Don't Freeze Canned Foods

Frozen canned foods can present health problems.
If the cans are merely swollen — and you are sure the swelling was caused by freezing — the cans may still be usable.
Let the can thaw in the refrigerator before opening. If the product doesn't look and/or smell normal, throw it out!
DO NOT TASTE IT!
If the seams have rusted or burst, throw the cans out immediately, wrapping the burst can in plastic and disposing the food where no one, including animals, can get it.

How to Clean Your Washing Machine

It's weird to think about cleaning the thing that cleans your clothes, but cleaning your washing machine can make it work better, and last longer. Cleaning your washing machine every few months can help get rid of excess dirt, soap gunk, and other things that may be invading your laundry.

Heres what you'll need to clean your washing machine:

White Vinegar

Baking Soda

Microfiber Cloth

1). Fill the washing machine using the highest load size, hottest water setting, and longest wash.

2. Open the lid and as the washing machine tub fills, add a quart of white vinegar.

3. Next, add a cup of baking soda.

Close the lid and allow the washer to agitate for about a minute. Open the lid again and stop the washing machine. Allow the water, vinegar, and baking soda to soak in the washer tub for an hour.

5. After an hour, close the lid and allow the cycle to complete.

6. Repeat. 

Run one more hot wash with a quart of vinegar in it to clean away any residue loosened and left behind by the first cycle.

7. Once the washing machine has drained, wipe the inside of the tub with a vinegar solution to remove any last residue.

Enjoy your freshly cleaned washing machine!

How to Clean a Smelly Dishwasher

Does your dishwasher have a funky smell to it? Are there food particles that won't go away on the inside of it? You may need to wash your dishwasher. Luckily, it is a very easy 2 step process.

1). Put one cup of white vinegar on the top rack and run the dishwasher (with the dishwasher empty). The white vinegar helps clean the dishwasher, and gets rid of the scent.

2). After the first wash, sprinkle one cup of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher, and run again with the dishwasher empty. The baking soda further helps scrub out that gunk.

Enjoy your newly cleaned, good smelling dishwasher!

Holiday Appliance Safety, Part 2

Prevent a Holiday Dishwasher Disaster!

Consumer Reports has come out with it's annual list of holiday dishwasher strategies.  Here are a few:

• Load It Smartly. Try loading dishes, glasses, utensils, and other items the way your owner’s manual recommends. The manual was written by engineers who best understand how your machine's sprays are situated.

• Try Quick-Wash Cycles. A quick half-hour wash could handle a lightly soiled load—running over a break between dinner and dessert. A few one-hour cycles throw more water and energy at the load to do roughly the same cleaning in a fraction of the time.

• Consider Hand-Washing. With a large holiday crowd, you might not be able to fit lots of dishes, glasses and a pot you used for sauce or gravy. Why not take a quick break and wash that one by hand?

The perennial worry at this time of year is that appliances tend to fail while they’re working the hardest. If your dishwasher seems to be going out with 2014, contact Express Appliance today to see our dishwasher models.