How to take care of your home’s appliances so they last longer

Craig Lloyd
Craig Lloyd
Writer

Craig Lloyd is a smarthome expert with nearly ten years of professional writing experience. His work has been published by iFixit, Lifehacker, Digital Trends, Slashgear, and GottaBeMobile. Read more.

Tools can be pretty expensive. If you want to get the most bang for your buck, it’s important that you maintain them regularly so that they last as long as possible.

The good news is that most tools don’t really require all that much care and maintenance—good tools are made to take abuse. However, they aren’t invincible, and after a while your tools will begin to show signs of deterioration if you don’t properly take care of them. Here are a few things to keep in mind so that you hopefully won’t have to buy replacement tools anytime soon.

Give Tools a Quick Cleaning After Each Use

Dirt and grime on tools accelerates the deterioration process, so if there was only one thing you could do when maintaining tools, it’s giving them a quick wipe down after each use.

You don’t have to be super thorough, either. Just get a rag and wipe most of the dirt and grime off. When it comes to power tools, take some canned air or use an air compressor to blow into the vents in order to clear out sawdust or drywall dust.

Frequently Lubricate Tools That Need It

Tools that have moving parts that rub against each other can wear down quickly if not properly maintained. Nail guns, ratchets, and adjustable wrenches are good examples.

Just put a very small dab of basic machine oil on any moving part and work it in. This stuff also works great on pretty much anything around the house that can squeak, like door hinges and sliding tracks.

For pneumatic tools like nail guns, it’s recommended to use a lubricant designed for such tools. Luckily, it’s just as cheap as basic machine oil.

Coat Metal Parts in Oil to Prevent Rusting

Tools are made of metal, and most metal can rust, resulting in corrosion and deterioration. Sometimes there’s no way around it, but with your tools, a very light coat of oil can do the trick.

You can use pretty much whatever oil you want. I happen to use just regular motor oil since I always have some lying around. What I like to do is start by applying a liberal amount to my first tool, then wipe off the excess with a clean rag. From there, I’ll use that rag to apply oil to all of the other tools. This ensures that I’m not over-applying oil, which can attract a ton of dust onto the tools.

The goal is to coat your tools enough so that when you run your finger across them, the tools feel a bit greasy and some oil residue gets on your finger. Any more than that and you’re just wasting oil.

Keep Tools Away from High Humidity

Coating your tools in oil is a good measure to take in order to prevent rusting, but probably the best thing you could do is to store your tools in a dry place away from high humidity.

Moisture accelerates the rusting process, so it’s important to keep your tools as dry as possible if you decide not to oil them. You can’t really oil the inside of power tools anyway (unless you take them apart), so it’s definitely important to keep those in dry locations.

The best way to do this is to store your tools in cases or toolboxes. This creates a microclimate of sorts where it’s much easier to control the humidity level. You can even throw in a silicon gel packet or two (those small packets of beads you find in shoes and other products when you buy them) to help with moisture buildup. You can even buy different size dry packs at most hardware stores—or online—if you don’t have any on hand.

Chrome-finished tools are more impervious to rust, so buy chrome tools if at all possible, rather than just plain polished steel. Of course, chrome tools aren’t invincible to rust, as the chrome finish can chip, so still keep an eye on them.

Drain Air Compressors After Every Use

Air Compressors work by sucking in outside air, compressing it in a tank, and then spewing out that compressed air at high velocities. However, while sucking in air, air compressors also suck in all that moisture that’s in the air.

If you didn’t get the memo from the previous two sections, moisture is bad for tools. The same goes for air compressors, which is why you need to drain the tank after every use in order to get out all the moisture.

If you don’t do this, moisture will continue to build up in the tank with every use. Eventually, you’ll end up with a puddle of water at the bottom of the tank that will rust the inside and eventually compromise the tank’s structural integrity.

In the End, Don’t Sweat It Too Much

As mentioned above, tools are made to be abused, so even if you treat them relatively poorly, they can still last a very long time. I’ve known some tools that last for decades without the owner doing any proper care, but there are also tools that don’t last very long if not well-maintained. A lot of it has to do with the brand. Plus, often you’ll find that the more expensive a tool is, the better quality it is.

