APPLIANCE TIPS
Unplug small electrical appliances, such as coffee makers, toasters, blenders, etc. after using them. Do not leave them on the counter plugged in. Fires can start if an electrical component malfunctions. This is especially true of appliances with clock-timers or sensors.
Do not put a plugged-in electrical appliance where it can fall or be pulled into water, as in the kitchen sink, bathroom lavatory or tub. Drain all water before plugging any appliance nearby. Electrical appliances are "live" when plugged in even when the switch is off. If it falls into water, you can be electrocuted if you touch it. For this reason, never plug an electrical appliance either "on" or "off" anywhere near water, and go away and leave it if there are children around who could pull it into water and be electrocuted.
Extension Cords
Extension cords pose several risks. First, the extension cord connections may not be secure. Besides causing power fluctuations that may damage the equipment, poor connections can also result in sparks that could start a fire.
Another problem with the connections is that they are vulnerable to water penetration. This is especially true in damp areas such as laundry rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, garages and outdoors. Water and electricity are dangerous combination responsible for many avoidable deaths each year.
In general, in those circumstances where use of an extension cord is unavoidable, employ one that is heavier than the wires already attached to the appliance. Never use substandard extension cords that could start a fire. Also, whenever using power tools or similar equipment on long extension cords be aware that the longer the cord is the more power is lost en route. This phenomenon, called voltage drop, is much less pronounced in heavier wires. Whenever you use an inadequate cord, you run the risk of damaging the appliance or causing the wires to overheat and become a fire hazard.
When extension cords, appliance wires and outlets are incompatible, people often use adapters to make things fit. Most commonly, people have a three-prong plug and a two-prong outlet. The third prong is the ground, and it offers important safety advantages. Since most heavy-duty appliances have plug configurations that are unique, a much better long-run solution is to have an electrician replace your 2-prong outlets with properly grounded three-prong outlets.
When moving appliances, if the cord can be detached, always unplug the cord from the wall before removing it from the appliance.
Of course there is the common sense rule of turning your appliances off when not in use, keeping them at room temperature and away from water plumbing system, and keeping plugs in the extension cord at a minimum to avoid an overload that can start a fire. Another thing, if you don't know this yet, when doing welding in your house, remember to turn off several appliances to avoid a short circuit in your fuse box that may eventually lead to fires.
When purchasing appliances, consider how much electricity they consume, durability and maintenance, features, style and noise which are explained as follows.
Energy. It makes a great deal of sense to evaluate your appliance choices according to energy efficiency. For some appliances, you have a choice between natural gas or electricity as a power source. In general, gas is a less expensive source.
Durability and Maintenance. Everyone is concerned with the longevity of the appliance and whether it will be reliable - but an often over looked consideration in the purchase of a new appliance is the manufacturer's warranty. Don't be misled by commercials, all appliances break down sometime, and even expensive ones.
If you have required service in the past for a particular brand and found the service company reliable, find out what brands they do factory service for. If you buy one of those brands, you'll be able to have them repaired by the service center for your new purchase.
Features. Keep in mind that many people pay a premium for a machine that does everything under the sun, only to discover that they never get around to doing all those fancy functions. Look at all the features available before you purchase. Have a salesperson show you how to activate those features. Then think carefully about whether these features will really enhance your lifestyle. For example, to some people, an icemaker is an expensive, unnecessary extravagance. For others, it's a necessity. Only you can decide what's important.
Style. More and more people are moving laundry equipment to an alcove near the kitchen. Meanwhile, people are starting to use the kitchen as both the primary eating room and the hub for entertaining. This means many consumers are paying more attention to how they can combine functionality and style.
Noise. In general, most new appliances are quieter than those made only a few years ago. If you have an older dishwasher, for example, you'll be amazed at the quiet hum of the new machines.
Do not put the volume menu at its loudest. This tends to weaken the sound system of audio-/audio-visual appliances. Surround sound is one of the hottest items in home entertainment. Many integrated amps and receivers have surround sound mainly intended for viewing films, videocassettes and laser discs in Dolby Stereo. Some systems offer a subwoofer output for extended bass, but a subwoofer with its own amp is needed. Patch cords with gold-plated terminals used to connect a VCR to the AN receiver are better than regular ones. However, regular cable connectors can carry signal, and the wires are often made of oxygen-free copper, which is also a high quality conductor but nevertheless, gold is the most excellent conductor of electricity.
