Thursday, May 31, 2012

Consumer Question: Smelly Ice Cubes in Freezer


Q: Hi, Joe,


What can I do for smelly ice. This is my second Kenmore and I have the same experience with both.


I also missed what you were saying about dryer hoses. Is it the aluminum hose you were speaking about? 

Thank you,
Mae


A: Hi Mae,


Thanks for your note. 


Smelly ice cubes have one cause that I know of. There is a fan motor inside the freezer which circulates air through both sections. The fan will blow air across the ice cube bucket and any food item that is not covered will cause this problem. Make sure all products are sealed.


The vent line we were talking about is plastic,vinyl or tin foil which is against the law. They should not be used. Use solid metal pipe available at your local hardware store. 

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

THE SAFE WAY TO LOAD YOUR DISHWASHER


Originally published in the Observer/Eccentric newspapers
 
An email from my Canadian friend and writer Diane Armstrong prompted me to write again about the dishwasher and my concerns on the subject of bacteria. I also had the pleasure of being a speaker in front of the Michigan State Medical Society Alliance and that could lead to a doctor telling you how to load your dishwasher. In any case, this now is a subject of world-wide interest and I will keep you posted as to what the scientists discover. 

Diane writes: I have been meaning to write to ask you if you have a copy of a column you wrote long ago about ‘cleaning’ the dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. It followed a TV ad that showed an entire cake being put in the machine. My daughter-in-law has been complaining that her brand new dishwasher just doesn’t clean all the dishes. When I asked if she scraped all the dishes and/or rinsed them lightly under the tap first, she said, “Oh the book said I don’t have to. There’s a garberator in my new appliance.” Just how effective are these garberators? Frankly, I think she should use the garbage can and not rely on a garberator in her dishwasher.  (garberator is a Canadian word for garbage disposer)

Reply: Yes Diane, I did write a column shortly after those ads appeared on television and that ad was pulled shortly after. I can’t find it but it is somewhere in this computer of mine. This “thing” is not like a washing machine where I once pulled my friend Steve’s silk undershorts out of his pump. My organizational skills don’t allow me to hit a button and pull up specific column. I’m sorry. That advertisement with the supposed garberator was meant to entice more sales for that brand of product. I protested that it implicated that someone might throw a turkey carcass into the dishwasher and it would not matter how much food could be left on a dinner plate. The appliance service industry loved that ad because now they were being called to homes to repair this cheap little metal cutter blade located on top of the motor assembly. Most service technicians were advising consumers to remove this blade or further problems would continue to cause expensive repairs. Enough said about how much the manufacturers care about dependability. 

In a recent interview with Gregg Stebbin, the editor of menshealthmagazine.com he talked about the proper way to load a dishwasher. There is no doubt that bacteria will grow inside the dishwasher. It will work its way into the rubber door seals and the scientific world is doing a lot of work to determine what sickness is produced in a dishwasher. Gregg points out that dishes should be clean going into the dishwasher and if you are not going to operate it immediately, you should rinse them in a sink full of water with a shot glass of bleach mixed into that water. As for cleaning the inside of the dishwasher I have preached the Tang treatment for the past 30 years but I now have people telling me that Tang is hard to find. Recently I have been telling homeowners to try a new product called Lemi Shine. I know it works, I have tried it. It’s available at some of our major grocery chains. 

Note—I have been writing this column for a very long time and many of the things I predicted 25 years ago have come true. I now predict that it will be proven in the years ahead that certain illness and disease come from certain products in the home. I know it now and I’m not even close to being what you might call intelligent. Wait until you find out what is inside of a hot water tank! Stay tuned.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Consumer Question: Dishwasher Odors


Q: Hi, Joe,


I have a 12 year old Kenmore dishwasher.  What causes the sulphur smell coming from the drain when the washer is in the early stages of washing?  What's the best remedy to take care of this?



Thank you,
David


A: Hi David,


Thanks for your note. 


Disconnect the drain hose from the garbage disposer under the kitchen sink. Use a table knife and clean out the snout where you removed the hose. Clean the disposer by filling it with ice cubes, let them sit for an hour and then turn it on. You should do this every few weeks. Have you ever cleaned the dishwasher with Tang? Here is the recipe...