It’s also very possible that you’ll want to replace some of your power tools before they even wear down anyway, simply for the new technology that’s constantly making power tools better and better.

Most hand tools, on the other hand, don’t really improve—a wrench is a wrench and a hammer is a hammer. So it’s wise to put just a little bit of care into these tools so that you’ll hopefully never have to replace them during your lifetime.

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Craig Lloyd
Craig Lloyd is a smarthome expert with nearly ten years of professional writing experience. His work has been published by iFixit, Lifehacker, Digital Trends, Slashgear, and GottaBeMobile.
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8 expert tips to help extend the life of your over-the-range appliance

Over-the-range microwaves are built into the cabinetry and bolted to a wall, so replacing one that conks out is no simple chore.

To avoid replacing yours more than about once every 10 years—which is how long most manufacturers tell us they should last—you’ll want to take care of it.

Your microwave may not get as grimy as your oven, but even so, one of the best ways to keep it humming along is to keep it clean. That means wiping down the interior when your someone heats up a bowl of pasta without covering it, and regularly cleaning the grease filters that catch the cooking fumes from the rangetop below, especially if you often fry food.

The OTR models in our microwave ratings range from under $100 to well over $1,000. Getting one repaired can cost at least a few hundred dollars. To avoid the hassle and expense, here are some simple things you can do on a daily or weekly basis to make your microwave last.

1. Be quick with the cleanup. Sponge up spills as soon as they occur. Bits of food left behind can absorb some of the microwave’s energy when you turn it on again, creating a hot spot that can damage the interior. Take special care not to scratch the protective mesh inside the door if it’s exposed, because it prevents microwaves from escaping and zapping you.

Which brand tops our reliability chart? Check out the winners and losers in CR’s latest Appliance Brand Reliability Rankings.

2. Turn on the exhaust fan. An OTR’s exhaust fan isn’t as efficient as a range hood’s, but you should use it anyway. “Many times the user will not turn on the exhaust when cooking on the range cooktop, causing the moisture rising from pots and pans to collect on the electronics of the microwave and shorten its life span,” says Wayne Archer, a technical expert at Sears Home Services. If moisture collects, wipe it off with a paper towel or soft cloth.

3. Degrease the grease filter. It’s easy to forget these filters on the underside of the microwave, which trap steam and cooking fumes. But if you let them get too gunky, they can cause your microwave to run less efficiently and pose a fire hazard. They’re easy to slide out to clean, but you may want to slip on some rubber gloves before you do. Soak the filter in a sink filled with hot water and a degreasing dish detergent such as Dawn. Some manufacturers say you can put it in a dishwasher, but check your owner’s manual first. If your filter no longer fits snugly, replace it.

4. Don’t slam the door! Your microwave door has three (sometimes four) safety interlock switches that disable the oven when the door is open. For the microwave to work properly, the switches have to line up with their corresponding latches when the door is closed. “All the door strikes, latch mechanisms, and door switches themselves are plastic, so slamming the microwave door can physically break any of these components,” says Chris Zeisler, technical service supervisor at RepairClinic.com. “The series of switches all have to work in unison.” Damage to any of the switches or latches could render the microwave inoperable.

5. Don’t run it empty. Some people mistakenly run their microwave empty when they just meant to use the timer. If this happens for just a short time, no harm done. “But with nothing in the microwave, there are no [water molecules] to excite, and the unit can overheat quickly or cause burn marks in the interior,” Zeisler says. “The microwaves can concentrate in one section of the cavity, causing damage.”

6. Avoid most metals. Metal reflects microwaves, whereas glass, paper, plastics, and most ceramics allow them to pass through to the food. Putting metal utensils or dishes with metal trim or silver or gold plating in a microwave can cause arcing—actual sparks flying. If the metals are touching the sides of the interior, the arcing can burn a hole in the cavity wall, damage that’s not repairable. So keep at least an inch of clearance on all sides of your food. Some manufacturers say you can use a small amount of aluminum foil in a microwave, but only if it’s folded tightly around the food. If you want to try that, check the microwave manual first. Protruding pieces of foil or the metal from twist ties can act as an antenna and cause arcing that damages a microwave.

