Most of us only think about our appliances when something goes wrong. The washing machine won't drain. The fridge is warm. The oven goes cold halfway through the Sunday roast.
But breakdowns rarely come out of nowhere. There are often small warning signs: a clogged filter, a worn seal, a strange noise, a bit of ice where there shouldn't be any. Catch those early and you can often fix them yourself for next to nothing, or at least get a repair booked before a small fault becomes a big one.
That's what this 10-minute monthly check is for. Put a reminder in your phone, set a timer, and work through it.
Why bother?
A quick monthly check can help you:
- Spot small problems before they grow. A blocked filter is a two-minute job. A burnt-out pump is a call-out.
- Help appliances run more efficiently. Clean filters, seals and coils mean appliances don't have to work as hard.
- Avoid the worst timing. Appliances have a habit of failing when you need them most. Finding a fault on a quiet Tuesday beats finding it on Christmas Eve.
- Get more life out of what you own. Looking after appliances is far kinder to your budget than replacing them early.
You can't prevent every breakdown, but you can stack the odds in your favour.
Before you start
Grab a few things: a soft cloth, an old towel, a torch (your phone will do) and your appliance manuals or a note of where to find them online. Always unplug an appliance before you clean parts inside or behind it, and never force anything that doesn't move easily.
Each section below should take around two minutes. Skip any appliance you don't own.
1. Washing machine (2 minutes)
- Wipe the door seal. Run a cloth around the rubber seal and check for mould, trapped hair and small items. Look for cracks or tears.
- Check the detergent drawer. Pull it out if it slides free and rinse away any residue.
- Look at the pump filter. If you can reach it (usually behind a small hatch at the bottom front), check it every month or two. Have a towel and shallow tray ready for water.
- Leave the door and drawer ajar after washes so the drum can dry out.
- Listen during your next wash. Grinding, banging or a louder spin than usual are worth noting.
2. Dishwasher (2 minutes)
- Remove and rinse the filter at the bottom of the tub. Food debris here is a common cause of poor cleaning and bad smells.
- Check the spray arms. Spin them by hand. Make sure they turn freely and the small holes aren't blocked with food or limescale.
- Wipe the door seal and the edges of the door.
- Check the salt and rinse aid levels if your machine uses them, especially in hard water areas.
3. Fridge freezer (2 minutes)
- Check the door seals. Close a piece of paper in the door. If it slides out easily, the seal may not be gripping well. Wipe seals clean so they close properly.
- Look at the temperature. The fridge should be around 5°C or below, and the freezer around -18°C. A cheap fridge thermometer makes this easy.
- Look for ice build-up or puddles inside and underneath. Heavy frost in a freezer can point to a door that isn't sealing, or a defrost problem.
- Listen for the compressor. It should switch on and off in cycles. A machine that runs constantly or makes new noises is worth watching.
- Every few months, vacuum dust from vents and the coils at the back or underneath, following the manual. Unplug it first.
4. Oven and hob (1 minute)
- Check the door seal for gaps, cracks or gunk.
- Turn on the oven for a moment and check it heats up. Look at the grill and fan too.
- Check every hob ring or burner. On a gas hob, the flame should be steady and mostly blue. Wipe up spills so they don't bake on or block burner ports.
- Look at the control knobs and display for anything sticking, flickering or unresponsive.
5. Tumble dryer (1 minute)
- Empty the lint filter after every load, and give it a quick wash now and then. Clogged filters make dryers slower and harder-working.
- Empty the water container on a condenser dryer.
- Check the vent hose on a vented dryer for kinks or blockages.
- Notice drying times. If a normal load starts taking much longer than it used to, something needs attention.
6. Extractor, kettle and small stuff (1 minute)
- Clean or replace the extractor hood filter if it's greasy.
- Descale the kettle if you see limescale, particularly in hard water areas.
- Glance at plugs and cables on every appliance you've checked. Look for scorch marks, damaged wires or loose fittings. If you find any, stop using the appliance and get it checked.
Write it down
Keep a simple note on your phone with the date and anything you noticed. "Washing machine louder on spin." "Fridge running warm." A pattern is easier to spot when it's on paper, and it gives an engineer helpful information if you do need a repair.
What not to do
- Don't open up appliances to fix electrical or gas parts yourself. Leave that to a qualified engineer.
- Don't ignore burning smells, sparks or leaks. Switch off, unplug if it's safe to do so, and get it checked.
- Don't keep using an appliance you suspect is faulty just to see how it goes.
Your 10-minute monthly checklist
☐ Washing machine: wipe seal, check drawer, check pump filter, leave door ajar
☐ Dishwasher: rinse filter, spin spray arms, wipe seal, check salt and rinse aid
☐ Fridge freezer: test door seals, check temperatures, look for ice and puddles
☐ Oven and hob: check seal, check heating, test every ring or burner
☐ Tumble dryer: empty lint filter and water tank, check vent hose
☐ Extractor and kettle: clean filter, descale
☐ Plugs and cables: check for damage
☐ Note anything unusual and the date
The bottom line
Ten minutes a month won't stop every fault, but it's one of the simplest ways to look after the appliances you rely on every day. Catch the small stuff early, and you'll save yourself time, hassle and, quite possibly, a chunk of money.
