<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"  Just as your car needs its oil changed on a regular basis, your household appliances need TLC, too. &amp;quot;A few preventive maintenance steps will help you get the maximum lifespan out of each appliance,&amp;quot; says Dean Landers, president of Landers Appliance in Baltimore, Maryland. &amp;quot;Regular care also helps appliances function more efficiently and safely.&amp;quot; Read on to learn how to keep everyday appliances in tip-top shape for years to come. Refrigerator  Average lifespan: 13 years What to do: Use a long-handled refrigerator coil brush ($8.49; AceHardware.com) or your vacuum&amp;#039;s crevice tool to remove dust bunnies and pet hair around the condenser coils, located underneath freestanding fridges and on top of built-in models. Wipe dust, crumbs and spills off door seals and gaskets with a damp rag. Why: &amp;quot;Dust around the coils makes the unit work harder, which can shorten its life,&amp;quot; says Landers. And dirty, sticky gaskets tear or stretch, letting cold air leak out (plus, a new gasket runs about $100 if you need to replace it).  Photo by Shutterstock. Dishwasher  Average lifespan: 9 years What to do: If your machine has a removable filter, rinse out any food particles or other goop lodged in it. (Reference your owner&amp;#039;s manual for the exact location, but it&amp;#039;s usually along the bottom, inside the machine. Tip: If you can&amp;#039;t find your manual, visit the manufacturer&amp;#039;s website or ManualsOnline.com.) Use a dishwasher rack repair kit (found at most hardware stores or on manufacturer&amp;#039;s website) to touch up rusty or cracked prongs on the dishwasher racks. Wipe down goopy door gaskets and doorframes.  Why: &amp;quot;The dishwasher will redeposit food particles on clean dishes if the filter is clogged,&amp;quot; says Mike Staats, a service management consultant with Toolhead, Inc. Exposed rack prongs scratch dishes and glassware, and replacement racks aren&amp;#039;t cheap (around $125)\u2014especially compared to the cost of a repair kit, which is usually less than $30. Finally, &amp;quot;door gaskets that don&amp;#039;t seal well can leak,&amp;quot; says Staats, leading to bigger messes in the kitchen. Photo by Shutterstock. Gas or Smoothtop Range  Average lifespan: 13 years  What to do: On gas ranges, use a sewing needle, pin or thin paper clip to poke through burner ports (the holes where gas comes through the burner). Soak burner caps and rings in soapy water to remove food residue. Wipe down glass cooktop ranges regularly.  Why: &amp;quot;Spills can block gas burner ports,&amp;quot; says Robert Mckechnie, engineer and new product manager for Electrolux, and that may prevent the burner from igniting. On smoothtop ranges, some spills, such as sugary substances, cause surface pitting if not cleaned.  Photo by Shutterstock. Microwave Oven and Vent Hood  Average lifespan: 9 years What to do: Wipe microwave interior and door seals regularly with a damp cloth. On the underside of over-the-range microwaves, clean grease filters from the vent hood monthly by removing, soaking in soapy water, rinsing, drying and replacing. If your vent hood has a charcoal filter, replace it every 6 to 12 months.  Why: &amp;quot;Food spills and particles can stick to the interior, which may cause the microwave to work less efficiently,&amp;quot; says Mckechnie. And vent hood filters that are clogged and dirty won&amp;#039;t get smoke and odors out of your kitchen. Photo by Shutterstock. Washing Machine  Average lifespan: 10 years What to do: If you have rubber drain hoses, swap them for braided stainless steel mesh ones. To do this, first shut off the water supply and unplug the machine&amp;#039;s power cord. (If you need room to work, pull the machine away from the wall.) Then, remove the hose end from the drain tube and place in a bucket so any accumulated water can drain out. Unscrew the clamp at the other end of the hose (attached to back of the machine) to completely remove the hose. Attach the steel mesh hose to the washing machine, secure clamp and slip the other end of the hose into the drain pipe. Regularly wipe out the detergent dispenser drawer with a damp rag, or pour water through it to rinse it out. For front-loaders, wipe the door gasket (the rubber seal around the door) dry after use.  Why: &amp;quot;Rubber drain hoses are notorious for bursting and causing major water damage to the machine and your home,&amp;quot; says Landers. Keeping the detergent drawer clean ensures that the product flows out as intended during the proper portion of the wash cycle. For front-loading machines, keeping the gasket dry prevents stinky mold and mildew from forming in the super-tight seals.  Photo by Shutterstock. Clothes Dryer  Average lifespan: 13 years What to do: Clean the lint filter before or after every load\u2014no excuses. If you have flexible plastic or foil ducting, replace it with rigid or semi-rigid metal duct (or hire a firm to do it for you; prices start at around $100). To do it yourself, unplug the power cord and pull the dryer away from the wall. Loosen clamps around both ends of the duct to completely remove and replace. Once a year, clean the inside of the duct by following the safety measures described above and only disconnecting the end attached to the dryer. Vacuum the inside of the duct or use a dryer vent cleaning kit ($37; Lowes.com) to remove lint buildup. If your duct is too long to clean yourself, a professional can do it for $200 to $300. Regularly check the vent outside where the air exits the house to ensure it&amp;#039;s not clogged and that good, strong airflow is coming out. Why: &amp;quot;Reduced airflow from lint buildup in the filter reduces efficiency and makes clothes take longer to dry,&amp;quot; says Staats. More important, it can also cause the dryer to overheat or catch fire. Same deal with ductwork: Flexible plastic or foil ducting crushes easily behind dryers, causing obstructions in airflow. Even worse, it catches lint on the internal ridges, which can also cause fires. Photo by iStockphoto. Vacuum Cleaner  Average lifespan: Varies based on model What to do: Change vacuum bags once a month (more frequently if you have pets or new carpet). Clean or replace filters every 6 months. Refer to your owner&amp;#039;s manual to find out where the filter is located\u2014it&amp;#039;s usually near the bag or behind an access door\u2014and how to clean it (some can be rinsed clean; others can&amp;#039;t). Clean HEPA filters every eight weeks. Replace belts annually or when the brush roll makes a vibrating noise. You&amp;#039;ll also need to check the manual for detailed instructions on changing the belt, as every vacuum is a bit different.  Why: &amp;quot;A vacuum cleaner works by moving air through the machine to capture dirt,&amp;quot; says Jackie Cooper, senior director of marketing and communications for Eureka. &amp;quot;When airflow is restricted by a full bag or clogged filter, performance suffers and less dirt is captured.&amp;quot; Additionally, belts that are too loose make the brush roll turn too slowly, while too-tight belts cause excessive wear on the motor.  Photo by Shutterstock. Garbage Disposal  Average lifespan: 12 years What to do: Grind up lemon or orange peels periodically to reduce odors, or try a disposal cleaning product. Toss in and grind up a few ice cubes periodically. And always use cold water when running the disposal and for a minute or two afterward.  Why: Tiny food particles cling to the inside of the disposal, so while orange peels won&amp;#039;t make the unit last longer, it will make your kitchen a lot less smelly. Ice cubes help clear buildup, and the cold water keeps fat and grease chunky, so it gets ground up and washed away.  Photo by Shutterstock.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/life/work-money/tips/a1843/extend-the-life-of-your-household-appliances-110130/>