Even though your washing machine is designed to clean your laundry, the appliance itself can sometimes become dirty and smelly. Find out how you can remove and prevent unwanted odors via these deep cleaning steps.

Why Does My Washing Machine Smell?

First, let’s look at why a washing machine might develop a bad smell. In some cases, the ongoing presence of moisture might be enough to cause mold or mildew growth. This, in turn, can create a musty, moldy smell that can even pass to your laundry.

Soap might also be the culprit. If you use too much or the wrong type of detergent for your machine, a layer of soap scum can build up in the drum. This can encourage mold or mildew growth—and the unpleasant odor that comes with it.

Give it a Scrub

In order to get rid of a bad smell in your washer, start by getting rid of any grime or buildup around the door and dispenser unit. You can use a sponge, cloth, or even an old toothbrush to complete this step.

For a top-load washer, open the lid and scrub all the way around and under the hinges. For a front-load washer, wipe around the door, paying attention to getting any gunk off of the rubber gasket.

Next, scrub out the detergent, bleach, and fabric softener dispensers on your machine. Getting rid of buildup is key to making sure there’s nowhere for mold or mildew to hide!

Sanitize and Rinse the Drum

Once you’ve tackled the door and dispenser, the drum is next. To clean the drum itself, use bleach to eliminate any mold or mildew.

For a top-loading machine, pour four cups of bleach into the drum. For a front-loading model, pour in two cups. Then:

• Select the highest temperature wash cycle and let the water fill the drum
• Pause the cycle for 30 minutes to let the bleach do its work
• Run the full cycle and let the water drain
• Run a rinse cycle to remove all the bleach

This sanitation step will kill any existing mold or mildew, helping to get rid of any unwanted smells.

Clean and Deodorize

Once the drum is sanitized, it’s time to move on to cleaning and deodorizing. For this step, you’ll need baking soda and white vinegar.

• Mix together 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/4 cup of water and put it into the detergent dispenser
• For a top-loading machine, pour 4 cups of white vinegar into the drum; for a front-loading machine, pour in 2 cups
• Run a wash cycle with the hottest water possible

As with the sanitation step, you can opt to let the baking soda and vinegar solution soak inside the drum for 30 minutes once the water has filled. This is a great choice if you think your washer needs an extra deep clean.

Once the cycle has finished, check the inside of the drum and wipe away any remaining spots or gunk you can see. You can also run a final rinse cycle to remove all traces of the cleaning agents.

Repeat these steps any time you notice a smell in your washer. Or, include them in your regular household cleaning as a preventative measure. Either way, you’ll be able to enjoy a fresh-smelling washer and great-smelling laundry!

If you need help with stubborn odors or washing machine repairs in Wilmington or the surrounding area, call the team at All Brands Appliance Repair. We are a family-owned company with over 46 years of experience in the appliance repair field. For issues large and small, we’re here for you! All Brands Appliance Repair—Reputation You Can Count On.

If you’re considering an induction cooktop for your kitchen, it’s important to know the pros and cons of this style before you make a purchase. That way, you can make an informed decision about what type of cooktop is right for your home.

What Is an Induction Cooktop?

Induction cooktops are relatively new on the market. They started showing up as a popular choice in the mid-2000s, but many folks are still more familiar with traditional electric or gas cooktop models. 

Induction cooktops are also electric, but they generate heat by way of an electromagnetic field below the glass surface of the appliance. That energy then gets transferred directly to the magnetic cookware that you use with an induction stove.

Induction Cooktop Pros

There are many reasons why induction cooktops are gaining popularity. These cooktops:

• Are extremely energy efficient
• Cook foods quickly
• Offer precise temperature control and even cooking

Induction stoves also have a great built-in safety feature. Since they work by transferring heat directly to magnetic cookware, the burner area itself won’t get hot if there’s no pan on it. So, if you accidentally turn a burner on or leave it on after removing a pan, you won’t risk burning yourself if you accidentally touch the surface.

Cons of Induction Stoves

The major downside to an induction stove is the price tag. Since this style is still fairly new, the cost can be quite a bit higher than a traditional gas or electric stove. 

Additionally, if you convert from a gas stove to an induction model, there’s the cost of redoing the gas system in favor of an electric system to hook up the appliance. This can get expensive, so make sure to factor that in if you go the induction route. If you already have an electric stove, however, no conversion is needed—you should be able to hook up your induction stove right away.

In terms of extra costs, it’s also possible that you’ll need new cookware if you change over to induction since pans need to be magnetic in order to work. If you have any aluminum pans, for example, these won’t work. Others may be good to go, but it’s important to check so that you can account for the cost of replacement cookware if needed.

