Keep your washer and dryer running like new with a simple tip from Angela Warner at Warners’ Stellian: keep it clean! Regular cleaning ensures your appliances stay in top-notch condition, maximizing their lifespan and performance. Let’s give our washers and dryers the TLC they deserve for years of reliable service!
Category Archives: Cleaning
New Year, New You
Out with the old, in with the new. It’s a new year, a perfect time to give your home a little TLC. Our Spokesperson, a.k.a The Appliance Whisperer, Angela Warner, welcomed Housing First Minnesota into our Edina showroom to walk through some appliance care tips to kick off 2024.
Cleaning Your Dishwasher
Do you remember the last time you cleaned your dishwasher? If you notice a change in performance, it’s a sign to clean your dishwasher. Regular maintenance helps keep your appliances running smoothly as detergent residue and food build up over time. If you don’t have any dishwasher cleaner from brands like Affresh, you can put vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl on the top rack in an empty dishwasher and run as normal. The vinegar will break down residue and food buildup. New dishwasher models have filters on the bottom of the tub. Remove that every so often and give it a good rinse.
Stainless Steel
Notice fingerprints on your fridge? Grab a bottle of Cerama Bryte, spray directly on the surface, and with a microfiber cloth, wipe the cleaner with the grain. You can also use baby oil and a towel, wiping with the grain for added shine!
Dryer Vent
If you notice your clothes are drying as well as they used to, check your dryer vent! It should be cleaned at least once a year as it can become a fire hazard in your home with all the build-up of lint. Always remember to clean your dryer’s lint filter every time you use it.
Furnace Filter
Here is another one you might forget about. To keep up with regular maintenance for your heating and cooling system, change out the filter in your furnace regularly. Without changing it will affect the performance, and in the Midwest, we would rather avoid heating issues during the frigid months!
Microwave Vent
This one may be forgotten about but don’t worry, it’s an easy one! Head to your microwave and underneath you will find the vents. Give those a good clean for optimal use and you’re good to go. The grease and grime from cooking can build up and not make your microwave work as well as it should.
We hope you found this blog helpful! To learn more about Housing First Minnesota and their upcoming events (did someone say Parade of Homes?!) check them out online.
Show Your Appliances Some Love this Valentine’s Day
Rekindle your appliance spark this Valentine’s Day by giving your appliances some extra TLC. The following appliance cleaning and maintenance tips will ready your appliances to cook a romantic dinner and handle the cleanup too.
Refrigerator, thank you for keeping things fresh.
To show your appreciation, we recommend checking the seal and cleaning the coils. If you have an ice maker and water dispenser, consider the last time you changed the filter. Follow your manufacturer guidelines for frequency, but generally it’s twice a year. Learn how to change a refrigerator water filter here.
Dishwasher, thank you for cleaning up my messes.
It might be time to clean your dishwasher in return. To do so, clean out your filters and scrub the spray arm nozzles (a toothbrush comes in handy here) to loosen any food residue or buildup. Then, it’s time for the magic cleaner of all things – vinegar! Fill a cup of vinegar, place it on the top rack and run the dishwasher as normal.
Washer and dryer, thank you for not judging my pizza stains.
The trusted washer, a machine that keeps your world spinning. But in order to clean your clothes, you need a clean machine. We sell cleaning wipes for the washing machine exterior and Affresh tablets for cleaning the drum.
Use Affresh wipes for the exterior of the dryer while you’re at it. And don’t forget to check your dryer vent.
Range, thanks for keeping the flame alive.
Whether it be porcelain, ceramic or glass, learn how to clean your stovetop here. And don’t forget those cast iron grates! Next, move on to cleaning the oven. Remove your racks first if you’re using a self-clean function.
Microwave, thanks for the lazy night(s) in.
For funky smells in the microwave, mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar with 1/2 cup water and heat in a microwave-safe bowl for five minutes on high. Wait 15 minutes before opening the microwave. The steam will loosen dried on foods, so you can easily wipe them away.
Showing your appliances some love makes them work more efficiently and last longer. Basically, you and your appliances are a perfect match. Happy Valentine’s Day!
What are your best appliance maintenance/cleaning tips? Share them in the comments section below!
