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5 On Your Side
Keep vents, hoses in good shape for efficient safe laundry loads
Prevent clogs and fires by keeping your washer and dryer maintained.
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Prevent clogs and fires by keeping your washer and dryer maintained.
ARTISTS ON THE VOICE AT >>> MANY OF YOU HAVE CAUGHT UP ON HOME PROJECTS DURING THE PANDEMIC, YET THERE IS A FEW IMPORTANT ONES YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE CONSIDERED. 5 ON YOUR SIDE, MONICA, EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: LANDSCAPING REDUCE, PAINTING, ORGANIZING, THOSE ARE TYPICALLY AT THE TOP OF THE HOME PROJECT LIST, RIGHT? BUT THERE ARE SOME TO KNOCK OUT YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT AT A MINIMUM, THEY COULD SAVE YOU HEADACHES, BUT IN SOME CASES, THEY IMPACT YOUR FAMILY SAFETY. START IN YOUR LAUNDRY ROOM, THE WASHER AND DRYER WORKHORSES NEED ATTENTION TO KEEP FROM CAUSING YOU A FLOOD OR WORSE, FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, DRYERS SPARK NEARLY 17,000 FIRES EACH YEAR. SO AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, VACUUM AND CLEAN OUT THE AIR DUCT, AND PORT, IN THE BACK OF THE DRYER. >> CLEANING THE LINK OUT OF YOUR DRYER CAN HELP THE APPLIANCE ONE -- RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY, INCLUDING THE DUCTWORK IN PARTICULAR CAN HELP PREVENT A DRYER FIRE. >>> NEXT, CHECK THE WATER HOSES ON THE BACK OF YOUR WASHER. YOU DON'T WANT A LEAK. THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED EVERY FIVE YEARS. IF THEY LOOK BRITTLE, SWAP THEM OUT WITH A BRAIDED STAINLESS STEEL VERSION, LIKE THIS. >>> ONTO DOORS, CHECK FOR LOOSE HINGES AND TIGHTEN SCREWS, IF THEY JUST SPIN, TRY THIS CONTRACTOR KIT AFTER REMOVING THE SCREW, COAT 2 TO 3 TOOTHPICKS WITH WOOD GLUE AND PUSH THEM INTO THE SCREW HOLE, BREAK OFF THE ENDS THAT STICK OUT. ONCE IT DRIES, TIGHTEN YOUR SCREW. IN YOUR BATHROOM, UNCLOG YOUR SHOWERHEAD BY SOAKING IT IN DISTILLED VINEGAR, FOR AN HOUR. FOR GRIMY GROUT AND CAULK, TRY A BLEACH PEN. >> IT MAY BE TIME TO RE-CAULK OR EVEN REGROUT BETWEEN THE TILES. CAULKING IS AN EASY JOB YOU CAN DO YOURSELF IN AN HOUR OR TWO. REGARDING BETWEEN TILES IS USUALLY A TOUGH JOB THAT IS LEFT THE PROS. >>> IF YOU HAVE IT IN YOU, TACKLE YOUR WINDOWS, BUT LISTEN TO THIS, YOU SHOULD CLEAN WINDOWS ON A CLOUDY DAY, BECAUSE THE SUN CAN CAUSE STREAKS. A CONSUMER REPORT SAYS SO COULD THESE POPULAR AMMONIA CLEANERS THAT WE ALL USE. I GUESS I WILL NEED TO CLEAN THESE AGAIN, THE RIGHT WAY. MONICA, WRAL NEWS, 5 ON YOUR