Lastly, many people simply find the newness of induction technology to be a detraction. If you’re accustomed to cooking with gas, for example, switching over to induction might be an unsettling experience.

Unlike traditional stove models, you can’t see the action of the heating element with an induction stove, so you end up missing the visual representation of temperature adjustments. For some people, this is just too alien an experience and they find that they prefer the old-fashioned functionality of gas or electric stovetops. 

Ultimately, saying “yes” or “no” to an induction cooktop comes down to budget and personal preference. As long as your stove works for you, that’s the right one for your kitchen.

If you have questions about installing an induction cooktop or if you need induction appliance repair help, call the team at All Brands Appliance Repair. We’re a family-owned company with over 46 years of experience providing appliance repairs and service in Wilmington and the region. All Brands Appliance Repair—Reputation You Can Count On.

Whether you are replacing an old appliance or outfitting a new home, getting a new dishwasher is an exciting prospect! Before you jump in and start loading it up, though, it’s helpful to take a moment to get to know your machine before the first use.

Read the Owner’s Manual

Getting familiar with the owner’s manual of your dishwasher is most definitely a key step to take before you use your new appliance for the first time. This will help you understand what the different buttons and settings mean and what situation each setting is designed to handle.

After you read the owner’s manual there will be no mystery about what each button does or what a certain noise or light means. Knowledge is, as they say, power—and this knowledge will enable you to access the full functionality of your new dishwasher with confidence. 

Run the Dishwasher While Empty

Since the whole point of a dishwasher is to clean dirty dishes, it might sound counterintuitive to start off by running an empty load. This is an important step, though, and should definitely not be skipped!

First of all, it’s highly likely that the inside of your new dishwasher might have some dust or other small debris inside that has collected during the storage, transport, and/or installation process. Running the dishwasher while empty will clean all of this out so that you can wash your first set of dishes in a truly clean machine.

Secondly, you can look at this step as a test run. If there are any issues with the machine or with any of the connections to power or water, you’ll be able to identify and deal with them without having to navigate a dishwasher full of plates and glasses.

Select Your Detergent Wisely

The last thing to do before you wash your first load of dishes is to pick the right detergent. Your machine may call for a specific type of detergent. This will be covered in your manual, so check those recommendations before you make any purchases.

Additionally, you’ll want to consider the nature of your water. If you have hard water, for example, you’ll want to find a detergent that’s formulated to rinse clean even with the extra minerals found in hard water.

While it might be tempting to jump in and load your new dishwasher up right away, take these few steps before you reach for your dirty dishes. Your dishwasher and your kitchenware will thank you!

If you have dishwasher questions or concerns, or if you need dishwasher repair assistance, call the team at All Brands Appliance Repair today. We are your go-to appliance repair experts in Wilmington and the surrounding area. With over 46 years of experience, we’ve got your home appliance repair needs covered. All Brands Appliance Repair—Reputation You Can Count On!

It’s never a good time for your gas oven to malfunction. Maybe your oven won’t turn on, or maybe it doesn’t heat correctly. In either case, getting your oven fixed quickly and effectively is key! Read on to learn what common gas oven issues to look out for so that you’re prepared if the worst happens.

Bake Burner Igniter Issues

You probably use the bake function of your oven the most. The bake burner igniter is the part of your oven that ignites the gas, allowing the oven to heat up to the desired bake temperature. It re-ignites throughout the baking process in order to keep the oven temperature at the right level.

The most common cause for igniter failure is simple wear and tear. If your oven is older, this is a part that might just get worn out.

The clearest sign of igniter issues is when your oven won’t produce heat. You may also smell gas when you turn the oven on because the igniter isn’t sparking appropriately to actually burn the fuel. This can be very dangerous, so make sure you turn the oven off and call your gas company if you notice a gas smell from your oven at any time!

It’s possible, in some cases, that your bake igniter isn’t working because it’s covered by debris. You can avoid this issue by getting your igniter serviced by an appliance professional on a yearly basis to clean any buildup before it becomes a problem.

If regular service doesn’t do the trick, contact your local appliance experts for oven repair help so that they can replace the igniter. With this simple gas oven repair, your oven will be up and running again in no time!

Faulty Broil Burner Igniter

The broil burner igniter is just like the bake burner igniter. It simply controls the broil function rather than the bake function. 

If your gas oven broiler isn’t working, follow the same procedure for oven repairs as with the bake burner igniter. Whether it needs cleaning or replacement, this is usually a straightforward fix when it comes to gas oven repairs.

