Tip: Fabric softeners are waxy and can gum up in the washer if introduced undiluted with water before dispensing. So mix them with water before use. If there's a fabric softener dispenser on your machine, add the recommended amount and then top off with water. If you're pouring from a cup, use a 3-to-1 ratio of softener to water. Avoid overloading the washer. Add clothes until the unit is filled to just below top of the agitator axle without packing down the clothes. An overloaded washer strains the motor and transmission, shortening their lives. long.

For all Brands: (Admiral, Amana, Bosch, Caloric, Coldspot, Costco, Dacor, Electrolux, Estate, Frigidaire, Gaffers & Sattler, General Electric, Haier, Home Depot, Hotpoint, Insinkerator, Jenn-Air, Kelvinator, Kenmore, Kirkland Kitchenaid, LG, Magic Chef, Maytag, O'Keefe & Merritt, Panasonic, Penneys, Profile, RCA, Roper, Samsung, Sanyo, Scotsman, Sears Brands, Sharp, Speed Queen, Subzero, Tappan, Thermador, Toshiba, Traulsen, ULINE, Waste King, Westinghouse, Whirlpool, Wolf)

Tip: Clean the lint filter after every dryer load. Replace the door seal if it's loose, worn, damaged or hardened. If you don't, the warm dryer air will escape, forcing the unit to work harder. Check the seal by holding a tissue near door while the dryer is running. If the tissue is sucked toward the door, have the seal replaced. Two times a year Clean the lint filter with soap and water to remove built-up soap and fabric softener.

For all Brands: (Admiral, Amana, Bosch, Caloric, Coldspot, Costco, Dacor, Electrolux, Equator, Estate, Frigidaire, Gaffers & Sattler, General Electric, Haier, Home Depot, Hotpoint, Insinkerator, Jenn-Air, Kelvinator, Kenmore, Kirkland Kitchenaid, LG, Magic Chef, Maytag, Modern Maid, O'Keefe & Merritt, Panasonic, Penneys, Profile, RCA, Roper, Samsung, Sanyo, Scotsman, Sears Brands, Sharp, Signature, Speed Queen, Subzero, Tappan, Thermador, Toshiba, Traulsen, ULINE, Wards, Waste King, Westinghouse, Whirlpool, Wolf)

Tip: Avoid unnecessary spatters by covering dishes, using wax paper or paper towels. If the oven does not have a removable glass shelf, a plate or paper towel placed under the food (such as baked potatoes) keeps it cleaner. Wipe up spills after cooking. Wash regularly with mild detergent and water. Rinse and wipe dry with a paper towel or clean cloth. Especially clean around edge of door and door opening, to prevent soil buildup which would prevent door closing tightly. If spots seem dried on, boil water in a glass cup a few minutes; steam will help loosen soil. Leave in oven 5 minutes. Then wipe dry. If odors, either clean the interior with a solution of 1 tablespoon baking soda to 1 cup warm water, rinse and dry. Or mix 1 part lemon juice to 3 parts water in a large glass cup and boil 3-5 minutes. Let cool. Then remove water and wipe dry. Never use abrasive pads or powders on oven. Follow manual directions for care. Microwave combination ovens (with convection or conventional heat) may have spills cook on from heat present. Follow manual directions for cleaning.

For all Brands: (Admiral, Amana, Bosch, Caloric, Coldspot, Costco, Dacor, Electrolux, Equator, Estate, Frigidaire, Gaffers & Sattler, General Electric, Haier, Home Depot, Hotpoint, Insinkerator, Jenn-Air, Kelvinator, Kenmore, Kirkland Kitchenaid, LG, Magic Chef, Maytag, Modern Maid, O'Keefe & Merritt, Panasonic, Penneys, Profile, RCA, Roper, Samsung, Sanyo, Scotsman, Sears Brands, Sharp, Signature, Speed Queen, Subzero, Tappan, Thermador, Toshiba, Traulsen, ULINE, Wards, Waste King, Westinghouse, Whirlpool, Wolf)

Tip: KEEP THE STINK OUT OF YOUR FRIDGE Items stored in refrigerators sometimes emit an unpleasant odour. To get rid of it, soak a piece of cotton in a favourite essence of yours (like vanilla/lemon/ice-cream) and keep it preferably on the top shelf (may be next to the eggs). When you open the refrigerator, it will greet you with a welcome fragrance! A piece of fresh lime also helps in reducing the unpleasant odour. This is a must-do especially if you tend to keep chopped onions in the fridge regularly.