Tips for Getting Rid of Dust Mites Naturally
You’ve heard of dust bunnies, which spoiler alert, aren’t actually cute cotton-tailed creatures hopping through your home. But did you know dust mites, which live in nearly all homes, are actual creepy-crawly bugs? It’s true; dust mites are microscopic creatures that feed on dead skin cells and cause watery eyes, stuffy noses, coughing and a whole host of other allergy issues. They are the most common household allergen, and your bedroom is the most hospitable place in the house for them to live.
Creeped out? We are too, which is why we are offering tips for reducing the amount of dust mites in your home.
Tidy Up to Eliminate Dust Mites
Dust with a damp cloth, starting at the highest surface in the room and working your way down. Then, to capture all the dust that made its way to the floor, invest in a quality vacuum that uses a HEPA filter and a sealed vacuum system. Miele vacuums are known for setting the standard worldwide. According to tests, Miele’s proprietary cleaning system captures more than 99.99 percent of harmful pollutants, which is an average of 21 times more than other popular HEPA filtered bag-free machines. You can count on a Miele vacuum to capture dust mites rather than releasing them back into the air.
Throw your bedsheets, pillow cases, curtains and drapes in the washer weekly on a hot setting (between 130 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit) to kill dust mites. Use a similar heat setting in the dryer to eliminate any lingering dust mites after the wash cycle.
Dust mites like to feed on pet dander. Vacuum and clean any pet beds regularly.
Consider keeping Fido and Fluffy out of the bedroom if you have severe dust mite allergies.
Dust Mite Deterrents
Fabric fibers are a dust mite’s best friend. Opt for hard-surface blinds rather than curtains and draperies. If you prefer the soft look of curtains, wash them regularly in hot water.
Consider using dust-proof mattress and pillow covers, which you can find at any mattress or home store. And in news that will make all teenagers (and let’s face it, adults) happy, don’t make your bed in the morning! Instead, leave the blankets and sheets open to air out the bed and reduce the humidity left behind after a good night’s rest.
Freeze Out Dust Mites
The freezer method works well for throw pillows and stuffed animals.
Just place the items in a plastic bag and stick them in the freezer overnight. The cold environment kills the dust mites.
Air Control to Get Rid of Dust Mites
Dust mites’ ideal living quarters are 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and fairly humid. Keep your thermostat set no higher than 70 to show the dust mites they aren’t welcome. As a bonus, you will save on heating bills! Use a dehumidifier to keep your home humidity levels at 50 percent or lower, especially in the bedroom.
According to the EPA, Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors, which is why reducing allergens is crucial. Breathe easier with the tips above.
How To Improve Indoor Air Quality This Winter
Dreaming of a warmer spring day with the windows wide open? Yeah, well keep dreaming. Winter is coming, and for Minnesotans that means a few long months until we fling open our windows again to welcome the fresh spring air. In the meantime, our houses remain sealed tight, keeping the cold out and the stale indoor air, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores and other winter allergens sealed in. Sound like something you’ve sneezed about in the past? We’re here to make it easy breezy to improve your indoor air quality at home while we wait for spring.
Change Your Air Filter
The first line of defense for good air quality in your home is a clean air filter! Check your owners’ manual for advice and directions on changing your air filter. Some should be changed every 6 months, others more frequently depending on your home environment. To ensure your HVAC system is firing on all cylinders, schedule a furnace tuneup.
READ MORE: Fall Furnace Maintenance Checklist
Add Some Humidity
Dry winter air, which is exacerbated by your furnace, can cause chapped lips, scaly skin and sore throats. The ideal in-home humidity level is approximately 45 percent. Adjust your humidity levels accordingly with a moisture or humidity gauge. To increase humidity, use a vaporizer or humidifier. Or you can add humidity to the air naturally by placing vessels of water on radiators or near vents.
Invest in Houseplants
Image via Thermador
Clear the air of indoor pollutants using houseplants. Studies show that houseplants can filter VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from the air, helping you breathe easier. If you can keep them alive, this list of plants helps purify the air of common indoor pollutants that come from our carpeting, paints and cleaning products.
Vacuum on a Regular Basis
Invest in a quality vacuum that uses a HEPA filter. Dust/dust mites, pollen and chemicals trapped in your carpet can be sneaky culprits causing you to cough and sneeze. Check out our vacuum cleaner buying guide to see which vacuum at Warners’ Stellian is right for you!
When Americans spend on average 90% of their time indoors, especially in winter, improving indoor air quality conditions proves to be a worthwhile cause. Breathe easier and sneeze less this winter with the tips above.
What advice do you have for improving indoor air quality? Share it in the comments section below.
Featured image via Rheem