Spring Cleaning Chores You Didn't Know You Had to Do

Three easy tasks to add to your routine. Trust me, your appliances will love you.

Photo by Engin Akyurt on Unsplash

It’s so annoying when the doctor says, “You should lose a few pounds.” Or the dentist tells you to floss better. Or the dermatologist urges you to wear more sunscreen. Today, that annoying person is me. (Some people would argue that every day, that annoying person is me.)

I’m adding some tasks to your to-do list—important things that most people don’t know about or simply neglect. But taking a few minutes on some easy projects could make your appliances operate more efficiently and perhaps extend their lifespan.

CLEAN THE DISHWASHER - 5 MINUTES

My husband under-rinses the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher, while accusing me of over-rinsing the dishes when I load the machine. We could meet somewhere in the middle, but it’s easier to quibble about it after every single meal. Either way, food debris and other residue build up inside the dishwasher, sometimes creating a funky smell.

Take the time to occasionally wipe down the inside of the machine’s tub, the spray arm and around the gasket with a damp, soapy cloth. Most important, unscrew the filter—usually located on the inside of the door—and rinse out trapped food and built-up residue.

CLEAN THE WASHING MACHINE - 10 MINUTES

A few months ago, our front-loading washing machine would complete the wash cycle, but the clothes inside would still be sopping wet. The drum did its centrifuge thing, but the water didn’t fully drain. I did a search using the rectangle of knowledge and discovered the problem: My drain pump filter was clogged.

Appliance brands and models are maintained differently. For me, the fix involves opening the access panel on the bottom left-hand corner of the machine. There’s a handle that is turned counter-clockwise to remove the drain pump filter. That’s when I saw the culprit: a “color catcher” sheet was caught in the filter, preventing the water from fully draining. I removed the obstruction and rinsed the filter by hand before replacing it in the machine. (The manufacturer says things like buttons and coins often get trapped in the filter.) Next to the filter is a little hose that you disconnect to drain the pump into a basin—the water that came out was pretty smelly. The washing machine manufacturer recommends this routine maintenance monthly.

CLEAN THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL - 10 MINUTES (hands-on)

First and foremost, resist the temptation to clean your garbage disposal by reaching into the sink drain with your hand. You need that hand — for hailing taxis, for playing bocce ball and, of course, for cleaning the drain pump filter on your washing machine.

There are some products on the market for cleaning the disposal. One called Affresh is probably the most recognizable. But I tackle the job on my own with this three-step process, which is based on advice from Good Housekeeping. First, with the disposal running, I throw a bunch of ice cubes down the drain to knock off any built-up food on the blades. Then, with the disposal off, I dump a half-cup of baking soda down the drain. I let it sit there about 30 minutes to deodorize my sink’s nether underworld. Next, I pour a cup a white vinegar into the drain, where it reacts with the baking soda. Again, let it sit and bubble for 10-15 minutes before flushing it down the drain with cold water.

Finally, and again with the disposal off, lift out the rubber gasket in the sink basin and wipe off the gunk around the edges and inside the flaps. Replace the gasket and carry on.

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One final annoying suggestion. To stay on top of home maintenance, it helps to set up reminders on a shared household calendar. Our calendar tells us when it’s time to change the air filters in our HVAC system and the water filter in our fridge, for example. Seeing that on the calendar also reminds me to buy new filters to have on hand before they’re needed.