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Home Upgrades that Add Value

When thinking of doing some updates to your home, you want them to be inexpensive in cost but boost the total value of the house. Whether you are updating the house to sell or just to give your lived-in home a new look, it’s always best to think about what will give you the most bang for your buck. Here are a few of the best home upgrades that add value:

Create Open Space

In the housing market right now, many buyers want a wide open floor plan. People are into big open spaces. At the cost of a few hundred dollars, you can knock out that wall between the kitchen and your dining room and make it into one big open space. When doing this kind of update, make sure that the wall is non-structural. You can look throughout your home and see where an open space can be created to increase the sense of flow. By doing this, you will generate a response from buyers who have the option to be particular about the floor plan of the house.

If taking out an entire wall is not an option, you can always add a kitchen island. This adds storage space to a kitchen as well as some extra counter space. It may even be a good idea to make it a moveable island, so that the next homeowners can place it and use it as they see fit.

Landscaping

If a house has overgrown shrubs and trees, it creates a problem when it comes to selling (and might annoy the neighbors). If buyers cannot see the house, they will not want to buy it. Just a small investment of $400 to $500 dollars in landscaping can bring you a return of up to 4 times that price when selling.

Just pruning existing trees and shrubs and adding some simple landscaping around your trees and porch can make a home look brand new. This is a seemingly small cost when you look at what you can get in return.

Let In Natural Light

Another great home upgrade that adds value is lighting. This can be anything from a dimmer switch to a sun tube. Dimmer switches allow you to create a mood, while sun tubes filter in some natural light without the eyesore of a huge sky light.

Sun tubes are a popular and less expensive way that homeowners are getting more natural light into their homes. The fixture uses a reflective material to funnel in natural light from a globe-shaped hole cut into the rooftop. This tube is then brought down through the ceiling fixture and into a room. It looks like a light fixture, but is actually just natural light, becoming both appealing in look and type of light while also cutting down energy costs.

Another way to upgrade your light is to use high wattage bulbs in the light fixtures. These high wattage fixtures make small spaces feel larger, and soft lighting brings warmth to empty spaces. You can also consider installing lights that use motion detectors to turn themselves on when someone enters a room.

Keep Up With Home Maintenance

It’s important to think about basic upkeep before you consider doing the big upgrades to kitchens or bathrooms. For instance, fix that leaking pipe, make sure the attic is insulated, or install some storm doors.

Fixing these types of things may seem trivial as you upgrade to sell your home, but keeping the whole house current and working well can go very far toward the overall value of your home. For a couple hundred dollars, you can increase the value of your home by a few thousand.

Investing in simple home maintenance is not only smart, it is also sometimes crucial to the sale of your home. Homes that get the most attention from buyers are the homes that are in tip top shape. With so many homes on the market these days, the houses that sell are in pristine shape and ready to move into.

Go Green

Energy efficient home upgrades may seem expensive, but if all other home repairs are good and maintenance is up to date, you should think about installing a new heating and cooling system. Having a solar powered water heater can save you up to 80% in water heating costs over time, and you may be entitled to tax credits when you install one. This is a smart investment whether you are staying in the house long-term or selling. These days, buyers are more aware than ever of utility costs and helping the environment.

The Front Door

A very inexpensive upgrade is simply making sure that your doorway is in top shape. A working doorbell is important, and adding a simple awning over your front porch looks great and keeps the heat off of the area. This also allows you to be out of the rain as you unlock your door, and your guests will not have to wait out in the weather as you answer it.

Do not rule out simply adding a fun pop of color to your home by painting the front door. Adding this bright welcome to the front of the home makes it more inviting and cheerful.

The Floors

Based on other home upgrades you plan to do, a new floor may be in order. Look at each room and see where you may need it the most. Floor upgrades can be as simply as fixing a few squeaky boards by placing a few nails in the right places or inexpensively replacing your kitchen floor with tile. This is an investment of $66 to $900 that can give you a return of up to $2000.

