Guide · Home care
Appliance Care Basics
A friendly, practical guide to caring for the refrigerator, stove, oven, dishwasher, washer, dryer and microwave, and sharing problems early.
Where to start
- Smell gas?
Leave the home right away without switching anything on or off, and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. See if an appliance acts up.
- Just moved in?
Move in day is the perfect time to run the dishwasher and the washer, heat the oven and each burner, and check the fridge temperature.
- Want the everyday habits?
Tick through the appliance care checklist below. Your ticks stay on this device.
The short version
Most appliance breakdowns give a little warning first, and a few minutes of everyday care keeps appliances safe and working for years.
Keep the fridge at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F, clean the dryer lint filter every load, scrape dishes, and use the right detergent.
Never leave cooking unattended, never use the oven to heat the home, and keep metal out of the microwave.
If you smell gas, leave and call from outside. For smoke, sparks or leaks, turn the appliance off and share it right away, with the model number.
Appliance responsibilities vary by lease and by place, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at the rules where your home is. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.
Four simple rules
- 1Follow the manual
Each appliance is a little different. The manufacturer’s instructions are the best guide for use and cleaning.
- 2Clean as you go
Spills, crumbs, lint and filters are easiest to handle when they’re small. A few minutes now saves hours later.
- 3Safety comes first
Never leave cooking unattended, never use the oven to heat the home, and clean the dryer lint filter every load.
- 4Share it early
A strange noise, smell, leak or warm fridge is worth sharing right away, in writing.
Your appliance care checklist
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. These are examples; your home may need others.
All done. Your appliances are in good hands.
If an appliance acts up
- If you smell gas, leave the home right away without switching anything on or off, and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.
- For smoke, sparks or a burning smell, turn the appliance off, and unplug it if you can safely reach the plug.
- For a grease fire, slide a lid over the pan and turn off the heat. Never use water. If the fire grows, get out and call 911.
- For a leak, turn the appliance off, wipe up the water and put down towels or a pan to protect the floor.
- Then check the simple things: the plug, the breaker, the door latch, the filter and the settings.
- Take a photo or a short video, and note the brand and model number from the label inside the door or on the back.
- Share it right away, in writing, with what you noticed and when it started.
When the power goes out, keep the fridge and freezer doors closed. Generally, a closed fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours, and a full freezer for about 48.
Guides that go well with this one
How much do you remember?
4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.
Go deeper with a full year of checklists
The Perfect Seasonal Home Care Checklist Workbook from The Perfect Series turns season by season care into checklists you can work through all year.
Keep the full guide handy
The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.
Download the PDFTake it with you
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More guides
This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal or safety-code advice. Bunklow does not inspect properties.