Home appliances are essential to everyday life and for the amount of use they receive; problems are bound to occur. But not all problems necessarily need to be solved by an appliance repair technician. Many problems that occur with these appliances are relatively easy fixes and can save you the hassle of calling a repairman and will save you money. Plus, there is nothing like the satisfaction of fixing a problem all by yourself without the help of experts. Below are a couple basic problems that occur with home appliances and how they can be fixed.

Refrigerator/Freezer Not Sealing

Your refrigerator is probably the most important appliance in your home. When there is a problem with it, it needs to be taken care of immediately. One common problem with your refrigerator could be an improper seal and it leaks cold air. The first thing to check is to see if there are too many items on the refrigerator. Too many items will push the door open and not allow for a complete seal. The second item to check is the rubber seal that goes along the outside of the refrigerator. Overtime the gaskets will collect dirt and grime and will not make a proper seal with the frame of the fridge. Grab a wet towel, add soap, and wash down the gasket on both the door and frame of the fridge. If this isn't the issue, check whether the gasket is firmly attached to the fridge. Sometimes it can get detached and the fix is as easy as reattaching it for a proper seal. If it looks like the seal is damaged in anyway, then a new seal would need to be ordered using your exact make and model to ensure you ordered the correct one. Another issue could be the fridge is leaning a bit from an uneven floor. In this case, the seal will not properly align and thus leak air. Grab a level and check whether the fridge is leaning or not, if so, then use the legs on the bottom of the refrigerator to turn the knobs until it is levelled out. If this still doesn't fix the problem, then it could be a problem with the actual door of the fridge and the only fix would be to replace to door. You will need to evaluate whether ordering a new door or simply buying an entirely new refrigerator is financially right for you.

Stinky Washing Machine

Washing machines are meant to clean and have your clothes smelling great after a cycle. So, after you run a load and notice your clothes have a nasty, musky smell, you could have some residue or mildew within the appliance. This typically happens when a load of clothes is left in there too long after the cycle finishes, or if the door is left closed before the insides of the washing machine dries out. This is a simple of a fix as there can be. Just mix a cup of vinegar with a cup of baking soda and run an empty cycle on hot water. This should break up the nasty residue within the machine and have your clothes smelling fresh on future loads. To prevent this problem in the future, remember to leave your washing machine door open after every use to let it dry out. If the problem persists, it could be overfilling the washing machine. With so many clothes, the appliance is not able to effectively clean every item and your clothes will not smell as if they have been cleaned. Therefore, on your next wash, try having a smaller load of clothes and see if they come out smelling fresh.

If these tips don't work to solve your problem, then it may be time to give your local appliance repair company a call.