5 Things You Should Never Do With Your Oven

1. Don't use the self-cleaning feature before preparing a holiday meal.

The self-cleaning feature on an oven makes the oven heat up to 800-1,000 degrees - much hotter than normal. If an oven were to "pull a muscle", it would be during that sprint.

2. Don't go overboard with tin foil.

Foil reflects heat, which may unevenly cook food. Give your turkey an even tan by directing the heat in the proper way.

3. Don't forget the vents!

Vents in the oven allow good heat circulation, and thus proper cooking. Unlike the Death Star, we don't want to cover those vents.

4. Be careful where you aim!

Spraying cleaning products on control knobs may spark an electrical fire. Our object is to cook in the kitchen, not cook the whole kitchen!

5. Use the oven the right way.

Many use their ovens to heat their homes. Ovens are designed to keep heat focused on the food inside, and using it in this wrong way would just put it through unnecessary strain. This would be an especially risky move so close to the holidays.

To Replace, or Not to Replace?

To replace, or not to replace? That is the question. Whether its more cost effective to repair, or simply spring for a new model.

When it comes to appliances like ovens and fridges, Angie's List recommends using a "cost+age" formula to determine whether to replace or repair.  If the repair of an appliance will cost more than half the price of buying a new one, and if it's nearing the end of its useful life, replace it. 

"If the consumer made an initial investment in that that was pretty large and they can get it fixed for a couple hundred dollars, they may opt to repair," says Ryan Wagner, an appliance store manager.

Angie's List research shows that there are still plenty of repair people in the industry for when you need them, and we're one of them! Call us at 208-344-6700 anytime!

Freezer Prep

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Here's 3 hints to prep your freezer for all those left overs!

1. Clean it out

Take all the food out, throw the expired stuff away, and wipe everything down. Put a box of baking soda if its particularly fragrant.

2. Vacuum the back

Vacuum all the dust out of the condenser coils at least once a year. This allows the freezer to continue work at peak performance.

3. Maintain proper temperatures

Monitor the temperatures of the freezer. Ideally, it would be around 0 degrees. If the temperature is too high, the seal likely isn't tight enough.

Tips to Help the Dishwasher Run Better (part 2)

If you're lucky enough to have some mechanical help with your dishes, how's your helper doing these days? Cooking can be tough on the dishwasher. All those goopy soups, milk-crusted mugs, and baked-on casseroles can overload it; perhaps you're feeling like things aren't running so smoothly or smelling as good as they ought to in there.

Well, we're here to help, with 5 more tips for making your dishwasher run its best.

Are these tips familiar to you? I was already doing several of them, but a few were new, so I thought they might be to you as well.

6. Run an empty dishwasher with vinegar

It’s the same concept as running a vinegar load in your washing machine. You simply toss a cup of white vinegar into the bottom of an empty dishwasher and run a normal cycle. It cleans out old food particles to keep your dishwasher smelling fresh.


7. Clean the dishwasher trap

Down in no-man's land, under the lower sprayer, there's usually a piece that is removable. Under it you'll usually find bits of food that didn't make it out the drain or even pet hair (eww) if you have a fur-ball of any kind running around your home. Sometimes the tray comes out fully so it can be rinsed in the sink; sometimes a towel is needed to remove the gunk buildup.


8. Clean the dishwasher seals

After a few months of use, your dishwasher accumulates a little bit of ick and stick around the rubber gasket in the door and often around the soap door as well. Make sure to give them a once-over with a damp towel to keep the grime down.


9. Check your water heater's temperature

There's a joke about where to put the thermometer, but we'll pass this time around. Make sure your water heater is set between 120 and 125 degrees. Many units are shipped new set to a much lower heat. This is the ideal temperature for washing dishes; don't be tempted to turn it higher or else it will cause water to flash dry and not roll off your dishes, taking the ends of the dirty bits with it.


10. Test your water

Hard water is killer on dishes and your ability to really get things clean. Make sure to have things tested and soften accordingly.

Tips to Help the Dishwasher Run Better (part 1)

If you're lucky enough to have some mechanical help with your dishes, how's your helper doing these days? Cooking can be tough on the dishwasher. All those goopy soups, milk-crusted mugs, and baked-on casseroles can overload it; perhaps you're feeling like things aren't running so smoothly or smelling as good as they ought to in there.

Well, we're here to help, with 5 tips for making your dishwasher run its best.

Are these tips familiar to you? I was already doing several of them, but a few were new, so I thought they might be to you as well.

1. Don't confuse scraping with washing

No one wants to wash their dishes before they wash their dishes; it's just silly. But you wouldn't want to eat a Thanksgiving dinner and then go run a marathon right after. Well, neither does your dishwasher. Scrape food bits off before loading up to help reduce particles stuck on dishes once the cycle is over.

2. Don't overcrowd the dishwasher

It's something that's easier said than done. It's quite tempting to layer in one more bowl or plate to avoid hand washing. Just remember, it's better to wash a few pieces by hand than it is to rerun an entire load because things were too tightly packed.

3. Run hot water before starting the dishwasher

Before starting the cycle, turn on the faucet and run until the water is hot to the touch. This means your first dishwasher fill cycle will be hot, instead of cold, until it finally makes its way over from the hot water heater. This is an especially important tip in winter time, as it takes longer for the water to heat up.

4. Use the correct cycle

It can be tempting to use a shorter, lighter setting to save on time and water bills, but make sure you're washing all your super dirty dishes by hand if that's the case. Just like doing your laundry, keep soil levels together when washing to end up with the best performance.

5. Don't double up on rinse aid

When looking to purchase a new soap for your dishwasher, make note if it includes a rinse aid. If it does, then there's no need to add any extra. If it doesn't, skip the extra purchase and just fill the reservoir with white vinegar. It'll do the trick every time!