Have you noticed a rotten egg smell coming out of your washing machine, and you are wondering why this is the case? The smell is brought about by several factors that include:

Dirty washing machine

When was the last time you cleaned your washing machine? If it has been long, the smell might result from a dirty appliance. According to appliance repair professionals, the best way to get rid of this smell is to simply clean the appliance and, in the process, get rid of mold, mildew, and grime that might have built up there.

To clean the washing machine, begin with opening the machine door and then set the unit to the hottest and largest load capacity.

Once the water begins to fill up, add one quart of bleach (about 4 cups) to the water inside the washing machine.

When the water fills up the washer, close the lid and turn it on to a long spin cycle. When the cycle ends, leave the machine for about one hour before turning it back on, and then put it on a standard wash cycle.

When the wash cycle ends, turn it to the hottest setting and largest capacity again, and then add 3 cups of white vinegar and a ½-cup of baking soda.

Once the washer is full, close the lid and turn it on to a long spin cycle again. Open the lid and wipe the washing machine out with a clean cloth when the cycle ends.

Finally, leave the washing machine lid open and let it dry out for a few hours before using it again.

Something is stuck in the door seal.

Washing machines have a large rubber door seal that goes around the door to stop water from getting out of the washing machine during a cycle.

Sometimes a piece of clothing such as a sock gets stuck inside the gasket, and it’s covered in mildew.

If you leave the piece of clothing here for a long time, it can start smelling like rotten eggs.

To get rid of the smell, you need to find out if there is anything stuck there and remove it.

Pull the door seal back and look inside for any loose clothing items. If you find any, remove them.

You should then thoroughly clean the door gasket with clean, hot soapy water, then leave the door open to let it dry and air out.

Clogged drain pump or plug

Most washing machine models will have a drain plug at the bottom that can clog up, leading to unpleasant odors.

To check the drain plug and filter, locate the drain plug, then turn the cap off. Have a towel in place as some water might leak out of it when doing it.

After removing the plug, reach into the hole and remove the drain filter. Thoroughly clean the drain filter and plug it in hot soapy water.

To remove any grime in the hose, pour a glass of hot water mixed with vinegar into the washing machine drum.

After cleaning all the parts, put them back into the washing machine. If you can still smell the rotten egg smell, you may need to run your washing machine on a cleaning cycle and check the sewer.

The sewer is clogged.

If you have tried all the above and nothing seems to work, the rotten smell might be due to a clogged sewer. Due to the clog, the smell can go through the drain hose and into the washing machine.

To solve this problem, locate where your drain hose is connected and remove the hose from the standpipe. If the pipe is smelly, give the entire area a thorough cleaning with hot, soapy water.

If the smell is due to the P-trap being faulty and allowing sewer gas to come up through the drain hose and into the washing machine, washer repair  professionals recommend you pour a bucket of hot soapy water down the standpipe.

If the smell goes away, this is a sign that the problem was due to the P-trap.

If you do this and the smell doesn’t disappear, get in touch with a plumber to replace the p-trap.

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Dishwashers have a spray arm that spins around and cleans all the dishes on its path. With this knowledge, you must be wondering whether it matters the direction you place the dishes facing, right?

Well, for proper cleaning, it matters the direction your dishes or bowls face. Bowls always go to the top rack. Those in the rear should face forward, while those in the front should face towards the back. This way, water will effectively reach them and give them the clean look you want.

For the plates to get clean, place them facing the center of the bottom rack.

Other valuable tips to get the most from your dishwasher

Besides strategically placing your dishes and bowls, you should consider plenty of other tips to get the most from your dishwasher. These tips as given by appliance repair professionals include:

Load the dishwasher properly

Everything begins here as there is no way you will get the most from your dishwasher if you don’t load it properly.

Before you do the loading, scrape off all large food pieces. Please note that you don’t have to pre-rinse the dishes—scraping them off is enough as they tend to come out much cleaner this way as they have some soil for the detergent to cling to and lift away.

When placing the bowls, angle them in such a way that the dirties surface faces downward, while leaving enough space for water to flow up and around each surface. There should be no nesting.

When it comes to the silverware, mix them up in the holder or alternate the spoons with one handle up and another down, to prevent the spoons from nesting against each other, covering the surfaces from detergents.

Before closing the dishwasher door, confirm that the spin arms are moving freely without hitting any surface. You also should check that you haven’t blocked the detergent dispenser with any large item.

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Use hot water

The water you use to clean the dishes significantly determines the quality of your results. Dishwashers perform the best when the hot water is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. At these temperatures, the dishwasher will clean the dishes and remove any stains that might be present.

The best way to ensure that hot water always reaches your dishwasher is to use a water heater. Before cleaning the dishes, turn on the hot water tap in your kitchen sink and let the water get hot.