Fixtures

Everything from faucets to light fixtures are great, simple home upgrades that add value. Changing out the faucet in your bathroom can update that room in an instant, while changing out the light fixtures in the hallway can bring your older home into the 21st century. At the cost of a few hundred dollars, updating these small fixtures can add another few thousand in return for you when you sell. As mentioned before, proper lighting is crucial for making your home feel welcoming and cozy.

Whether you plan to sell or just want an update to the house you plan to live in for years to come, these are some home upgrades that add value and life to your home. Roll up your sleeves and jump into those repairs. You will be amazed at what you see when they are all complete!

If you want more home maintenance tips from Complete Protection, check out this blog!

How to get Your Pool Ready for Summer

It’s getting hot outside, and that pool is looking more and more inviting. Is your pool ready for you to jump into this summer? There are a few things you can do to get it ready to enjoy on those long hot summer days. Lets go over those steps now, so you and your family can get out there and enjoy it.

First, we’ll briefly discuss the preparations that should have been completed at the end of the previous pool season (and should be done this fall) to make sure that it stays in good shape over the winter:

Do Not Empty the Pool Completely

As you close your pool down for the cooler months, you need to drain the water out. However, you do not want to drain it completely unless you need some structural work done to it. Leaving a few inches of water at the bottom, even in cooler regions of the United States, is good. First, if you completely empty it, all that water could drain under the pool and make it bubble up. By leaving a couple inches of water in there, you are weighing down the pool, and it is less likely to raise up off the ground or get air pockets from any water underneath it.

Winterize

After you have drained the pool to just a couple inches of water, now is the time to clean the walls of the pool and get it ready to cover. Once you have cleaned it, make sure that your pool cover is free of holes and dirt before you place it over the pool. After you cover it up, your pool is ready to wait until the next swimming season.

Getting the Pool Ready for Summer

Now let’s look at how you should prepare your pool to open for the summer. There are a few steps to make sure that your pool will run smoothly and will perform the best over the next several months. It is important to do each of these steps, as they all play an important roll in your pools performance:

Clean It Up: Leave the pool covered and do a chemical open first. Put the filtration system together and clean out all the baskets. Also make sure any plugs you placed in the pool when you closed it last year are removed.

Top It Off: After you clean the pool, it’s time to fill it up with water and top it off. This is also when you should clean all your filters and make sure they are all working properly and do not need to be replaced.

Test Your Water: You can test the water yourself with a water testing kit, or you can take a sample of your pool water to a specialty pool store, where they will usually test it for free. This is recommended, as the professionals can fully test the water and make sure all your mineral levels and pH levels are safe and correct.

Balance the Chemicals: Next you need to do some chemistry! Based on the water tests you had done, you will need to add certain chemicals to your pool to make sure it is safe for swimming. This usually includes adding chlorine or calcium, depending on the balance. Here is a list of what the levels of each chemical should be in your pool:

PH Levels between 7.2 to 7.4
Alkalinity from 80 to 120
Calcium hardness from 150 ppm to 250 ppm (parts per million)
Chlorine from 1 ppm to 3 ppm

You can put chemical tablets in your skimmer baskets, but you should also make sure to have a plastic chlorinator basket that attaches to the filter system. Make sure it is plastic, because the chemical tablets have a low acid content that can eat through metal.

Wait for the Water to Clear: Now that you have shocked and chemically cleaned your pool, the water will look a little cloudy. It is important to wait for the water to turn clear before you jump in and enjoy it. This time lets the chemicals do their job of balancing and disinfecting and makes your pool is safe for swimmers.

Clean Debris: Once the water has cleared, now it is time to vacuum or scoop out any leaves or other large debris that may be floating around in the pool. You can also use your skimmer basket to clean off the surface. It is a good idea to do this maintenance on the pool at least once a month after you open it.

