You can extend the life of your washer and dryer—and your clothes—by treating your appliances with care on laundry day. Here’s how:
- Clean your dryer’s lint filter after every use. Occasionally vacuum the chute that houses the filter.
- Unfasten the duct from the dryer at least twice a year and vacuum it.
- Cut down on drying times if your clothes consistently come out wrinkled. That means you’re overdrying.
- On nice days, skip the dryer completely by installing and using a clothesline.
- Avoid overloading your washing machine with comforters, rugs and large blankets. Check your owner’s manual to learn how much weight your washer’s tub can safely handle.
- Balance your load of laundry. Washers can fail when heavy loads bang around in an unbalanced machine.
- Replace your water intake hoses every five years, even if they look OK. Older hoses are prone to bursting.