Most refrigerators now have more than one light. Replacement is easiest when at least one bulb is still working. When you first notice a burnt-out bulb, count the total number of bulbs in your unit. Unscrew any burnt-out bulbs and take them with you to the hardware store to make sure you buy the same type. Buy enough for the whole refrigerator so you have spares as the other bulbs wear out.
Clean freezers with a solution of 2 tablespoons baking soda mixed with 1-quart water. Dry thoroughly before replacing food, and wipe off any moisture on freezer packages before putting them back inside. Line the floor of the freezer with aluminum foil. Don't cover any openings. It keeps ice cube trays and spills from sticking to the bottom.
If your freezer has an unpleasant smell, remove everything and put a cup of dry charcoal inside. Close the door and leave it overnight. If the odor isn't gone by morning, repeat with fresh charcoal.
To organize food in your refrigerator:
- Use transparent storage or use color-coded labels with expiry dates to identify containers of your leftovers and to economize space.
- Double-wrap all freezer items. To lengthen the freshness of vegetables and fruits, wrap them in aluminum foil instead of plastic.
- When stocking the freezer, put new items in the back and older ones in the front; that way, you'll use up the old stuff first.
- Put small packages that tend to get lost in the shuffle in one large container.
- Use plastic-coated wire racks to add shelf space. They're lightweight and won't block your view.
- Lastly, remember to fasten the lid top of your water and juice pitchers to prevent spills from the freezer.
Aside from food, your refrigerator is an ideal storage place for a wide array or non-food items, says consumer experts.
Camera film, for example, will often stay fresh beyond its expiration date if it's kept in the refrigerator.
Candles won't wilt and lose their shape in hot weather if they're refrigerated - and if they're stored for 24 hours or more in the fridge, they won't drip when burned.
Clothing that's been ruined by chewing gum can be saved if it's placed in the freezer compartment. This will turn the gum brittle and make it easy to remove with a knife.
If you sprinkle clothes for ironing but don't have time to finish pressing them, you can prevent the clothes from becoming mildewed by keeping them in a plastic bag inside the refrigerator.
Hair coloring products lose some of their effectiveness in hot weather, but you can prolong their life by refrigerating them.
Lipsticks will hold its shape longer if refrigerated - and a lipstick that's melted can be reshaped after it's chilled.
Tulip bulbs will remain dormant until planting time if they're kept in the fridge. It's best to chill them for 60 days at 40 degrees before planting.
Both flower and vegetable seeds will stay fresh longer if they're stored inside a jar in the refrigerator.
Cigarette stay fresher and flashlight batteries keep longer when they're refrigerated.
Refrigerator storage will also help perfume and cologne retain their fragrance longer, firm up soft soap and prevent shoe polish from drying out and hardening.
For best results, put detergent in before you load the washer so it can seep in clothes from the bottom and do not overload your washing machine. Put enough load for washing to be more efficient. To prevent floods, make sure the hose is secure and can't rattle lose or shift out of position. Clean the lint trap before each load. After using, always remember to wipe with a dry cloth any wet surfaces to prevent your machine from rusting.
Once a year or so, use a dry paintbrush to clean lint from the corners and cracks in the interior of the dryer and around the door.
Ovens and gas ranges. If grease or food spills on exteriors, use sudsy cloth, followed by damp cloth. Clean bottom of fry-pans, etc. after use to avoid grease build-up. Use steel wool pads with dishwashing liquid for stubborn grease. Do not use alkalis such as baking soda or chlorine bleach on aluminum.
The reflector bowls (also called drip pans) beneath the burners should be kept shiny and clean. Besides giving the stove a nice finished appearance, they are designed to evenly reflect heat back up to the pot or pan.
Yellow flames in a gas stove are an indication of a problem. Flames should always be blue. Yellow flames will give off more fumes and may present a health hazard.
Oven door seals become stiff with age and eventually need to be replaced. To test your seals, close the door on a pesos bill (with the oven off). Then tug on the pesos bill. If it slips out easily, the seals should be replaced. Faulty seals waste energy, make the kitchen overly hot, and cause uneven cooking.