Dear Heloise: I was reading about how long appliances should last. I have a question regarding these new appliances: Should we be using surge protectors on them? They do have a small computer in them. The reason I ask is that I had a refrigerator (4 years old), and there was a power surge. I called a repairman out, and he said it was the motherboard, which would cost $500 to $800 to fix. So I bought a new refrigerator and put a surge protector on it.-Ron T., Huntington Beach, Calif.
Great question, and the quick answer is YES! Surge protectors should be used on major appliances in your home, with refrigerators and washing machines being first on the list because they both contain at least one control board. The surge protector will help protect against a sudden increase, or surge, in voltage. They are available in most stores and even online, so shop around for what will work best in your home. Prices vary, and not all surge protectors are the same.
For smaller appliances, like toaster ovens, get in the habit of unplugging those items when they are not in use.-Heloise
EMAILED INSTRUCTIONS
Dear Heloise: I bought a big desk (unassembled) that was delivered in a box with bags of multiple-size screws, etc.-but no instructions. There was nothing on the website, so I contacted the company, which emailed the instructions-all 13 pages! It turned out great, but some instructions were counterintuitive, so it's a good thing I got them!-Lyn R. in Houston
This is an example of technology being a great resource. Emailing instructions when you cannot find them otherwise is so fast and easy.-Heloise
HAND SOAP
Dear Heloise: We have several foaming hand-soap dispensers in our house. When I purchased the liquid hand-soap replacement at the grocery store and refilled the dispensers, I noticed that the dispensers did not produce foam. I found that the replacement soap was too thick to work in the dispensers. The remedy for this was to cut the replacement soap by half with water.-Roger T., The Villages, Fla.