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9 things on Amazon that’ll make your appliances last longer

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These products will keep your appliances in great shape

There are many appliances we rely on in our lives, from the unappreciated ice maker to specialized appliances, such as humidifiers, and everyday saviors, such as your morning coffee machine. But these appliances need regular maintenance, without which, they break down faster than they should. 

Thankfully, there are many cleaning products designed specifically to clean and maintain even the most complex appliances, including tablets to deep clean your washing machine and sprays to loosen ancient baked-on grease. They aren’t miracle workers, though, so always make sure to clean and maintain before it becomes an all-day effort.

In this article: Impresa Coffee Machine Descaler, Linda’s Essentials Premium Extra-Thick Oven Liners and Filtrete Furnace and Air Conditioner Filters

Tips for cleaning your appliances

Cleaning your appliances can be a breeze if you incorporate a few tips and tricks on top of using good-quality cleaning products.

Scheduling

One of the easiest things in the world to do is forget. This isn’t an issue with appliances you use daily or that have some kind of cleaning warning built in. But for the unseen appliances, including air filters for your air conditioner or furnace that need replacing every three months, try adding them to your schedule. Calendar apps are perfect for this since you can have them populate a reminder in perpetuity, but noting it down in a physical planner is just as helpful.

Grouping up

In the event you have a backlog of appliances that all need cleaning and you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, try grouping like appliances together before cleaning. Then, after each group, take a break. Or, if the backlog is extensive, combine grouping and scheduling to spread the work out. You could clean your washing machine and dryer on one Sunday, for example, and clean your oven, microwave and other similar appliances next Sunday.

Rewards

A tried-and-true method of students everywhere, giving yourself small rewards after finishing a task is an excellent way to maintain your energy and focus. You can even incorporate the appliance you just cleaned into the reward for extra appreciation, such as using a freshly cleaned espresso maker to make your favorite drink. 

Best cleaning products for appliances

Active Washing Machine Cleaner

Running dirty clothes through your washer time and again without cleaning the washer itself can lead to nasty odors and residues that could ruin your clothes. This cleaner removes odors and most residue just by tossing the small tablet in your empty machine and running a cycle. To get rid of the last residue, wipe it clean with a towel.

Impresa Coffee Machine Descaler

Should you have hard water, you know the constant struggle that is descaling the buildup of minerals over time. Descaling is particularly important on coffee makers since untreated mineral buildup will eventually, negatively affect the coffee’s quality. Each bottle contains enough descaler for two rounds of cleaning, and you can buy 8- or 32-ounce bottles.

Linda’s Essentials Premium Extra-Thick Oven Liners

Normally, when something in your oven bubbles over or otherwise makes a mess on the bottom of the oven, it’s difficult and frustrating to clean. Next time, skip all the hassle by lining the bottom with these reusable mats. They’re safe for the extreme heat of an oven and are dishwasher-safe.

Goo Gone Oven and Grill Cleaner

The above oven liners are perfect for dribbling, oozy messes, but they’re useless against splatters on the front glass panel. This spray helps weaken these baked-on splatters so you can get it shining again without too much strain and effort. It’s also safe for use on pots, pans and smaller appliances, such as toaster ovens.

Essential Values Ice Machine Cleaner and Descaler

Another descaler for the hard water-affected, this is specifically for ice machines, whether it be built in to your fridge or a separate maker entirely. It's odorless and tasteless so you won’t notice any odd effects to your ice, and each bottle contains enough liquid for four rounds of cleaning.

Filtrete Furnace and Air Conditioner Filters

Replacing your air conditioner or furnace filter is of utmost importance to your home’s air quality. You also need to replace it with a filter that fits perfectly, so no contaminants can slip past any cracks. It comes in 16 sizes for just this reason, and they have a 1000 MPR and MERV 11 rating.

Colorful Life Filters for Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum

In a similar vein, some vacuums also have air filters that need replacing so they can continue to prevent inhaled pollutants from being spit back out into the air. These filters are for a specific line of Shark vacuums with a detachable main section so you can maneuver into hard-to-reach places.

Dry Element Humidifier Drops

Humidifiers are almost magical in their ability to eliminate the negatives of dry air, including rough skin and nosebleeds. But the amount of water that it holds and goes through leads directly to mold and nasty odors. Or, you can add a few drops of this cleaner with each humidifier refill to avoid those problems.

Active Disposal Cleaner

Garbage disposals are an excellent way to get rid of a few lingering scraps of food you don’t want stinking up your trash. However, disposals aren’t perfect, and small pieces of those scraps can get left behind and build up. Get rid of them with these freshly scented tablets.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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