This article was written by a guest blogger.
I recently bought a house from a nice man who, just after the settlement meeting concluded, confessed that the 15-year-old front-loading clothes washer in place under my kitchen counter didn’t work. He wanted to replace it for me, but the model had been discontinued, and he couldn’t find a new washer that would fit in the space. He kept coming by to drop off spec sheets for new machines that were close in size, but all were too tall and would require major surgery to install. I surfed Craigslist for a washer that would fit and—miracle of miracles—I found a listing for the exact make and model I needed, never used and still in the box.
The former owner of my house and I conjectured over the possibility of divine intervention. Why else would someone keep such a new machine in storage for so long? Did the Craigslist seller win the machine on a game show, then find they had no use for it? Or buy it for a home renovation project that never came to fruition? I suppose that there are lots of possible scenarios that could’ve led to my lucky find, just as there are plenty of good reasons not to dispose of something valuable just because you can’t use it at the moment.
The real question is: How do you prepare and store machines like my vintage washer to keep them in shape for when you—or someone like me—can use them? The answer: It depends on what type of home appliance it is.
Depending on what you’re planning to store, it’s important to follow the right steps so that your household appliances not only work when you take them out of storage, but that nothing will happen to them while they sit idle.
Most major household appliances are pretty sturdy and stand up well if they’re stored in a clean, dry place with a temperature range above freezing up to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This is to say that if you’re storing machines in a location prone to extreme winter or summer weather, they’ll be better off in a climate-controlled space. Whether you opt for an ideal self storage facility or not, keep the following in mind when packing up and storing appliances for extended periods.
My Craigslist washer arrived in great shape after untold years in storage. The hoses and small parts were all included, wrapped in the manufacturer’s packaging, so I was able to install the machine in a matter of minutes. Then, I started it up for a test run. Everything seemed in working order until we got to the spin cycle, when my kitchen started shaking like the walls of Jericho. Before anything came tumbling down, I turned off the machine and searched frantically for the installation instructions, which, in my haste, I’d discarded with the packing materials.
Right there at the top, it said: “REMOVE THE PACKING BOLTS THAT IMMOBILIZE THE DRUM TO PROTECT IT FROM DAMAGE DURING TRANSPORT BEFORE OPERATING THE MACHINE.” So I did, and I’m relieved to tell you that the machine wasn’t damaged in spite of my habit of only reading instructions as a last resort.
I’d hoped I could use this someday to infuse my how-to writing with my extensive personal experience—so here it is. When you pack up major appliances for long-term storage, be sure to include the owner’s manual.
Michael Chotiner is an expert in home improvement who writes about DIY and appliances for The Home Depot. With a background as a cabinetmaker and general contractor, he has done many kitchen renovations that included appliances, such as refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers. The Home Depot’s appliances, including the complete selection of dishwashers, can be found on the The Home Depot.
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