7. Use preprogrammed cooking times. To prevent food from overcooking and spattering the inside of the oven, use the presets. And be mindful of cooking times. “Too often we hear of a microwave meeting its maker because an incorrect cook time was input into the control system and the unit fried itself,” Zeisler says. “If you inadvertently set it at 50:00 instead of 5:00, you can damage the microwave.”

8. Don’t attempt to repair the electronics yourself. Not that you necessarily would, but in case you’re tempted, consider that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported that people have been electrocuted trying to repair their microwaves. A microwave can hold an electrical charge at thousands of volts in its capacitors for hours or even days after it has been unplugged, according to RepairClinic.com. “The capacitor is a component that stores energy and releases it when needed,” Zeisler explains. “This energy can be released when touched by a person.” RepairClinic.com advises leaving such repairs to a pro. But get an estimate first. It’s an expensive repair, and it may cost less to replace the appliance.

Making Your Appliances Shine

You might not be able to control all the messes in your kitchen, but Consumer Reports expert Sara Morrow reveals some simple steps for getting your microwave oven sparkling clean.

If you store fresh mushrooms correctly, they'll stay good for up to a week. It's easy. Here's how.

Place whole, unwashed mushrooms in a brown paper bag and fold the top of the bag over. Then stick the bag in the main compartment of your refrigerator. This works because the bag absorbs excess moisture from the mushrooms so they don't get soggy or moldy.

How to Store Mushrooms in the Fridge

• Do not store mushrooms in the crisper drawer—it's too moist an environment.
• Avoid placing mushrooms near foods with strong odors or flavors because they'll absorb them like a sponge.
• Take care not to stack other foods on top of them. Squished, bruised mushrooms don’t look very appetizing, and they won’t keep very long.
• Some mushrooms hold up better in the fridge than others. To avoid waste, try to buy your mushrooms close to when you plan to use them.
• If you need to store mushrooms for more than a week, consider freezing or drying them.

How to Freeze Mushrooms

Mushrooms freeze well, but it’s best to get them in the freezer as soon as you can. Don’t wait for your mushrooms to start deteriorating in the fridge before you decide to freeze some. If you have a large mushroom haul, be deliberate about setting some aside for eating right away and others for eating later. Try to be realistic about how many you’ll eat in the next week so you can freeze the rest before they go bad.

Mushrooms need to be cooked before they're frozen. This will stop the enzyme action, thereby preserving their quality, so it's important not to skip this step.

How to Dry Mushrooms

If you don’t have a lot of freezer space to dedicate to mushrooms, drying them is another option. Dried mushrooms can be rehydrated as needed, and they take up very little space in the pantry in the meantime. Use a low-temp oven or a food dehydrator to dry your mushrooms. Then keep them in an airtight container until you need them.

If you’ve never dried mushrooms before, try a small batch and see what you think. Once you learn how to reconstitute them, you might find that they’re every bit as good as fresh mushrooms. If nothing else, it’s great to have dried mushrooms on hand to toss into homemade soups.

Ways to Use Up Mushrooms

If you aren’t sure what to do with your mushrooms before they go bad, here are some ideas. Toss them in pasta, use them to top a pizza, add them to soup, or sauté them in butter and pile them high on burgers. Sautéed mushrooms are also a tasty side to steak. Just flip through your recipe collection, and you’re sure to find lots of recipes that would taste even better with a handful of mushrooms thrown in.

8 easy maintenance tips to keep your dishwasher cleaning well for years to come

How long should a dishwasher last? About 10 years, according to most of the 20-plus manufacturers we asked.

CR members tell us they expect the same life span, on average, but that doesn’t necessarily mean 10 trouble-free years. Survey data from our members’ experiences with more than 70,000 dishwashers reveals that about 30 percent of all newly purchased dishwashers are likely to develop problems or break within the first five years.

So how do you get through a decade without calling the repair guy? A number of factors can affect how long your appliance will last—including how you care for your dishwasher.

That’s according to our own in-house dishwasher expert, Larry Ciufo, as well as engineers from manufacturers and repair technicians we asked for advice on how to get the most from these machines.