Maintenance: As mentioned above, now that your pool is ready for use, it’s a good idea to keep up good maintenance on the pool throughout the summer season. Vacuum and skim clean the pool monthly or even weekly. Do a chemical balance check once a month as well. Keeping up a good maintenance schedule for your pool will ensure it lasts longer and has the best performance. If you want more detailed information on pool maintenance, check out Complete Protection’s blog here.

Now that you have completed these steps, it’s time to dust off those lounge chairs, blow up those floaties, and get out there and enjoy your pool time. Be sure and grab that big glass of lemonade before you head out into the sun!

Rent or Buy a Home: The Pros and Cons

To Rent or To Buy? That is the question.

When you start out and live on your own for the first time, it seems easiest to rent a place, whether it’s a house or apartment. Here we will go over both options to see whether it’s better to rent or buy your home depending on your situation.

Questions to Ask Yourself

The first question you need to ask yourself as you set out on your own is simple. How long do you plan to stay in this location? Is it temporary while you are in school, interning at a job, or just seeing if you like the area? Do you know that you will stay in the area for many years?

The next question is how much money are you looking to put into the move? Initial costs can be steep no matter which way you go, but buying a home has a much pricier up-front cost. Often where you move to depends on how much you can afford at that time.

Renting – The Pros

Ease of Relocation

If you plan to stay in an area temporarily, renting is your best option. Most leases are for a year, and some even let you go month to month. This is great if you are new to the area and want to determine if it’s a good location for you. If you are a college student and just staying for school, or if you have a temporary job in the area, renting is your best bet.

Repairs and Maintenance

One major benefit of renting is fewer out-of-pocket expenses as things go wrong. The homeowner or property manager is the one responsible for most repairs. Air conditioner not working? Dishwasher broken? These are things that the property owner should take care of for you.

Credit Requirement

Most landlords know that many people who are renting are just getting out on their own, building their life, or even downsizing in retirement. This can make them more relaxed on what they think is a good credit score. This could be to your benefit as renting and staying in good standing will help you build that credit as you build your future. Typically, as long as you don’t have a credit report filled with outstanding balances or bankruptcies, you should be able to find a landlord willing to rent to you.

Some Utilities Included

In some cases (especially with apartments), some utility costs are included in your rent. This could include trash services, water, lawn care, or more. Having these utilities included in your monthly rent will reduce your outgoing expenses.

No Exposure to Real Estate Market

When you are just renting, it is not your concern if the market value of the home you live in fluctuates. Leave those concerns for your landlord!

Renting – The Cons

No Equity Building

When renting, you have no equity gain from the money you are paying each month. Unless you are in a rent-to-own agreement, each dollar you give to a landlord for rent is now gone. If you plan on staying in this location for a long period of time, then buying a home may be a better option for you.

Less Housing Security

Most states have laws in place that do not allow for a landlord to evict tenants without substantial notice, but there is still uncertainty. Even though the landlord may need to give up to 60 days notice, there is still a chance that the landlord could sell the property you are living in or need it for something else. If you own your home, there is no uncertainty that you will be without a house as long as you pay your mortgage.

No Federal Tax Benefits

By just renting your home, you are losing out on the tax benefits that come with home ownership. As a homeowner, you can deduct property tax and mortgage interest rates on federal taxes. When renting, you are unable to do this, and it could raise your federal tax liability by several thousand dollars.

Limited Control over Ongoing Costs

Renting your home leaves you open for the landlord to raise your rent once the lease is up due to housing market fluctuations. Unless you live in an area that has rent control laws, the landlord is allowed to do this. Hopefully you develop a good enough relationship with your landlord that this may not be a problem, but if the housing market takes a nice tumble, you could be facing pricey rent increases.

Buying – The Pros

Building Equity Over Time

With most mortgages, a portion of your payment goes to the principal balance of your loan. Once a loan reaches a certain percentage of principal paid, you are able to take out a home equity loan to make updates to the home or possibly refinance the loan to a lower interest rate. Making updates to the home can boost the resale value if you decide to sell later on, and it will boost the equity you put into the home.