Use the right dishwasher detergent.

Like water, the detergent you use on your dishes goes a long way in determining your results. As a rule of thumb, use the right amount of detergent and choose one that provides the necessary ingredients for a deep clean.

If you have hard water in your system, use more detergent for every load or a booster.

Ensure that the detergent you use is fresh and not clumping for the best outcome. If using liquids, give them a good shake before using. Also, break up any lumps in the powdered formulas.

Don’t overload

While the dishwasher saves you time and effort, don’t try to overdo it by cramming all the dirty dishes in the appliance, as it won’t do proper cleaning, and you will have to redo the cleaning, which beats the whole purpose of owning the dishwasher in the first place.

If your dishwasher is overcrowded, the detergent and water can’t effectively circulate to clean the dishes thoroughly. In some cases, the situation is even dire as the dishes don’t clean at all.

If you have large loads that need cleaning, don’t try to clean all of them at once—separate them into smaller loads. You can also roll up your sleeves and hand wash some items.

Use the right cycle settings.

Thanks to advances in water and energy usage, dishwashers have different settings ideal for different dishes. To tell which setting you should use for your dishes, refer to your manual.

Dishwasher repair  professionals highly discourage against using the standard setting for all your washing as it’s a recipe for disaster. For example, if you use the standard-setting on fragile wine glasses, there are chances of the glasses cracking and don’t want this, do you?

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If you visit many homes, you will find their refrigerators filled with all sorts of foods. While there is nothing wrong with preserving as much food as possible, did you know there are some food items that should never see the insides of a fridge?

Here are some of these items as given by appliance repair professionals

Uncut melons

Putting a whole watermelon in your fridge, whether a honeydew or cantaloupe, is unwise. Besides the melon taking up too much fridge space, it keeps it from ripening, which means it doesn’t get as tasty as when you would have left it at room temperature.

The low fridge temperatures also reduce the healthy antioxidants in the fruit, which means that it doesn’t become as healthy as you would want it.

The right thing to do is leave the watermelon on the countertop until it’s ripe enough to eat. If you eat it and there are some leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for a maximum of three days.

Honey

At first look, honey looks like an excellent candidate for the refrigerator, but it isn’t. Due to its high sugar content, honey is a natural preservative—it doesn’t need any refrigeration. In fact, putting it in the fridge increases the chances of damaging it.

When you refrigerate honey, it hardens and sometimes crystallizes, losing its original state.

The best way to treat honey is to leave it on the shelf in your pantry. If you have already made the mistake of refrigerating it, don’t be quick to toss it out. Instead, place the bottle in a hot (not boiling) water pan until it returns to its liquid state.

Raw potatoes

You shouldn’t put your raw potatoes in the fridge as the low temperatures will alter the starchy complex carbohydrates in the potatoes, and you end up with extremely sweet and gritty potatoes.

For the best flavor and texture, store your potatoes in a well-ventilated basket or drawer, away from direct sunlight.

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Tomatoes

Like honey, tomatoes look like they belong in the fridge, but they don’t. This is because when you refrigerate them, they often end up having an awful taste.

Even after harvesting, tomatoes continue ripening and developing flavor.

The big chill stops the ripening process and dulls the flavor when you place them in the fridge.

Snip off just a bit of the vine when harvesting if you grow your tomatoes. The attached vine has been shown to help keep the tomatoes fresh longer and give them a better flavor.

Onions

The fridge’s low temperatures and high humidity often damage the onions, breaking down their fibrous structure, leaving them mushy and prone to mold growth.

Store your onions in well-ventilated, dark, and cool (not cold) areas for the best flavor and texture. One of the best places to store the onions is in an open weave basket in the pantry.

Green avocados

Green avocados are often unripe, and for them to fully ripen, they need to be at room temperature. The only time to keep your avocados in the fridge is if they are fully ripe but you aren’t ready to eat them.

You should note that even when you put the avocados in the fridge, you shouldn’t leave them there for more than two days as they will go bad.

Bread

You should never put bread in the fridge. While refrigeration slows down mold growth, it makes the bread tough, chewy, and stale tasting.

The best way to go about it is to store the bread in a breadbox or a cabinet shelf.

If you won’t eat the entire bread, wrap the excess in freezer paper and store it in the freezer. Here the bread can stay for up to a month.

Chocolate

Most people eat their chocolates in one sitting, and for those unable to eat all of it in one go, the last thing they want is to let it go to waste. Unfortunately, keeping the chocolate in the fridge isn’t the right thing to do.

While keeping the chocolate in the fridge won’t make the chocolate inedible, it absorbs odors and changes its consistency.

Refrigerator repair recommend you leave the chocolate on the counter or in the pantry to maintain maximum deliciousness.

