Good morning to those of you who caught me on Sunday’s WTHR Weekend Sunrise! We talked all about quick, easy, and affordable ways to save money on maintain appliances. Here are some of my favorite Royal Money Saving Appliance Tips. Steps just like these helped us cut costs during our journey of paying off over $127K in debt over the past 4 years.
When appliances begin to act up, we automatically assume it’s time to pitch them to the curb. However, sometimes a quick low cost fix can result in improved results without the price tag of purchasing a brand new appliance.
Coffee Pots: After daily use, you might notice that your coffee pot becomes a little bit of sluggish {you know, like you before you’ve had your daily cup of joe}. You can very simply remedy this with my best friend – White Vinegar {seriously, what does this stuff not do?}. Run 2 parts water, 1 part White Vinegar through the regular brewing cycle. Let the pot sit for 15 minutes. Turn it off and let it cool for another 15. Drain {by the way this is also AWESOME for cleaning out your drain, double bonus.}. Then, run 2 full cycles of water only back through the coffee pot to rinse out the vinegar. The vinegar will clear out the coffee and lime deposits and have your machine running good as new in no time. It’s a great idea to do this once a month to keep the machine running at its optimal level. Savings Estimate = At least $25.
Refrigerator: If your fridge has been running irregular or not cooling to your liking, don’t automatically assume it’s time to hit the aisles of your favorite home improvement store. Instead, crack out your vacuum. You heard me correctly {I guess you read correctly}, your vacuum can help your refrigerator run well. I’m not suggesting you sweep out the inside, but instead get all the cracks and crevices on the outside of the refrigerator and vacuum them out. Look low for vents at the bottom or pull it out from the wall {ewww, you better sweep back there, too, nasty}. Dust, dirt, and grime settle into the fans/vents/coils/magical inner working parts of your fridge. You’ll be amazed at what vacuuming them out can do to increase your icebox’s efficiency. Savings Estimate = $400 and Up!
Dishwasher: If you’re using commercially produced dishwashing detergent, chances are your dishwasher could use a good cleaning. If you look on the bottom of the dishwasher and see any sort of scaly build up {or pull the utensil racks off and see grime behind them}, your dishwashing friend might be due a little freshening. There’s more than one great way to skin this cat, though. You can use a commercially produced dishwasher cleaner. I’ve never had too much luck with these. I do LOVE a product called Lemi-Shine {which I actually use as my rinse agent even though it’s in powder form in every load}. You can find it near the traditional dishwashing detergents. I’ve also tried and had a modicum of success by using believe-it-or-not Lemonade drink mix in a load of empty dishes. Only use the lemonade, not any other flavor because its principle ingredient is citric acid. Pour 1 packet into the detergent dispenser and run the dishwasher empty. You can also use White Vinegar to clean the dishwasher {of course!}. Simply place a glass right side up in the top rack of the dishwasher and fill it with white vinegar. By the way, this is also a great trick for getting your glasses super sparkly during a regular load of dishes. Lastly, I highly recommend using your own homemade dishwashing detergent {find my recipe here}. By using it daily, my dishwasher has become cleaner with each use {without a special cleaning process}. Savings Estimate = $250 and Up!
If these steps don’t work, consider calling a repair man for a quick check of the large appliance before replacing it {just buy a new coffee pot, don’t call a repair man ;)}. A service call is typically $50 and the repair sometimes can be as little as $10-20.
If you do find yourself in need of replacing an appliance {especially a large one}, be sure to 1) Call a repairman and ask what models they replace the least often. This will save you money over the life of the appliance. 2) Check out scratch and dent stores or even scratch and dent inventory at your regular home improvement store. 3) Price match, price match, price match! 4) Check out last year’s stock. September and October are a great time to shop as new models are being brought in for the holiday season. 5) Wait until Black Friday. Believe it or not, toys and electronics aren’t the only items on sale in the wee hours of the AM the day after Thanksgiving. It’s not as much fun but you can pick up a sweet deal on an everyday expense.
[…] Calling all java lovers. If you daily use your coffee pot, at least once a month you’ll want to descale it. Simply run 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water through a regular cycle. Let the mixture sit. Pour it down the drain (by the way, this will actually help clear your drains, too). Then, run a regular cycle with just water. Your coffee will taste better on the next brew and you’ll stretch the life of the appliance. Want to know what other two appliances to maintain? Check out 3 Appliances to Maintain to Save Big Bucks […]