In our previous blog, “Scrubbing your scrubbers”, Bosman Plumbing took an in-depth look into our workhorse scrubbers and gave us some helpful hints on how to clean and maintain them. In the past month, we have descaled, decluttered, and washed the winter critters away. With summer around the corner and the last few months of the year rushing to the finish line, we, too, race to the end of the year. We re-look at the home resolutions we came up with at the beginning of the year and planned our last few activities in the time we had left.

It’s important to remember that major appliances add value to your homes and proper installation is as important as maintenance. With that said, Bosman Plumbing spring ‘Exploring Home Resolutions for 2021 series’ continues with major and minor installations of those items we might have overlooked.

As industry experts with over 25 years of experience Bosman Plumbing is there to assist our clients with guidance, value added resources and extraordinary service.

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In our previous blog, “What’s that white stuff on my tap?“ Bosman Plumbing shared four helpful hints on banning the calcium scale in our spring ‘Exploring Home Resolutions for 2021 series’. With our faucets looking sparkly and new, we move onto our cleaning masters at home. Many happy Bosman Plumbing clients have had their trusty workhorses installed by us and have frequently asked about the cleaning and maintenance of our home dishwashers and washing machines.

Though scrubbing your scrubbers might sound a little crazy and over the top, there are many benefits to cleaning your cleaning stuff regularly.

Annual maintenance for all items using water and producing wastewater is a necessity. They do all the heavy lifting for us, keeping our homes grime free. Over time our cleaning equipment can also become grubby and clogged with dirt and grime.

Though it’s always important to read and implement your manufacturer’s guidelines in maintenance, Bosman Plumbing has put together a quick guide in cleaning your washing machine and dishwasher, keeping them well maintained and germ-free.

Did you know the funky smell from your dishwasher is not normal? Food waste can clog up in the machine’s water system, not just within the device but also in its outlet. Always scrape food remnants and rinse your dishes before loading them. A frequent quick inspection of the filter and outgoing pipes will add years to the life of your trusty dishwasher, keeping it running in tip-top condition.

A dishwasher can be sanitized inside and out with simple white vinegar. Once a month, pour it into the bottom of the machine and the soap dispenser, running an empty machine through the hottest cleaning cycle or setting. Finally, wipe the exterior, interior door and clean all trays and racks using a soft cloth soaked in vinegar.

Our washing machine is one of the more essential household items in our homes. Did you know it’s also the ideal breeding ground for mould and mildew that leads to smelly and unhygienic clothing?

A regular clean every four to eight weeks is recommended to keep your washing machine in great shape and cleaning effectively. To prevent mould growth, keep the door or lid of your washing machine slightly open in-between uses.

Deep cleaning can be done by filling the laundry detergent drawer with one cup of bleach or 2 cups of vinegar and running it on the hottest cycle. The dispenser drawer can be removed and placed in a sink of hot water and bleach to soak, scrub with a toothbrush if things have gotten dire, and dry thoroughly before replacing it correctly. Though the top and front loader is similar in terms of mechanics, remember to check the rubber seal around the door of a front loader. It acts as a collection point for grime and mould. Mould killer can be used if it is awful, or a vinegar and baking soda paste with hot water if it all looks relatively normal. Take your time and explore all the germs hiding places. Lastly, take out the filter, giving it a thorough wash before drying and replacing.

Did you know Bosman Plumbing can assist you with any new dishwasher and washing machine installation?

Your trusty scrubber workhorse will be with you for years and years. Contact one of our amazing plumbers for your next scrubber workhorse installation.

In our previous blog, “Spring is in the air“, Bosman Plumbing shared six helpful hints in our spring ‘Exploring Home Resolutions for 2021 series’. With people to see and places to go, we jumped right into spring-cleaning tips, unclogged ourselves from our winter layers and started our spring-cleaning journey.

In one of Bosman Plumbing’s handy spring tips, we talked about descaling and mineral build-up. For those in the know, you’ve already identified some areas in the home with it, especially if you have hard water. Minerals in water, in your sanitary system, are going to collect around your appliances over time. These scaly deposits result from calcium build-up; though harmless, they’re not pleasant to look at.

So how do you remove Calcium Build-up on Faucets?

1. The dreaded C-word: specialised chemicals can be used to wipe down the affected faucet; though a wet cloth and all-purpose cleaner might work, ordinary dish detergent will also work, depending on the build-up. Focus on scrubbing under and at the back of the offending stained faucet. Remember, the area’s water tends to accumulate. Rinse with fresh, clean water, wipe any residue and dry.

