Here are important reminders about kitchen appliance care to keep you and your family safe :
Range/stove/oven
Range/oven
- An anti-tip, mounting device should be installed to secure the range/oven to the floor so that if pressure is applied to the door, there's no chance of tipping.
- Keep a fire extinguisher stored in an easily-accessible location.
- Never use spray oven cleaner in ovens having a self-cleaning feature.
- For important air circulation, regularly look into the vent hood's filters and fan blades and blower to ensure proper operation.
- Periodically check the oven door, paying close focus on the way it closes. The gasket (door seal) should be free of tears. If the door doesn't close or seal properly, excessive heat close to the front panel controls can cause unit damage or burns when touched.
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Microwave oven
- Broken internal components ought to be repaired only by a technician, because of risk of electrocution. However, external components like broken latches and handles might be easy, inexpensive DIY part replacement jobs.
- Heating liquid inside a microwave oven is not advised because of risk of burning when touched. It's easier to heat water on a stove-top kettle.
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Garbage disposal
- Never place hands close to the garbage disposal (a.k.a. disposer). Before trying to clear a disposal jam, unplug or disconnect the disposal in the circuit breaker. With care, use a broom handle or similar tool to pay off jams. It's best to avoid jams entirely by loading food slowly and carefully into the disposal. Do not load fibrous food like celery and corn husks in it.
- Replace a torn or worn rubber splash guard located in the mouth of the disposal. Damaged splash guards can allow food particles to be catapulted from a running unit. Some splash protection is removable and easy to replace. Others are more permanently affixed and wish more work for replacement.
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