Monthly Maintenance Checklists to extend the life of your appliances
- Hannah Barthels
- Dec 9, 2025
- 3 min read
Most appliance problems don’t happen overnight. They build slowly: a little lint here, a dusty coil there, a rubber gasket that’s never been wiped clean. The good news? A simple 5-minute once-a-month routine can prevent the kind of breakdowns that lead to expensive repairs or early replacement.
Here’s a quick checklist for your kitchen and laundry appliances. Complete these monthly, and your appliances will thank you with fewer issues, cleaner performance, and longer life.
Monthly maintenance for your oven and range
Wipe spills before they bake on. Even if you don’t do a deep clean, run a quick wipe of the inside and stovetop. Spills that accumulate can trap heat unevenly and stress components.
Check burner function
Gas ranges: Look for even blue flames. Yellow/orange flames can signal debris in the burner ports.
Electric ranges: Make sure the element heats evenly (no cold spots).
Inspect the door gasket. A worn or crusted-over gasket lets heat escape, making the oven work harder and cook unevenly. Wipe it clean with warm, soapy water.
Vacuum under/behind when possible. Dust and crumbs build up around vents and motor areas. A quick vacuum improves airflow and reduces risk of overheating.
Avoid using the self-clean cycle unless absolutely necessary. It puts massive heat stress on components. StrongHammer’s rule of thumb: clean manually more often; self-clean less often.
Monthly maintenance for your refrigerator
Check door seals. Close a dollar bill in the door and try to pull it out. If it slides out easily, your seal might be loose or dirty. Wipe seals with warm soapy water.
Clear the inside air vents. Don’t let food items block airflow. Poor circulation makes the fridge work overtime.
Toss expired items. Less clutter means better airflow and less workload on the cooling system.
Wipe shelves and drawers. A tidy fridge runs more efficiently and avoids odors.
Clean the coils (every 1–2 months if you have pets; quarterly otherwise). Use a brush or vacuum attachment on:
The black coils on the back of older fridges
The grill at the bottom of newer fridges
Dirty coils = higher energy bills and shorter fridge lifespan.
Monthly maintenance for your washing machine
Wipe the door gasket and drum. Especially front-loaders. Moisture + detergent buildup = mold and smells. A quick wipe prevents it.
Run a hot cleaning cycle. Most washers have a “clean washer” cycle. If not, run EMPTY on hot with a washing machine cleaner tablet.
Check the detergent drawer. Residue builds fast. Pop it out and rinse it.
Inspect hoses for bulges or cracks. This is a big one. Washer hoses are one of the most common sources of major leaks. If yours are rubber and old, consider switching to stainless braided hoses.
Keep the door open after each use. Not monthly — always.
Monthly maintenance for your dryer
Clean the lint screen. Monthly, scrub it with warm soapy water to remove fabric softener film (it causes airflow restriction). Dry fully before reinserting.
Check the vent connection. Make sure the vent hose isn’t crushed or kinked behind the dryer. Kinks = restricted airflow = overheating.
Inspect the outside vent flap. It should open freely when the dryer’s running and close fully when not. A stuck flap is a major lint-fire risk.
Vacuum around and under the dryer. Lint will sneak everywhere. Removing it prevents burnout and fire hazards.
Smell test. If clothes smell burnt:
You may have lint buildup inside the dryer
Or fumes may be getting pulled in from painting/staining work in the home.
A Little Maintenance Goes a Long Way
Most appliance breakdowns don’t come from neglect. They come from small things that go unnoticed for too long. A few minutes per month can extend the life of every major appliance in your home and help avoid surprise repairs.
If you spot something that doesn’t look or sound quite right, StrongHammer can take a look and help you get ahead of the problem.