One tip all these experts called out: Heed the advice in the instruction manual, especially the part about rinsing out the filter if it’s a manual-clean type. If you’re not sure whether you have a manual filter or a self-cleaning filter, or what we’re even talking about, see "Why Your Dishwasher Filter Makes a Difference."

Here are eight routine maintenance tips that will help make your dishwasher last longer.

1. Scrape the plate—but don’t rinse it. Most dishwashers don’t require a prerinse, but be sure to scrape off bones, toothpicks, and other solid items before loading your dishes. These hard bits can clog the drain hose, tear the filter, or damage the pump.

2. Give the filter a hand. The remaining stuck-on food has to go somewhere, and unless your dishwasher has an old-school food grinder, you’ll have to clean the filter manually. Adam Hofmann, director of dishwasher engineering at GE Appliances, says to do it every month or so, more often if necessary. “A telltale sign it’s time is when you notice a decrease in wash performance or dishes feel gritty,” he says.

Remove the bottom rack and you should find a plastic cylinder that you can unscrew to lift out (if it’s not there, consult the dishwasher manual). Rinse the filter under running water until it’s free of debris. It’s fine to use soft sponges and warm soapy water for stubborn food bits, but abrasive brushes or steel wool can damage the filter.

And if you find any holes, replace the filter immediately to prevent seeds or bits of bone from slipping through and into the pump. Otherwise they can damage the pump impeller and motor seals, which are costly parts to repair.

3. Degunk the door seal. As needed, use a rag and white vinegar to clean the seal between the dishwasher door and the tub, where residue and food particles collect. Buildup can cause odors, lead to mold growth, and potentially keep the door from sealing properly.

Richard Tarrant, director of dish care for Bosch and Thermador, says to avoid using bleach-based wipes, harsh chemicals, scouring pads, and anything abrasive on a stainless door and tub.

4. Remove hard-water residue. If you live in an area with hard water, the inside of your dishwasher is likely to develop mineral films and discoloration. These deposits look like a cloudy film on your dishes and the interior of your machine, and you may notice the rack rails and wheels moving with resistance, according to Hofmann. He recommends using a citric-acid-based dishwasher cleaner, such as Affresh or Finish, to remove the deposits monthly. Follow package directions for removing hard-water film from your dishwasher.

Bosch’s Tarrant also suggests using a regeneration salt in the water-softening system of the dishwasher if you live in an area with hard water. This improves cleaning, helping to prevent spotting and clouding. The salt also helps prevent mineral buildup in the dishwasher.

Which brand tops our reliability chart? Check out the winners and losers in CR’s latest Appliance Brand Reliability Rankings.

5. Inspect the spray arms. Every few months, check the holes in the wash arms—spray nozzles—to make sure they’re clean and unobstructed. If you see food debris clogging a spray nozzle, gingerly try to remove it with a toothpick or pipe cleaner. “You want to be gentle and make sure not to deform the hole,” says Larry Ciufo, who runs CR’s dishwasher test lab. “It can affect the spray pattern and how well the dishwasher does its job.”

If you need to remove the spray arms to clean them, the bottom one should lift off its base with a gentle tug. Unscrew the center wash arm from the bottom of the top rack using a Phillips head screwdriver.

6. Rustproof the racks. If the plastic coating wears off, repair it as soon as possible with vinyl paint or replacement tine tips. Otherwise the racks could corrode and allow small shards of rusty metal to enter the pump, according to Chris Zeisler, technical service supervisor at RepairClinic.com. Imagine the pump is the heart of the dishwasher and rust flakes are like plaque buildup, threatening the system with an inevitable clot and full-system shutdown.

7. Don’t overload it. Cramming too much into one load will restrict the water spray patterns and prevent proper cleaning. You’ll have to rewash your dishes, running the machine unnecessarily, which whittles away the life span of the machine. “Mechanical parts wear out the more they are used,” says CR’s Ciufo. “You don’t want to run partial loads either, for the same reason.”

8. Dishes only—don’t wash anything else. You might find videos online that suggest you use the dishwasher to clean car parts. "Bad idea," says Ciufo. "Car parts are greasy, and the dishwasher and detergent aren’t made to handle this kind of grease. It can clog the filter and ruin the pump."