Pressure Regulator Problems

In order for gas fuel to get to the bake burner and the broil burner, it goes through a pressure regulator so that the right amount of fuel is used. This is a key safety feature of your oven that prevents too much gas from flowing.

If the pressure regulator fails, the main symptom will likely be that your oven won’t heat. Since the pressure regulator controls the flow of gas, it’s important to call a professional to diagnose and address the problem.

If you need gas oven repair assistance in Wilmington or the surrounding area, call the team at All Brands Appliance Repair. We are a family-owned business with over 46 years of experience in appliance service and repairs. We’re here for all of your oven repair needs—call today!

Modern washing machines offer numerous specialty cycles. Most of them are self-explanatory and have to do with either the type of laundry you’re washing, such as “delicates” or “colors,” or the soil level of the items. But what about the mysterious “prewash” cycle? Read on to learn how it works and why it’s one of your washer’s best-kept secrets!

How the Prewash Cycle Works

The prewash cycle on your washing machine is a quick wash cycle—usually just about three or four minutes—that you activate in addition to a regular wash cycle. Before starting the prewash, make sure you have detergent in both the prewash and regular wash compartments.

During the prewash cycle, your machine fills with water, agitates your laundry, then spins and empties the water. After that, it automatically moves on to the regular wash cycle you’ve selected.

Why Choose to Prewash?

The process of the prewash cycle is pretty straightforward, but the question remains: why prewash your laundry when you’re already washing it? Isn’t that overkill? 

If your clothing is only lightly soiled, then a prewash cycle may be unnecessary. However, the prewash cycle is a lifesaver if you have heavily soiled laundry items such as:

• Sports uniforms
• Cloth diapers
• Grease- or dirt-encrusted work clothes

Whether you’ve been out on a mud run or been doing heavy-duty yard work, there are many scenarios in which you might be faced with extremely dirty laundry items.

In these cases, the prewash cycle loosens and disposes of the worst of the soil, leaving the regular wash to clean and disinfect your laundry completely. This extra prewash cycle is instrumental in preventing stains and odors.

In short, without the prewash, heavily soiled laundry would not get fully clean. So, the next time you have extra-dirty laundry, try the prewash cycle and see what a difference it makes!

If you have questions or concerns about your washing machine or laundry cycles, reach out to the team at All Brands Appliance Repair. With over 46 years of experience, we’re your go-to appliance experts in Wilmington, MA, and the surrounding area. Call us today for all your appliance repair, maintenance, and troubleshooting needs!

Your home appliances are the things that you count on to make your life comfortable. From washing your clothes and dishes, to cooking meals or running a shower, these devices have to work properly and efficiently every time you need them. Ensuring that your home appliances are always in good working order can be costly, but there are options that can help you keep your costs down. Buying an appliance warranty is one way to save money in the long run, but you may be wondering if it’s worth it. Read this article to find out what the pros and cons of purchasing an extended warranty on your home appliances are.

What is covered under a standard warranty?

When you purchase an appliance, it usually comes with a standard warranty at no extra cost to you. These standard warranties usually cover the appliance for a set period of time, and are intended to cover defects in materials and workmanship, but may also cover certain repairs. However, it is important to note that most standard warranties do not cover damage from normal wear and tear, accidents, or improper use. 

What is not covered by a standard warranty?

There are a few things that are not typically covered under a standard appliance warranty. These can include:

• Damage from abuse or neglect
• Improper installation
• Normal wear and tear
• Certain types of repairs (like those that require replacement parts)

If you want some of these items covered, then you may need to purchase an extended warranty. If you’re unsure about what is and isn’t covered under your appliance’s warranty, be sure to read the fine print before making a purchase.

What are the pros and cons of purchasing an extended warranty?

When it comes to appliance warranties, there are pros and cons to consider. On one hand, a warranty can give you peace of mind in knowing that your appliance is covered in case of a problem. With lots to worry about already as a homeowner, having one less thing to worry about can be a real blessing. Also, having a warranty means that you could spend way less in the long run on repairs than you would without having any warranty. 

On the other hand, warranties can be expensive and may not cover everything that could go wrong with your appliance. The cost of an extended warranty may not always be worth the investment, especially if your appliance is older or not very valuable. Additionally, you may never end up using your extended warranty, meaning that you would have wasted money on something that you didn’t need.

Ultimately, whether or not you decide to purchase an appliance warranty is a personal decision based on your needs and budget. Before purchasing an extended warranty for your home appliance, think about your budget and how likely you might be to need an extended warranty. If you know you’re going to use a particular home appliance more regularly than some others, it may be a good idea to spend the extra money up front to have peace of mind!