Keep the top of the refrigerator clear and make sure there is at least a 1/2-in. clearance on sides. Make sure the refrigerator is level or tilted back slightly so the door closes completely. Once a month clean door gasket with 1 tsp. of baking soda dissolved in a quart of warm water. Besides cleaning the gasket, it will keep it soft and pliable. Two times a year clean coils with a condenser coil brush ($6), available at an appliance dealer. The coils are usually behind the snap-out grill at the front bottom of the unit. On older models, they're located in the back and are partially covered by cardboard. Unplug the unit first so you don't strike the moving fan. Even when the unit is unplugged, avoid disturbing the insulation or bending the fan blades, which could damage the fan. If your pets shed, do this four times a year. Test the door gasket. A leaky gasket wastes energy and shortens the life of the compressor. Close the refrigerator door on a dollar bill at various places along the door, and pull lightly. If the bill does budge, the gasket probably needs replacing. Once a year slide the refrigerator out and vacuum around and beneath it. Left unattended, this dirt will end up on the coils.

For all Brands: (Admiral, Amana, Bosch, Caloric, Coldspot, Costco, Dacor, Electrolux, Equator, Estate, Frigidaire, Gaffers & Sattler, General Electric, Haier, Home Depot, Hotpoint, Insinkerator, Jenn-Air, Kelvinator, Kenmore, Kirkland Kitchenaid, LG, Magic Chef, Maytag, Modern Maid, O'Keefe & Merritt, Panasonic, Penneys, Profile, RCA, Roper, Samsung, Sanyo, Scotsman, Sears Brands, Sharp, Signature, Speed Queen, Subzero, Tappan, Thermador, Toshiba, Traulsen, ULINE, Wards, Waste King, Westinghouse, Whirlpool, Wolf)

Tip: Modern dishwashers are required to operate much differently than older dishwashers. They do an amazing job of cleaning if you understand the requirements and limitations of their operation.

Q. Why do NEW dishwashers operate so much differently than OLD dishwashers?

A. Government requirements have forced radical changes on dishwasher manufacturers. Modern dishwashers must work with very little water, and use very little energy. Simply put, it is illegal to make dishwashers the way they used to.

Q. Why do the dishwasher cycles take forever! (2-4 hours is now typical)

A. New dishwashers use very efficient pumps. They use smaller high pressure jets of water, over a longer time to dislodge food, and clean your dishes. Even with the longer cycles, dishwashers that runs 3 hours can take half the energy of older dishwashers! Most new dishwashers use sophisticated water sensors that detect temperature, detergent content, and amount of food waste to automatically add, lengthen or skip wash cycles to get your dishes clean with as little energy as possible.

Q. Why doesn't it clean as good as my old dishwasher!

A. One of the most common issues we see is too much pre-rinsing! Scrape large items, bones, toothpicks etc from your dishes, but don't rinse them clean! If the dishwasher sensors do not detect dirt, it will cancel wash cycles before any 'sticky' dirt has a chance to soften and wash off! Result? Dirty dishes!

Q. Why are my dishes wet, hazy or spotted at the end of the cycle!

A. Rinse Aids like 'Jet-Dry', or 'Turbo-Dry' are now REQUIRED by your dishwasher. This is due to energy restrictions placed on all new dishwashers. New Dishwashers are shipped with the rinse aid dispenser setting (usually under cap) on '2' for soft water areas. In OUR area, this should be turned up to 'Max' (typically '6').

Unlike old dishwashers, heaters are turned OFF unless you choose a heat cycle. (another energy requirement). If your home is like 99% of homes, water does not enter the dishwasher at 140F, so you need to choose a 'heated wash' or 'sani-cycle' to activate the heaters. This 'allows' your dishwasher to add heat if necessary like your old one did!

Quick Guide to Great Operation!

1.Scrape large items off dishes, but don't rinse clean! RELAX! That's the Dishwashers job!

2.Run faucet until HOT before starting dishwasher. (Wash with Hot vs Cold water).

2.Choose Heated Cycles to allow dishwasher to use heaters if necessary.

3.Set Rinse Aid dispenser to '6', and keep Rinse-Aid dispenser full. Use 'Jet-Dry' for normal drying, and 'Turbo-Dry' for super anti-spot and drying performance (even on plastic!)

4.Periodically use a commercial dishwasher cleaner to remove hard water pump restrictions, and to keep your dishwasher working and looking like new!

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What dishwasher detergent is Best?

Brand Name Dishwasher detergents have three main ingredients that clean your dishes.