Zeisler says the biggest problem he sees is people washing candlestick holders. The hot wax embeds into every crevice and essentially destroys all components of the machine.

How long do you expect your washer and dryer to last? Some CR readers are frustrated, reporting that their machine needed repair within the first three years, while others are thrilled that their washer is still going strong after 28 years.

"After reading so many horror stories with the new machines, I’m OK keeping my 20-plus-year-old Frigidaire set that I have had serviced 2 times," wrote one reader recently on our washing machine buying guide. "We will expire together."

If only life were so neat and tidy.

CR members expect a washer and dryer to last 10 years, on average, according to our 2018 survey. Most major manufacturers say you can expect at least that. Speed Queen is unusual in that it claims its machines can last roughly 25 years.

Even so, our survey found that around 30 percent of all newly purchased washers are likely to develop problems or break within the first five years. Dryers are less complicated machines, and that statistic drops to about 20 percent.

Those figures are based on CR members’ experiences with more than 71,000 washers and more than 57,000 electric and gas dryers purchased between 2008 and 2018.

Here are eight things you can do to help your washer and dryer reach the 10-year mark.

Washing Machines

1. Keep it level. The drums on modern washers can spin up to 1,600 rpm. To keep the machine from vibrating excessively and damaging itself, the washer needs to sit dead level, with its feet firmly on the floor. “If your washer is unsteady, extend one foot at a time,” says Richard Handel, who runs CR’s laundry appliances test lab. “Once the washer feels stable, use a level to check it front to back and side to side, adjust as necessary, then tighten the lock nuts on the feet.”

2. Don’t overdo it on detergent. A surplus of suds makes the washer work harder and could trigger extra rinse cycles, extending wash time and wasting energy and life span. Use the correct type of detergent in the amount recommended by your washer’s manual. Newer washers use a lot less water than those made 15 years ago, and high-efficiency (HE) detergents, which produce less suds, are formulated to work with water-saving front-loaders, HE top-loaders, and even certain agitator top-loaders.

3. Clean the dispenser drawer. Remove it and clean it on a routine basis. When detergent builds up in the dispenser, it can cause suds galore, making the washer work harder.

4. Try to prevent mold. It thrives when it has food and water, and washers provide plenty of both, with detergent and fabric softener residue serving as food sources. To minmize mold, Run the tub-clean feature regularly—the recommended frequency varies by machine, from once a month to every 50 cycles. If your washer doesn’t have it, run an empty load on the hottest setting with a cup of bleach. When the front-loader has done its job, wipe away moisture inside the door and on the rubber gasket, and gently pull back the gasket to clean away any residue and dry the surface. Between loads, keep a front-loader’s door ajar—as long as young children aren’t afoot—or a top-loader’s lid open, and open the dispensers to give them an opportunity to dry.

5. Inspect the water-fill hoses. Replace when cracked or brittle. If a hose bursts, the flood can damage your appliances and your floor, for starters.

Which brand tops our reliability chart? Check out the winners and losers in CR’s latest Appliance Brand Reliability Rankings.

Useful quality tools can be a significant investment, but they will last longer and return the favor if you take good care of them. Making sure your devices are properly stored, cleaned, and well maintained will save you time and money, as well as making your projects and jobs much more comfortable.

When it comes to storing your tools, you have to work with the space that you have. Maybe you hang them on a pegboard or store them in toolboxes, bags, or chest, or perhaps you keep them in drawers. Pegboards are a great storage system for tools. They let you see all your devices at one glance and the wall space in an efficient way. If you don’t have enough wall space for a pegboard, you can take advantage of the pegboard system by building a hinged design, a rolling pegboard, or even a portable pegboard system.

Toolboxes are also a great way to store your tools. They have the great advantage of portability. While some people do use toolboxes to store all their instruments, they can also be a convenient way to transport your most commonly used tools while leaving the bulky tools held at home.

It is always important to be aware of the environment that you are storing your tools as well. Rust is public enemy number one when it comes to tools. Places such as garages, basements and other enclosed areas can have humidity issues, especially if they aren’t air-conditioned or heated. Invest in a dehumidifier to keep your tools in an ideal environment. Placing silica gel packs in your toolboxes or drawers is also an easy and inexpensive way to help absorb moisture and keep your toolkit rust-free.

