7 Kitchen Appliance Myths You Must Know

For many of us, giving our dishes a quick rinse down before placing them in the dishwasher is second nature. Whether we think it helps the dishwasher clean the plates, or we’re worried about food particles clogging up the appliance, there are many reasons why this myth has developed. In fact, dishwasher detergents are actually designed to cling to food particles – rinsing them all off, therefore, can actually result in less clean dishes! All you need to do is scrape off any large lumps of leftover food, and pop it straight in the dishwasher, no rinsing needed.

It’s true that microwaves emit radiation. It’s not true, however, that it will harm either us or the food cooked within it. The radiation, or energy, that microwaves emit causes particles in food and drink to warm up and cook through – once the process is complete, your food is completely safe to eat. What’s more, the radiation is also a non-ionizing form, meaning it is not strong enough to cause electrons to be displaced or to trigger harmful mutations. Despite this, it may be unwise, however, to leave the microwave door open during microwaving or to stick your head inside, but as long as you use a microwave properly, with the door firmly shut, this appliance poses no risk to humans.

Leaving appliances in standby or sleep mode can actually use up lots of energy – especially if it’s across multiple appliances throughout your home. Alarmingly, according to the Energy Saving Trust, around 9-16% of energy used by households actually comes from leaving appliances on stand-by. As such, it could be having a bigger impact on your energy bills than you might think – so, to save yourself some pounds, make sure to completely switch off appliances whenever they aren’t in use.

Ever been reluctant to open a dishwasher mid-cycle for fear of flooding the kitchen? Many households have a persistent image in their head of a dishwasher being completely full of water – but this isn’t the case. Most dishwashers are designed to spray jets of water at the plates, which are pumped in sometimes from a small basin of water at the bottom. If you were to open the door, these jets will simply stop spraying.

There is an enduring myth that the less we use something, the longer it will last. While this may be true with some things (e.g. tyres, a tube of glue), it’s not necessarily the case with kitchen appliances. First and foremost, they are designed to be used, and expected to be used often. A dishwasher has seals which can crack if left unused, for instance. In summary, don’t be afraid to use appliances – and if they do start to lag, all you need is professional repairs to keep everything in top working order, without the need for replacement.

Cleaning the inside of the refrigerator is obviously very important – as a place for food storage, it’s vital that excellent hygiene is maintained. But that’s not the only area which needs attention. Giving the condenser coils a clean is also important for extending the lifespan of your refrigerator – these can be found on the back or underside of your fridge/freezer and usually warm.

It seems to be a simple equation: the more detergent you add to a washing machine, the cleaner your clothes emerge. Actually, this is a myth as adding a surplus of detergent can result in your clothes being less clean – the excess detergent can instead cling to your clothes without rinsing out fully. This can irritate skin and cause rashes, especially for those with sensitive skin or dermatological conditions. To avoid this, always make sure to follow guidance and only use the right amount of recommended detergent for your load.