1.Enzymes to dissolve protein and starch based food and stains.
2.Oxidizers to remove non-protein/starch stains and to sterilize dishes.
3.Surfactants to rinse chemicals and minerals from dishes.

Note:
Oxidizers & Enzymes react with each other, Enzymes destroy Oxidizers, Oxidizers destroy Enzymes.

Your Typical Dishwashing Detergent Choices:

1.Crystal Detergents, such as Cascade, Finnish, etc. (Box of dry detergent you pour into cup)

Contains Water Activated Enzymes, Dried Oxidizers, and Surfactants.

All are activated by contact with water. Unfortunately, while Enzymes are working on stains, they are also destroying Oxidizers. Oxidizers are cleaning and sterilizing dishes, but also destroying the Enzymes.

2.Liquid/Gel Detergents, such as Cascade Gel, Palmolive Gel.

Contains Enzymes, and Surfactants. Cannot contain Oxidizers AND Enzymes (they destroy each other when in liquid form).

These are consistently low performing dshwasher detergents,we do NOT recommended using these products.

3.Layered/Compartment Packs, such as Finnish Power Ball, Cascade ActionPacs..

Contains Separate layers or compartments for independent release of Enzyme, Oxidizers, and Surfactants as wash cycle progresses.

Each layer dissolves separately, allowing the Enzymes uninhibited cleaning power, followed by full strength Oxidizer action, and finally adding surfactants as near to the end of wash cycle as possible for best performance.

These are consistently the HIGHEST performing products. Our customers (your neighbors) consistently report the best results with these products.

Note:
In Early 2010, water softening phosphates have been removed from Dishwasher Detergents. The performance of all dishwasher detergents will be adversely affected in hard water areas such as ours. To replace these water softening ingredients, we recommend Finnish 'Glass Magic Detergent Booster'. This product replaces the water softeners that have been removed from your favorite detergents!

For all Brands: (Admiral, Amana, Bosch, Caloric, Coldspot, Costco, Dacor, Electrolux, Equator, Estate, Frigidaire, Gaffers & Sattler, General Electric, Haier, Home Depot, Hotpoint, Insinkerator, Jenn-Air, Kelvinator, Kenmore, Kirkland Kitchenaid, LG, Magic Chef, Maytag, Modern Maid, O'Keefe & Merritt, Panasonic, Penneys, Profile, RCA, Roper, Samsung, Sanyo, Scotsman, Sears Brands, Sharp, Signature, Speed Queen, Subzero, Tappan, Thermador, Toshiba, Traulsen, ULINE, Wards, Waste King, Westinghouse, Whirlpool, Wolf)

Tip: KEEP YOUR GAS OVEN SPARKLING CLEAN... Your burners and ovens often accumulate greasy grime that is just not easy to scrub away. Here's a solution: pour a tablespoon of vinegar on a sponge and wipe the stains on the gas stove carefully. This will make them come off easily. Then clean the stove the usual way, with some detergent and water. Your gas burner will sparkle like a new one. Of course, don't let the water filter into the burner where the flame comes from, since it takes a long time to dry till which your burner's useless. Most gas stove problems are simple mechanical adjustments or maintenance tasks that have been overlooked over time. If at any time you smell gas or have to replace any part and feel uncomfortable doing so, call your local gas company first for help. Never try to repair the gas stove yourself. Failure to do so can have grave consequences.

For all Brands: (Admiral, Amana, Bosch, Caloric, Coldspot, Costco, Dacor, Electrolux, Equator, Estate, Frigidaire, Gaffers & Sattler, General Electric, Haier, Home Depot, Hotpoint, Insinkerator, Jenn-Air, Kelvinator, Kenmore, Kirkland Kitchenaid, LG, Magic Chef, Maytag, Modern Maid, O'Keefe & Merritt, Panasonic, Penneys, Profile, RCA, Roper, Samsung, Sanyo, Scotsman, Sears Brands, Sharp, Signature, Speed Queen, Subzero, Tappan, Thermador, Toshiba, Traulsen, ULINE, Wards, Waste King, Westinghouse, Whirlpool, Wolf)

Tip: Wipe down the range top. A clean surface prevents scratches and stops acidic food from eating away at the appliance finish. Run the self-cleaning cycle after removing racks (they discolor at high temperatures). Clean around the door and its gasket first—these areas often don't receive enough heat to thoroughly burn off grease and splatters. To cut down on smoke during cleaning, sweep out crumbs. The minimum duration of the cycle should be two and a half hours; some manufacturers recommend three or more. The self-cleaning cycle, which costs around $1 to run, burns off residue with an automatic 850 degrees F setting. After the cycle has completed and the oven has cooled, wipe out ashes with a clean wet rag. Run the self-cleaning cycle at night, when kids won't get near the hot stove and you won't notice the odor as much. Once a year: Inspect the oven-door gasket. It should be soft and pliable. If it is hard, it may leak heat, which taxes the element in electric ovens and affects the performance of the oven. What's more, it will cost you energy dollars.