Cleaning your tools is probably the last thing you want to do after a hard day’s work, but it is essential for keeping your devices in good shape. It is a process that only takes a few seconds and is time well spent that will prevent you from having to repair or replace tools. You can clean most hand tools with a simple wipe down using a rag. If they are dirty, don’t be afraid to use some soap and water to wash them off. You can also clean your metal tools with a quick spritz of WD-40 and a clean rag.

It's true: They don't make 'em like they used to.

Credit: Reviewed.com / Johnny Yu

Updated October 25, 2019

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.

At Reviewed, our team of expert reviewers has a wealth of knowledge that you can lean on. If you have a question about electronics, appliances, or virtually anything else you can buy, send an email to [email protected] We can’t answer your etiquette questions or help you find love, but we can make you a more educated consumer.

This week, Reviewed’s appliance experts answer questions from readers who want to dig a little bit deeper. We find out which dishwashers are made in the USA, as well as figure out how long major appliances are supposed to last.

The answers may surprise you, so stick around as we dish some dirt on dishwashers.

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Where is it made?

Evans asks:

“On your dishwasher reviews, how many are made in the United States?”

Great question. As it turns out, most dishwashers sold in the U.S. are made in the U.S.

Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, KitchenAid, and IKEA dishwashers are made at the world’s largest dishwasher factory, located in Findlay, Ohio. And the facility is getting even bigger—it’s currently in the middle of a $40.6 million expansion.

Whirlpool just announced a major investment in its Findlay, Ohio, factory. Shown here is a Findlay employee holding dishwasher racks.

Frigidaire’s plastic-tub dishwashers are built in Kinston, North Carolina, and most GE dishwashers come from the company’s landmark Appliance Park facility in Louisville, Kentucky. Even though Bosch is best known for its German heritage, the majority of its 24-inch dishwashers sold in the U.S. (plus a few Thermador models) are made in New Bern, North Carolina.

Many other European brands build their dishwashers in Europe. For instance, Miele dishwashers—and many of the components that go into them—are made in Bielefeld, Germany. Flush-install Gaggenau, Jenn-Air, Thermador, Bosch Benchmark, and Bosch 18-inch dishwashers are made in Dillingen, Germany, while high-end Electrolux and Frigidaire dishwashers are built in Solaro, Italy.

The majority of LG and Samsung dishwashers are built in Korea. Blomberg (which builds dishwashers under the Summit, Beko, and Viking brand names) has an all-inclusive factory outside Istanbul, Turkey. Asko dishwashers are built in Velenje, Slovenia.

Most portable models are made in China, as are models from Haier, Fagor, and Bertazzoni.

They really don’t make them like they used to

Sheralyn asks:

“I am shopping for a washer, dryer and dishwasher. I have spoken with several appliance repair people and all tell me the lifespan of most appliances built today averages 4 years. Do you offer cycle ratings on washers and information on dryers and dishwashers with regard to lifespan? Also, do you provide any information on average repair costs, especially for newer tech-heavy appliances?”

This Kelvinator fridge likely outlasted the popularity of its color finish.

The lifespan of most appliances built today is indeed shorter than it was decades ago, but it’s not as short as four years.

The most reliable data comes from a survey the National Association of Homebuilders, conducted back in 2007. It found that the average major appliance lasts fewer than 15 years. Dishwashers last about nine years, washers and dryers about 10, and refrigerators about 13.

In addition to broad economic factors that affect all durable goods, appliance lifespans are shorter for a few specific reasons. The first is that production of individual components is frequently outsourced to the least-expensive third-party manufacturers. Additionally, both finished products and their components are designed to weigh less, so that they’re less expensive for manufacturers to ship. Finally, tolerances are tighter, fits are closer, and electronic controls have taken the place of mechanical ones—in other words, more plastic and less metal.

In fact, appliance lifespans have gradually decreased over the years. Since most consumers don’t buy appliances very often, however, the effect seems more dramatic when a dishwasher breaks down after just 10 years even though it replaced a model that lasted 30.