2. Good old lemon and lime: wipe calcium build-up with a lemon wedge. Lemons and limes carry a nifty little agent called citric acid. It is well documented that citric acid can help dissolve calcium minerals. This application can be used on chrome, copper, or brass. Once all the nasties are removed, rinse, wipe and repeat.

3. Vinegar can be used in many cleaning applications and, combined with baking soda made up in a paste, makes an excellent noncorrosive scrubber. The paste can be applied to hard to remove calcium deposits. Wrap a bag or cloth around the applied paste and faucet, sit for several hours, and wipe down the surface as normal.

4. Blocked aerator: aerators are the small filters attached to the edge of your faucet. Not all faucets will have them; if installed, unscrew the tinny screen attached to the edge. Just like a showerhead, calcium build-up can be seen in the mesh or dripping component in them. Use an old toothbrush, not your partners, or any other small brush to scrub any residue on the inside. The aerator screen can also be placed in a small bowl with vinegar for an hour, then rinsed and air dry before screwing it back on.

Follow Bosman Plumbing’s helpful guide for getting rid of calcium build-up as industry experts with over 25 years of experience. Bosman Plumbing is there to assist our clients with guidance, value-added resources and extraordinary service. Give our team a call today should you need any post-winter repairs done.

In our previous blog, “Bring it on, itchy noses and all“, Bosman Plumbing promised us another helpful series in our ‘Exploring Home Resolutions for 2021 series’. With as much time as we spend at home at present, and with as much attention as we spend maintaining our belongings inside our house, we should not forget about the things that keep our homes in good working order. As an asset, our homes deserve to be kept in their best condition and what better way to do this than with a list of spring-cleaning tips.

Bosman Plumbing top cleaning plumbing tips you can’t forget:

1. Check your pipes: spring is an excellent time to do a routine check of all pipes in and around your home for leaks and drips. In winter we spend more time at home. Our sanitary fixture and fitting get more workout time than we do. Take a quick walk through your house and if you spot something suspicious, take care of them right away.

2. Clean behind the toilet: especially if the area behind and around your toilet isn’t part of your regular routine. Blackwater or sewerage, as we know, can be corrosive, and tiles and fitting can be damaged by small leaks and spills.

3. Clean your drains: They might not be clogged, but preventative measures will help avoid a clog in the future. Though not a necessity as part of our Bosman Plumbing small tool kit, consider purchasing a drain snake to clear out any debris that might be there waiting to produce a clog. This can be helpful within the home and beneficial for the outdoors, especially in homes with extensive winter shedding trees.

4. Empty the gutters: your gutter drains, downpipes, and external water catchment tanks will thank you as fallen leaves and other debris make their way into your system during winter. Clear out the muck and run a little water from your catchment tank through the system to ensure all clogs are taken care of.

5. Descale and ban the mineral build-up: check your taps, showerheads, and spouts for mineral build-up. It’s essential to take care of this before it becomes a problem. And while you’re down there, attack the soap scum, and polish up those dull-looking fixtures. Later in our series, we will dedicate a whole blog on descaling and mineral build-up. So, keep reading.

6. Check the water heater temperature: if you have adjusted the temperature for winter, now is the time to start thinking about changing your geyser temperature. As we head into summer, the need for scalding hot showers fades. Be an energy-efficient temperature guru and adjust that thermostat a little.

Are you in need of assistance as you begin your spring cleaning projects? Bosman Plumbing has the tools and expertise to help you with that leaky faucet or drain cleaning. Contact us today, and one of our experienced plumbers will be at your doorstep — we’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Bosman Plumbing knows that when the wind starts blowing and noses start itching, Spring is in the air, and our annual spring-cleaning endeavours are about to begin.

Most of our clients end their winter hibernation with a good old clean, clothes are sorted, and floors are scrubbed, those scary little corners in the home that housed our winter critters are dusted and even a little purging and donating happens around this time of year.

With the season in mind, Bosman Plumbing brings us another handy list in our ‘Exploring Home Resolutions for 2021 series’.

For September, we will be bringing you several tips for Spring cleaning, from gutter cleaning, descaling the nasties around your taps and even a comprehensive lesson or two that will assist you in maintaining your cleaning assets. No, not your partner in crime, although they could use a little mowing and freshen up. Our trusty washing machines and dishwashers will be highlighted with a “how to clean and maintain” and how to keep your home’s plumbing fixtures in tip-top shape. With Bosman Plumbing at your side, Spring has never looked as bright.