine, and even cause mold to develop in your machine. And the scariest part? The mold usually forms in the gasket where it’s extremely hard to see.

One way to solve this laundry problem for good is to get a washing machine like theMaytag MHW8200FWwhich comes with an Optimal Dose dispenser. Simply load in the detergent into the reservoir and the machine will expertly dispense the perfect amount into the wash cycle!

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8. Using the Wrong Cooking Utensils on Non-Stick Pans

The last one on our list is little known but extremely valuable. Using metal utensils on a non-stick pan can cause scratches and extra wear and tear. Avoid the hassle of replacing your cookware early by sticking to wooden spoons and spatulas or silicone utensils!

If one of the items in this article piqued your interest or you’re ready to put together a custom home appliance package, give us a call at 303.665.6850. One of our knowledgeable sales representatives would love to help!