It’s extremely difficult to estimate the reliability of an individual model. Brands use multiple factories and suppliers for single product lines, so a Kenmore oven from 2008 may have been built in a totally different factory—and, potentially, a totally different country—than one produced in 2015. Individual product components are sourced from multiple suppliers over time, so a dishwasher built in 2009 may have a different pump than the same model built in 2013.

With that said, user reviews for a particular product—or one similar to it—can be a helpful tool to determine if you’re at risk of getting a lemon. For instance, it would be smart to avoid a product with 50 or more negative reviews that all mention the same flaw.

There’s a silver lining, too: Today’s appliances are far more affordable than ever before. The American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, published a study showing the average home appliance is three times more affordable than it was in 1981.

Put another way, if it cost you a full paycheck to buy a new appliance in 1981, an equivalent model would only cost a third of your paycheck today. That’s not even accounting for the significant energy savings a modern appliance offers over its predecessor—as much as $700 over the lifetime of a modern fridge compared to a refrigerator from 1981.

Speed Queen makes commercial laundry equipment designed for heavy use. The company uses the same components in its consumer machines, which makes it popular with customers looking for a heavy-duty washer and dryer.

And while today’s mass-market appliances aren’t as durable as their predecessors, that doesn’t mean you can’t shop like it’s 1965. Just as it’s possible to recapture the glamor of traveling in the golden age of aviation by paying for a first class ticket, you can buy a modern appliance with good, old-fashioned build quality.

Companies like Miele, Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Speed Queen build heavy-duty products that are designed to last longer than what you can buy at a big box store. The trade-off is that their appliances tend to cost significantly more than the competition.

Fine-tune a few key practices for longer lasting sheets.

When you invest in a new set of sheets or towels, it’s normal to wonder how long they’ll stay in their best condition. After all, you purchase these items to use them regularly, and there are few household items that go through as many wash cycles as bedding, bath and tabletop fabrics, whether that’s pillowcases, washcloths or table linens.

If you fine-tune a few key regular practices, though, you will ensure their lifespan for years to come. Some brands make this easier — Linger Home’s linens, towels and more are made from high-quality and sustainably-sourced materials like French flax linen, organic cotton, and USA-grown Supima cotton, which can put you ahead of the starting line when it comes to care. (Bonus: Their products are also Oeko-Tex certified, which means they’ve been tested ensure there isn’t an unsafe level of chemicals present.)

By following guidelines that our Good Housekeeping experts rely on, you’ll guarantee your textiles stick around in tip-top shape, making day-to-day routines just a little bit softer.

In the Bedroom

Bedsheets and Pillowcases

Typical lifespan: two to three years
How to help them last longer: Having the most welcoming sheets possible is key for both evening wind down time and a good night’s sleep.

“From a construction standpoint, think about replacing your sheets if they start to look thin,” says Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textile Director. Sheets tear over time, especially with the friction of tossing and turning. She also notes that torn hems and discoloration are clear signs that new sheets should be on your horizon. “If they start to feel scratchy, it might be time to replace them.”

Having two (or, ideally, three) different sets to cycle through will also help extend the life of your sheets, along with washing them once a week. “Some people don’t change their sheets for a long time and that’s really not good,” says Carolyn Forte, Cleaning Lab Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She points out that pillowcases are particularly prone to makeup stains and sweat. “Sheets and pillowcases hold on to all of those skin cells, so washing them every one to two weeks is important.”

Comforters and Duvets

Typical lifespan: 5 to 15 years

How to help them last longer: Both comforters and duvets can have a lengthy lifespan if you rotate them out in the summer months for a lighter blanket or quilt, but their longevity also depends on the type of filling material used.

Down alternative duvet inserts are less expensive and great for people with allergies to down or feathers, but they need to be replaced once they begin to lose their shape. Goose down tends to hold onto its fluffy construction well, but is generally warmer than down alternative, making a summertime bedding swap pretty much a given. With both types, look for a duvet insert that uses a “baffle box” construction.

“Baffle box construction is where there are individual pieces of fabric within the boxes of the duvet so that it prevents the fill from shifting around,” says Sachs. “Otherwise, the filling can clump up easily.”