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Call 877-959-3534 for an Appliance Repair Quote!

Front load washing machines have many advantages. Compared to top-loading machines, these high-end washers come with more features and cycles, enabling you to take better care of your clothes. Front load washing machines typically also require less maintenance from appliance repair professionals and tend to break down less. This is because they use gravity to keep up momentum when clothes are spinning inside. Really, they’re just more energy-efficient and better overall when compared to top-loading machines.

The trouble with front load washing washers is trivial but annoying: they can develop a smell. The reason for the smell is simple. Front load washing machines are water-tight, to prevent the water from spilling all over the floor while the machine is in use. When the machine is closed, it doesn’t air out the way a top load washing machine can. Fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent this smell from occurring. Here’s how.

Leave the Front Door Open

Leave the front door of your washing machine cracked open when the machine isn’t in use. This gives the drum and internal parts a chance to dry between washings. Teach members of your family to leave the front door open as well. The more time your front-loading machine spends closed, the more moisture will build up inside and create an environment suitable for mildew.

Open the Soap Dispenser

When you’re done using the washing machine, crack open the soap dispenser tray. Leave it open just a few inches to allow any soap residue inside to dry, and to prevent mold from growing in the cracks.

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Clean the Door

Clean the door glass and the rubber door seal with a mixture of vinegar and water (equal parts water and vinegar). Spray the door and seal with the mixture, then wipe it clean with a paper towel. Do the same thing with the soap dispenser tray: clean it with water and vinegar and a paper towel, or a rag. Clean the cracks and crevices. Allow all surfaces to dry fully.

Run the Self-Clean Cycle

Most front-load washing machines have a self-clean cycle to clean the drum. Some machines require a special cleaner, while others are less specific. To find out what your machine requires and how to run the self-clean cycle, read the owner’s manual. If you no longer have your machine’s manual, call Sarah’s Appliance Repair. We’ll point you in the right direction.

Maintain Your Machine

Maintaining your machine isn’t just a matter of keeping it clean. Although front loading washing machines tend to be well-made machines with good energy efficiency and excellent performance, they do break down from time to time. Follow the procedures in your owner’s manual for regular maintenance. If your machine needs service, call Sarah’s Appliance Repair today.

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Your dishwasher does more than clean your dishes; it is an important part of maintaining your family’s health. That means that it’s a real problem when your dishwasher isn’t working right. In this post, we’ll look at some common dishwasher problems and what you can do about them.

Unpleasant Odor

It’s probably the filter. The filter sits at the base of the inside of the dishwasher, and traps large food particles that might otherwise get into the mechanisms and gum up the works. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning it once a month, but if that maintenance job has slipped your mind, it’s easily dealt with. It’s designed to be clipped in and out, so take it out and give it a good clean. If it’s been damaged, it’s probably replaceable.

Poor Cleaning

If your dishes are coming out with food particles still in place, it might be time to unclog the spray arms. These are the longish, flattish plastic arms that spray and rinse the dishes and other items you put in the dishwasher as they spin about. These, too, are designed to be removed easily, cleaned, and reinstalled. And remember to clean the mounting too. Occasionally cleaning the spray arms can significantly improve the performance of your dishwasher.

Unsteady Bottom Basket

If it’s a struggle to get the bottom basket out, or if it is so unstable you hold your breath pulling it out, you probably need to replace the wheels. They are designed to snap on and off, and it’s certainly worth avoiding the hair-pulling frustration of trying to coax the thing in and out if it’s bothering you.

Damaged Detergent Dispenser

The detergent dispenser can be easily replaced, if your unit isn’t too old. However, this is definitely a more involved repair, and you may want to call the experts at Dave’s Appliance to make sure it’s done correctly and quickly. If you want to do it yourself, you may want to view an online video, especially if it treats your specific model, and to have all the tools you need immediately on hand. The front panel of your dishwasher is going to have to be unmounted, electrical connections undone, and everything replaced. While it is rather involved, it’s still a simple repair.

Leakage

If your dishwasher is leaking, it could be any of a number of issues. You need to do some diagnosing.

Hinges

It may be faulty door hinges. If the door seems to drop heavily or seems misaligned, it could well be a hinge. If so, you might want to call Dave’s Appliance. If you choose to do it yourself, you’ll need to remove the side panels to get a good look. It’s a good idea to watch a video on replacing the mechanism and remember to find one that deals with your specific make and model. Also, it’s probably a good idea to replace both at the same time.

Door Seals

The problem could be door seals, and depending on which seals are acting up, it may be an easy fix. Check the upper door seal, which goes from one side, around the top, and down the other side of the door. Usually a new seal costs $30 or so, and it’s not a hard job to replace it. If it’s the lower seals, though, that’s another matter. It involves disassembling the entire door, and is best left to the professionals.