Recipe for Cleaning a Dishwasher - Joe Gagnon's Tang Treatment
Way back in the 1960s a service technician working for me broke a glass bottle of Tang breakfast drink in a customer’s dishwasher. He picked up all the glass and left all of the powdered Tang product lying in the bottom of the dishwasher. He ran the dishwasher and the Tang had disappeared so he didn’t worry anymore about it. The next day the customer called me to advise me that her dishes seemed to be so much cleaner and the dishwasher smelled great inside.

I then purchased several containers of Tang and experimented on my dishwasher and a few of my neighbors' dishwashers. I found that the undisolved detergent which forms a scum on surfaces was all gone and the motor impellers were as clean as new! This allowed the impellers to move more water through the spray arms giving a better wash affect. The removal of undisolved detergent from the inside cabinet allowed the door seals to seat better against the inside walls preventing door leaking problems.
 
Treatment Twice a Year
Turn on the hot water faucet until the temperature is at its maximum (140 degrees.) This should always be done every time you turn on the dishwasher.
 
Turn on the dishwasher and let it run for 6 or 7 minutes (empty of dishes.)
 
Open the door and pour in 12 oz. of Tang orange powdered breakfast drink directly into the water lying in the bottom of the dishwasher.

Shut the door and let the dishwasher run through its complete cycle.
 



Let me know.

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Friday, May 11, 2012

Consumer Question: Recommend Gas Stove


Q: Hi, Joe,



I need to buy a new gas stove and want to know if you can make a recommendation for a quality stove. I currently have an electric stove, but have started to do a lot of canning and need to be able to better control the heat under the canner.


Thank you,
Rosalie


A: Hi Rosalie,


Thanks for your note. 


Your stove requirements depend upon your budget. Beautiful ranges are available for $3k-$5k! For a guy like me, a Whirlpool gas range will fit the bill priced between $500 to $1000. Hope this helps.

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Consumer Question: Double Wall Oven Door Spring



Q: Hi, Joe,



I have a 1960's Tappan Visualite Electric Double Wall Oven and the top oven door will not stay in the up (closed) position. Model LOKLV-31.  Are there springs in there and are they broken? If so, can they be replaced?


Thank you,
Steve


A: Hi Steve,


Thanks for your note. 


Yes, there are springs and one is most likely broken. I suggest you contact MasterTech Appliance with your model number and find out if they are available. If not there, is a store in Westland called Forrest Harbor which has all sorts of springs. They are on Warren Ave, in Westland. 

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Monday, May 7, 2012

Consumer Question: Fixing Dehumidifiers


Q: Hi, Joe,



Do you know of anyone that fixes dehumidifiers? I have a 3 year old Frigidaire that no longer removes humidity from my basement air.


Thank you,
Steve


A: Hi Steve,


Thanks for your note. 


I'm sure my son Mark would check out your dehumidifier for you. His business is located in Livonia. You can call 734-953-6991. 

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Friday, May 4, 2012

Consumer Question: Repair vs. Replace


Q: Hi, Joe,


I have a 25 year old Kenmore washer that has been leaking what my husband says is transmission fluid. It's been so reliable (and I know they don't make them like that anymore!) that I'm in favor of repairing it. He is in favor of using it until it seizes up, and then getting a new one. I'd value your opinion.

Also, our 15 year old dishwasher doesn't clean very well any more. The only way dishes come out clean is if they go in clean! I'm going to try the Tang treatment to see if that helps. Any other ideas?

Thank you,
Anita


A: Hi Anita,

Thanks for your note. 


I must agree with your husband on the washer. Do not commit money to repairs because other things will go as soon as you disturb the structure of the machine.


Dishwasher complaints like yours are common today ever since they removed the phosphates from the detergent. Meijers and Krogers carry a product called Lemi Shine. Try it and let me know. 

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Consumer Question: Lubricate Door Seal


Q: Hi, Joe,


I bought a new Kenmore bottom freezer refrigerator. Manual says to lubricate door seal with silicone grease. I have never done this before. Do you recommend? If you do, what about using Vaseline? What about the freezer door seal.

Thank you,
Thomas


A: Hi Thomas,

Thanks for your note. 


I strongly recommend you lubricate the door seal with Vaseline. Put it on both doors. Put it on the hinge side of the door only.

Regards,
Joe Gagnon