Preventing clumping is also critical when washing and drying duvets and comforters. “Make sure you use a large capacity washing machine and the “bedding” cycle, if your machine has one, because if [the duvet] is crammed in, there’s going to be friction, which means there’s going to be abrasion,” Forte notes. And when it comes to drying these snuggly staples, it’s important to fluff them up as thoroughly as possible—particularly those of the down variety. “You want to make sure your down is as dry and as fluffy as possible because it’s going to insulate you better,” she says.

Duvet and pillow protectors can also help lengthen the life of your bedding by adding an extra line of defense between the plush inner-material and the outside elements.

In the Kitchen

Dish Towels

Typical lifespan: one year
How to help them last longer: “Dish towels aren’t going to be the same type of construction as bath towels,” says Sachs. “They’re a little bit less absorbent.” And while this means they’ll dry faster than bath towels, the downside is that they should be swapped out more frequently.

Forte recommends keeping one dish towel specifically for drying dishes, and another that’s only for drying your hands, rotating the hand towel as frequently as a hand towel in the bathroom. Dish cloths, on the other hand—which come into contact with food particles when they scrub dirty dishes—should be washed as often as possible to prevent odor penetration (ideally everyday or every other day).

In the Bathroom

Bath Towels and Hand Towels

Typical lifespan: two to four years
How to help them last longer: Loose fibers, fraying around the towel’s edges and loss of absorbency are all signs that it’s time to swap your towels out for a new set.

“Most bath towels have cotton loops that make them really full and absorbent,” says Sachs. “If the loops start to come undone so that you see stringy pieces of the towel, or the hems around it are unraveling, those are signs of wear.”

And while towels are extremely adept at drying off human bodies, they’re not so quick to dry on their own. If left in a pile on the floor or not hung-up to air out after a shower or bath, they stand the chance of developing mold, mildew and other bacteria that contributes to a shorter towel lifespan, and some musty odors. Forte recommends using a towel bar for hanging used towels instead of a hook (it helps them to air out quicker), and emphasizes that the faster you can get a towel up and drying, the fresher it’ll stay.

Cucumber is a popular vegetable that is widely available in the supermarkets. Cucumbers are great in salads and sandwiches. Most adults either like cucumbers or are simply indifferent to them. Very few people dislike cucumbers – unlike, let’s say, broccoli 🙂 Cucumbers are crispy, mild-tasting, nutritious and don’t need to be cooked – what a great vegetable!

One problem with cucumbers, however, that they don’t usually last long once you bring them home. Have you ever had cucumbers spoil after just a few days? It will not happen to you ever again if you follow my strategy for properly storing cucumbers to keep them fresh longer. So, how should you store cucumbers?

First of all, never store cucumbers on the counter. It’s the tomatoes that are stored on the counter, NOT the cucumbers. If you store the cucumbers on the counter, they will get soft and yucky in 2 days! Cucumbers must be stored in the refrigerator.

If you put the cucumbers in the refrigerator, that will extend their life by a few days as opposed to storing them on the counter. However, they still won’t stay fresh for more than 5 days unless you use the secret I’ll describe below.

What are the common ways people store cucumbers in the refrigerator? One way is in the plastic bag. Unfortunately, in about 3 days the cucumbers will start getting slimy in that bag – yuck! Another way is without a bag. Well, the cucumbers in the refrigerator without a bag will start getting wrinkly and soft, and their taste and texture deteriorates.

So finally, what is my secret for keeping cucumbers fresh longer? Here it is: wrap each cucumber individually in a paper towel, then put all cucumbers wrapped in paper towels inside the plastic bag. Put the plastic bag with the cucumbers in a refrigerator. That’s it! It works like magic – the cucumbers will stay perfectly fresh for the whole week!

Here are the pictures how to prepare cucumbers for storage so they stay fresh:

Put cucumber in the center of a paper towel:

Wrap cucumber in a paper towel:

Put wrapped cucumbers inside a vegetable plastic bag:

Now don’t forget to put the bag with wrapped cucumbers in the refrigerator. You are set! Enjoy your fresh cucumbers!

For a delicious way to eat cucumbers, check out my easy recipe how to make cucumber lemon salad – it’s so yummy and refreshing, you will love it!