Hoses

The fill hose brings water into your dishwasher, and the drain hose removes the wastewater. In time, these can corrode, degrade, or get clogged, reducing the performance of your dishwasher. It’s usually possible to get replacements and not too hard to install them yourself.

Not Draining Properly

If there’s still a lot of water in your dishwasher when it’s completed its cycle, there’s probably an issue with the drain pump. The drain pump is located at the bottom of the appliance, and pushes wastewater out of the dishwasher and into the adjacent sink drain. Bits of food, chips of dishes, slivers of glass, and other material can get caught in the pump and prevent it from working efficiently. That means that the drain pump needs to be disassembled and cleaned. While that’s possible for you to do yourself, it’s a better idea to call the professionals at Dave’s Appliance since the whole machine needs to be tilted onto its back and the baseplate needs to be removed.

Water’s Not Hot

If the water isn’t heating up, that’s a serious problem since the intense heat kills the bacteria on your dishes and cutlery. It might be that the heating element has burned out. Here again, you’re best advised to contact an expert (like those at Dave’s Appliance). If not, you’re going to need a multimeter for this one. You will need to lay the unit on its back, remove the baseplate and anything else that might be blocking the element, remove the wires to isolate it and then check it with your multimeter by touching it to the terminals. If a fault is indicated, you need to replace the heating element.

Dishwasher Not Filling

This issue is very similar to the heating element problem. This time, though, you’ll need to check the water valve, located behind the back plate, near to the fill hose. Remove the wires, check with a multimeter, and replace if faulty.

No Bleeping Sounds

Disqualify the obvious first. Check to make sure it’s properly plugged in and that the circuit breaker isn’t tripped.

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You don’t realize how essential your washing machine is until something goes wrong. Then, you may be tempted simply to replace it immediately to avoid the inconvenience of dirty washing accumulating or trips to the launderette. However, it may be worth considering whether repair is the better option. In this post, we’ll explore the factors you should think about to decide whether your washing machine is worth Fixing

How Old Is It?

All home appliances wear out eventually, and for washing machines, the expected lifespan is about 10 years. So if you’ve had your machine for 10 years or more, replacement is probably the best choice, unless it’s a very simple problem to repair. The other consideration here is how much use your washing machine gets. If you do washing every day, then the 10 years of service may well be reduced. The general rule here is to replace the appliance if the repair cost is more than half the price of a new machine. The other factor in favor of replacement is the warranty that accompanies a new washing machine. With an older model, you bear the costs of all the repairs, and the older it gets, the more frequently those repairs are likely to occur. Of course, you can only make this decision if you know how much the repair is going to cost. The experts at Dave’s Appliance can help with that.

How Much Will It Cost To Repair?

Even a relatively new washing machine can develop problems. If it’s within the warranty period (which differs by make/model and part), it may not cost you anything to repair. If it’s older than one year, you should ask one of the professionals at Dave’s Appliance to diagnose the problem. We’ll be able to tell you how much the replacement parts and labor would be too. Knowing the cost of the repair is really essential information for you to decide if you should fix your washing machine or not.

Can You Fix It Yourself?

There are some washing machine repairs that you can do yourself. Especially if there are videos showing how to make simple repairs to your particular make and model of machine, you might try to do it yourself. Some parts, such as pulleys, pumps and seals, are inexpensive. You can get these replacement parts from Dave’s Appliance and install them yourself. Just make sure that you’re repairing the actual problem; again, having the experts at Dave’s Appliance diagnose the issue is essential.

Is Your Washing Machine Using Too Much Energy?

Even if your washing machine isn’t 10 years old, chances are that it is not particularly efficient if it is over 5 years old, unless it has been getting regular maintenance. If you’re using an older model, your water, energy and detergent consumption may be higher than with a newer model. If you have a front-loading machine, it is more efficient than a top-loading one. A washing machine with an Energy Star rating will use as much as 33% less water than a non-rated model. Regular maintenance makes a big difference here; ask about the service agreements that Dave’s Appliance offers.

What Is Washing Machine Maintenance?

Washing machine maintenance includes regular cleaning and servicing twice a year. Cleaning your washing machine often can improve its performance and extend its lifespan. Simply wipe down the interior of the drum, clean the seals with warm soapy water, and apply a thin layer of vaseline if the seals need it. When the experts at Dave’s Appliance do a service on your washing machine, all the parts that need cleaning (that you can’t get to) will be cleaned; all those needing lubrication will get that. The drum will be balanced and the motor checked.

The answer to whether or not your washing machine is worth fixing isn’t as straightforward as you might think. These are some of the factors you should consider. Contact Dave’s Appliance to get the best advice about your particular situation.

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