Tax Benefits

There are several tax benefits that are great for homeowners, though not all situations will qualify. You can get deductions on the property tax you pay as well as the interest you pay on your mortgage. Some states offer a homestead advantage credit base on the property tax assessment. There are also some credits that you can get for making your home more efficient with new appliances.

More Creative Freedom

What if you want to update those cabinets or paint that bedroom? If you are just renting, most landlords want you to leave the property as is or get permission for changes. If you buy the home, you have the freedom to do almost anything you want. By updating and improving your home for your own enjoyment, you are also updating the appeal of the home if you do decide to sell later. You can DIY to your heart’s content when you own the home you live in.

Sense of Community

This is a neighborhood where you know you will stay. If you are buying your home, your neighbors can become your friends. The school where your child attends will have families in the area. You will get to know the area, maybe even set up block parties or join the neighborhood homes association. You could volunteer at the local community center. If you are renting, you might feel less inclined to do these things, especially if you will only be there for a short while.

Possibility of Rental Income

Does your home have a finished basement or an extra bedroom going unused? There lies the possibility that you could rent these areas out to a single person or student to get an extra income from your home. You could also use a company like Airbnb if you are interested in subletting your space while you are away or needing some extra money. This is not appealing to everyone, but it is an option you have when you own your home.

Buying – The Cons

Long-Term Commitment

Homeownership is a long-term financial commitment. You are stuck in one area until you decide to sell, and selling a home takes a lot of effort. You have to continue your mortgage payments until a sale goes through, which can take months.

Responsibility for Maintenance

Once you buy a home, you will quickly long for the days when your landlord fixed all of the problems. From small maintenance tasks like yearly pest control and filter changes, to large problems like replacing a furnace or fixing a leaky roof, you are responsible for everything when you own the building.

Buying a House is Pricey

Mortgage payments are fixed over time and progressing you towards completion. However, they tend to be a bit pricier than rental payments per month. If you can’t get a mortgage rate within your budget, you might be forced to continue renting until your financial situation changes. Also keep in mind that there are fees associated with buying a house, including a down payment, closing costs, and real estate agent/inspection fees.

Overall Conclusion

What you decide to do is up to you, depending on your situation. Do you need a temporary place to stay while you study or do an internship? Do you want to make an investment over time? If you are just starting out on your own, then renting may be the best bet for you. If you are set in your career, ready to start a family, and prepared to settle in, then home ownership is most likely a better option. As you start to ask yourself these questions and look over the good and bad of each, the New York Times has a great mortgage calculator that can help you see what option is best for you.

Whether you decide to rent or buy your home, check out Complete Protection’s other guides for home maintenance to keep your house in top shape. This one gives you an overview of the essential tools you will need on-hand for basic home maintenance and repair.

Indiana Home Warranty

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Indiana Home Warranty. Does your monthly budget allow for expensive home repairs? If not, a home warranty plan is right for you. Perhaps you have an elderly parent on a fixed income, or are a landlord with a rental property? Our plans are a perfect solution when extra help is needed for home repairs. Whether you are a young family just starting out, or simply want to have peace of mind when it comes to your appliances, there is a CP™ home warranty plan right for all households.

A home warranty plan is a valuable tool for all homeowners. Having an extended warranty in place for your home appliances protects you and your family budget from expensive, unexpected repair costs. Our plans protect items such as your heating and cooling system, water heater, kitchen and laundry appliances, pool equipment, and much more.

For starters, none of our plans have a deductible or service call charge! We also offer diverse monthly and annual plans for home buyers as well as homeowners. CP™ protects every part inside the appliance, so you never have to wonder which parts will be covered. We encourage you to check out our unrivaled reputation through the BBB, where we have an A+ rating. When selecting your home warranty plan, choose a company you can trust to deliver what is promised! Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Indiana Home Warranty.

Before becoming a territory, varying cultures of indigenous peoples and historic Native Americans inhabited Indiana for thousands of years. Since its founding as a territory, settlement patterns in Indiana have reflected regional cultural segmentation present in the Eastern United States; the state’s northernmost tier was settled primarily by people from New England and New York, Central Indiana by migrants from the Mid-Atlantic states and from adjacent Ohio, and Southern Indiana by settlers from the Southern states, particularly Kentucky and Tennessee.