For all Brands: (Admiral, Amana, Bosch, Caloric, Coldspot, Costco, Dacor, Electrolux, Equator, Estate, Frigidaire, Gaffers & Sattler, General Electric, Haier, Home Depot, Hotpoint, Insinkerator, Jenn-Air, Kelvinator, Kenmore, Kirkland Kitchenaid, LG, Magic Chef, Maytag, Modern Maid, O'Keefe & Merritt, Panasonic, Penneys, Profile, RCA, Roper, Samsung, Sanyo, Scotsman, Sears Brands, Sharp, Signature, Speed Queen, Subzero, Tappan, Thermador, Toshiba, Traulsen, ULINE, Wards, Waste King, Westinghouse, Whirlpool, Wolf)

Tip: Range hoods and fans remove grease and moisture from cooking, and so collect dirt that needs regular cleaning. Often wash exposed metal with warm suds solution and rinse. If very greasy, use ammonia and water and rinse. Never use abrasive pads or scouring powders as they can scratch the finish. Wash light bulb when cool with suds then rinse and dry to keep the light clear and bright. Occasionally clean fan blades of dirt and grease, which can restrict air flow, and cause motor over-heating and fire hazard. Wash the hood with warm, soapy water often. Wash the inside and outside. Rinse the hood and wipe it dry. If the hood is vented, check the exhaust vent regularly, especially if you find a lessening of the hoods efficiency. Grease clogs or dirt buildup, both of which occur normally with age, can block the vent. The vent should offer an unrestricted air flow. Occasionally take the metal filter out of the hood. Put the filter in warm, soapy water. Let it soak for a few minutes. Wash and rinse it. Dry the filter and put it back in the hood. Some hoods have activated charcoal filters. These cannot be cleaned. They should be replaced about once a year. You can buy charcoal filters from stores that sell that brand of hood. Check manual directions for cleaning your hood and fan. If instead you have electronic air cleaners in place of a ducted system, follow manual instructions for regular cleaning of filters.

For all Brands: (Admiral, Amana, Bosch, Caloric, Coldspot, Costco, Dacor, Electrolux, Equator, Estate, Frigidaire, Gaffers & Sattler, General Electric, Haier, Home Depot, Hotpoint, Insinkerator, Jenn-Air, Kelvinator, Kenmore, Kirkland Kitchenaid, LG, Magic Chef, Maytag, Modern Maid, O'Keefe & Merritt, Panasonic, Penneys, Profile, RCA, Roper, Samsung, Sanyo, Scotsman, Sears Brands, Sharp, Signature, Speed Queen, Subzero, Tappan, Thermador, Toshiba, Traulsen, ULINE, Wards, Waste King, Westinghouse, Whirlpool, Wolf)

Tip: Garbage disposal units, or garbage disposers, have become fairly common in today's kitchens. They are a great convenience when they're working right and smelling good. When they're not, here's some things you can do. To help maintain water flow through the disposal, always turn the water on before you start the disposal and turn it off after the unit has stopped. To really get things flowing and help maintain your icemaker, start the disposal and feed it the old cubes sitting in the icemaker's bucket. To improve both odor control and water flow, feed all those leftover lemon or lime peels into it -- fresh citrus is not as good, because it's the rinds that do the work.

For all Brands: (Admiral, Amana, Bosch, Caloric, Coldspot, Costco, Dacor, Electrolux, Equator, Estate, Frigidaire, Gaffers & Sattler, General Electric, Haier, Home Depot, Hotpoint, Insinkerator, Jenn-Air, Kelvinator, Kenmore, Kirkland Kitchenaid, LG, Magic Chef, Maytag, Modern Maid, O'Keefe & Merritt, Panasonic, Penneys, Profile, RCA, Roper, Samsung, Sanyo, Scotsman, Sears Brands, Sharp, Signature, Speed Queen, Subzero, Tappan, Thermador, Toshiba, Traulsen, ULINE, Wards, Waste King, Westinghouse, Whirlpool, Wolf)