Complete Protection™ (CP™) is unlike any other home warranty on the market. In business since 1998, we have become the industry leader in Customer Service. Anytime you call, day or night, we will always have live staff answering the phone with no menus to navigate! Get the personal attention you deserve from your home warranty company.

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Indiana Home Warranty.

South Bend Home Warranty

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – South Bend Home Warranty. Does your monthly budget allow for expensive home repairs? If not, a home warranty plan is right for you. Perhaps you have an elderly parent on a fixed income, or are a landlord with a rental property? Our plans are a perfect solution when extra help is needed for home repairs. Whether you are a young family just starting out, or simply want to have peace of mind when it comes to your appliances, there is a CP™ home warranty plan right for all households.

South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. It lays on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents. It is the fourth-largest city in Indiana, serving as the economic and cultural hub of Northern Indiana. The highly ranked University of Notre Dame is located just to the north in unincorporated Notre Dame, Indiana and is an integral contributor to the region’s economy. The area was originally settled in the early 19th century by fur traders and was established as a city in 1865. The St. Joseph River shaped South Bend’s economy through the mid-20th century. River access assisted heavy industrial development such as that of the Studebaker Corporation, the Oliver Chilled Plow Company, and other large corporations.

Indiana is a U.S. state located in the midwestern and Great Lakes regions of North America. Indiana is the 38th largest by area and the 16th most populous of the 50 United States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th U.S. state on December 11, 1816. Since its founding as a territory, settlement patterns in Indiana have reflected regional cultural segmentation present in the Eastern United States; the state’s northernmost tier was settled primarily by people from New England and New York, Central Indiana by migrants from the Mid-Atlantic states and from adjacent Ohio, and Southern Indiana by settlers from the Southern states, particularly Kentucky and Tennessee.

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Lafayette Home Warranty

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Lafayette Home Warranty. Does your monthly budget allow for expensive home repairs? If not, a home warranty plan is right for you. Perhaps you have an elderly parent on a fixed income, or are a landlord with a rental property? Our plans are a perfect solution when extra help is needed for home repairs. Whether you are a young family just starting out, or simply want to have peace of mind when it comes to your appliances, there is a CP™ home warranty plan right for all households.

Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States and is located 63 miles northwest of Indianapolis and 105 miles southeast of Chicago. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which contributes significantly to both communities. According to the 2010 United States Census, the population of Lafayette was 67,140, roughly a 19% increase from 56,397 in 2000. In 1717, the French government established Fort Ouiatenon across the Wabash River and three miles south of present-day Lafayette. The fort became the center of trade for fur trappers, merchants, and Native Americans. An annual reenactment and festival known as Feast of the Hunters’ Moon takes place there each autumn. The town of Lafayette was platted in May 1825 by trader William Digby. It was designated as the county seat of the newly formed Tippecanoe County the following year.

Indiana is a U.S. state located in the midwestern and Great Lakes regions of North America. Indiana is the 38th largest by area and the 16th most populous of the 50 United States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th U.S. state on December 11, 1816. Since its founding as a territory, settlement patterns in Indiana have reflected regional cultural segmentation present in the Eastern United States; the state’s northernmost tier was settled primarily by people from New England and New York, Central Indiana by migrants from the Mid-Atlantic states and from adjacent Ohio, and Southern Indiana by settlers from the Southern states, particularly Kentucky and Tennessee.

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Gary Home Warranty

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Gary Home Warranty. Does your monthly budget allow for expensive home repairs? If not, a home warranty plan is right for you. Perhaps you have an elderly parent on a fixed income, or are a landlord with a rental property? Our plans are a perfect solution when extra help is needed for home repairs. Whether you are a young family just starting out, or simply want to have peace of mind when it comes to your appliances, there is a CP™ home warranty plan right for all households.

Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States, 25 miles from downtown Chicago, Illinois. The population of Gary was 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in the state of Indiana. Gary’s population has had drastic population loss, falling by 55 percent from its peak of 178,320 in 1960. Gary is adjacent to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and borders Lake Michigan. The city is known for its large steel mills and for being the birthplace of The Jackson 5 music group. Gary, Indiana, was founded in 1906 by the United States Steel Corporation as the home for its new plant, Gary Works. The city was named after lawyer Elbert Henry Gary, who was the founding chairman of the United States Steel Corporation.

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Fort Wayne Home Warranty

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Fort Wayne Home Warranty. Does your monthly budget allow for expensive home repairs? If not, a home warranty plan is right for you. Perhaps you have an elderly parent on a fixed income, or are a landlord with a rental property? Our plans are a perfect solution when extra help is needed for home repairs. Whether you are a young family just starting out, or simply want to have peace of mind when it comes to your appliances, there is a CP™ home warranty plan right for all households.

Fort Wayne is a city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Allen County. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is 18 miles west of the Ohio border and 50 miles south of the Michigan border. With an estimated population of 260,326 in 2015, Fort Wayne is the 77th most populous city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana, after Indianapolis. Under the direction of American Revolutionary War statesman Anthony Wayne, the United States Army built Fort Wayne last in a series of forts in 1794. Named in Wayne’s honor, the European-American settlement developed at the confluence of the St. Joseph, St. Marys, and Maumee rivers as a trading post for pioneers. The village was platted in 1823 and underwent tremendous growth after completion of the Wabash and Erie Canal and advent of the railroad. Once a booming manufacturing town located in what became known as the Rust Belt, Fort Wayne’s economy in the 21st century is based upon distribution, transportation and logistics, healthcare, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, financial services, and defense.

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Evansville Home Warranty

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Evansville Home Warranty. Does your monthly budget allow for expensive home repairs? If not, a home warranty plan is right for you. Perhaps you have an elderly parent on a fixed income, or are a landlord with a rental property? Our plans are a perfect solution when extra help is needed for home repairs. Whether you are a young family just starting out, or simply want to have peace of mind when it comes to your appliances, there is a CP™ home warranty plan right for all households.

Evansville is a city in and the county seat of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, United States. The population was 117,429 at the 2010 census. As the state’s third-largest city and the largest city in Southern Indiana, it is the commercial, medical, and cultural hub of Southwestern Indiana and the Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky tri-state area. Situated on an oxbow in the Ohio River, the city is often referred to as the “Crescent Valley” or “River City.” As testament to the Ohio’s grandeur, early French explorers named it La Belle Riviere, or “The Beautiful River.” The city was founded in 1812. A popular tourist destination for the region, Evansville is home to Tropicana Evansville, the state’s first casino, Mesker Park Zoo, and Botanic Garden, one of the oldest and largest zoos in the state, and a robust sports tourism industry.

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How to Maximize Dishwasher Efficiency and Cleaning Power

Starting a load of dishes super easy: pile in the dishes, add some soap, and turn it on. However, sometimes you might find yourself with dishes that still have grime on them after a wash cycle. Or maybe you just want to save money on water bills. Either way, here are some tips for how to maximize your dishwasher efficiency. How you load the machine, what kind of soap you use, which cleaning cycle you use, and other factors determine how clean your dishes end up at the end of a wash. They also determine how much water (and money) you end up using in the long run. Having to re-clean your dishes wastes you both time and water.

How to Load the Dishwasher

Many appliances in your home work best when you run them at full capacity, and the dishwasher is no different. Dishwashers are designed to run with a full load. You get the most energy and water efficiency out of your machine by only running it when you have enough dirty dishes. Although you need to make sure that you don’t run the dishwasher when it’s too empty, you also need to not over-fill it. If you cram too much into the space, the water won’t be able to flow between the dishes. Just make sure that there’s some room between each piece.

Fill from Bottom to Top

When filling your dishwasher, start with the bottom rack. Make sure that larger, taller items are placed to the sides and back of the machine. This makes sure that they don’t block the flow of water from reaching the middle dishes. The top rack of the dishwasher is made to fit glassware. You should always put mugs and glasses on the top rack, not the bottom. This keeps the breakables from being too close to the harshest streams of water.

Spacing and Placement

Don’t overfill any of the racks. Make sure that there is a bit of space between glasses. This both ensures that water reaches between them and also keeps them from rattling around and possibly breaking during a wash cycle.

If you want to put plastic containers in the dishwasher, first make sure that they are dishwasher safe. Then keep the plastic as far away from the heating element as possible. Place them on the top rack or to the sides of the bottom rack.

Optimal Layout

Before you start a load, take a glance at the placement of your dishes. On the bottom rack, dishwasher-safe pots and pans should line the outside layer along with baking sheets and other large dishes. Moving towards the center, fill in the rack with dinner plates and then smaller dishes, saucers, and bowls.

When placing cutlery, make sure to place each piece with the handle facing down. Be especially careful when handling knives and other sharp implements. If a utensil is so large that it blocks the flow of water or doesn’t allow you to push in the rack properly, lay it down on its side on the top rack instead.

Picking a Detergent

The best detergent to use depends on your particular dishwasher. The most important step is to read the instructions on both your machine and on the detergent. You want to be sure to use the right kind and amount of soap. Overfilling the soap receptacle will not make your dishes cleaner. Instead, you’ll probably end up with a layer of hard-to-remove soap scum on your dishes and on the walls of the dishwasher. Don’t assume that a full cap of detergent is the right amount. Oftentimes a half or quarter of a cap is sufficient.

If your machine requires high efficiency detergent, don’t use a regular kind. Most stores will carry high efficiency dishwasher detergent. They’re easy to spot by the “HE” symbol on the bottle.

Spots on Glassware

If you find yourself with water spots on your glassware, vinegar is your best bet. When running a load of dishes that is particularly full of glass, fill your rinse agent reservoir with pure white vinegar. You can also use commercial rinse agents, but most people will already have some vinegar handy. You don’t necessarily need to add vinegar to every load: just when you need your glassware to come out nice and shiny.

Choose the Correct Cycle

It’s important to learn about the different cycles available to you with your particular dishwashing machine so that you can choose the right one for every occasion. A lot of the settings will be pretty easy to figure out. If you’re doing a light load with dishes that aren’t very dirty, don’t use a “heavy wash” cycle. Only use a “pots and pans” setting if you are washing several pots and pans.

If you don’t need your dishes to be dry quickly, use an “air dry” setting. This works especially well if you start up a load of dishes to run overnight. Using this setting will save you from using (and paying for) a lot of energy.

By choosing the right setting for each load of dishes, you will save water and energy in the long run. You won’t save water by using a light setting for particularly dirty dishes, since you’ll probably end up having to re-wash them again later!

Clean the Dishwasher

It might seem that the inside of a dishwasher shouldn’t get dirty since it’s being used to clean all the time. However, the inside of the dishwasher will acquire a buildup of soap scum and grime over time. The machine isn’t made to keep itself perfectly clean. It’s just made to keep your dishes clean. Keep an eye on the walls, door, and seals. Give the machine a good scrub when a buildup develops.

You can make this job easier by doing a hot wash cycle while empty. Use a mild abrasive to break down the buildup. For example, you can sprinkle some baking soda around the inside of the machine before running the hot cycle. Adding some plain white vinegar to the rinse agent dispenser during this cycle will also help.

By keeping your dishwasher clean and properly placing the dishes, you’ll make sure that the water runs through the machine better and your dishes get cleaner. By choosing the right detergent and wash cycle, you’ll ensure that you don’t have to re-wash the dishes after you run the machine. Save yourself time and money by learning how to maximize your dishwasher efficiency. If you want more information about dishwasher preventative maintenance, check out Complete Protection’s blog here.