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Sharlet


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Can anyone tell me if you can store white goods for long periods and still be ok to use
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Hi all and can anyone tell me if you can store white goods e.g. Fridge, washing machine and dryer , maybe up to 4 years. we hope someone has experience with this. any advice would be appreciated.
Cheers Sharlet and Dean Known as FESTER. :unsure::unsure:



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Big Gorilla


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Can't see any reason why not as long as the storage location is dry. Cover with a sheet or similar to protect the surfaces from dust etc. Don't leave the items plugged into a power point and disconnect the water hoses on a washing machine if you are leaving the appliances in original locations.



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Gerty Dancer


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Welcome to the forum Sharlet. In order to prevent mould they will have to be clean and dry.
You could try asking a service-man/woman who works with the particular brand of machines if theres any specific tricks.

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Dougwe


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Welcome from me too Sharlet and Dean, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I agree with Gerty Dancer, good advice GD.

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neilnruth


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Welcome from us too Sharlet. I would query about washing machine being 'too dry'. I think it needs to have some water left in it so the pipes don't dry out too much. When it's used again the 'gunk' clogs everything up if it's been allowed to dry out. Serviceman said that was why the dishwasher had blocked - left too long without being used. Fridge and dryer should be OK as they don't use water.

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NeilnRuth
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See if you can get hold of some wooden pallets to stand them on to keep up off the ground. Cover with old sheets to keep the dust off and with the fridge, open the door and hang a towel over it so it won't close.
By the way, Welcome.

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Legendts


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Actually with fridges, the van, when not using it clean and wipe out with lemon or vanilla essence, make sure everything is dry then throw in a heap of tea bags and close the door. Never had a bad smell, in one instance for over 18 months. Don't see whi it wouldn't work with domestic items.

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Sheba


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Saw these tips earlier tonight on another Forum.

by Trackers » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:03 pm

Just place an unused tea bag in the freezer and fridge. Close the doors for as long as you like and no mould. Our removalist told us this when we put our home fridge into storage for 18mths and no mould. Do the same with our van and same result;
Cheers

Postby Bob and Sarah » Sat Aug 17, 2013 12:06 pm

Hi Anne

We were reliably informed by our removalists to put a toilet roll in the freezer and one in the fridge and shut the doors! Apparently if we leave the fridge door ajar the fridge/freezer door seals go brittle. We complied and our fridge freezer was in storage for 18 months and was in superb condition when we moved, no mould, nothing.

Cheers,

Sheba.



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Happywanderer


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Haven't heard those two before with the tea bag or toilet roll. Will try that way next time.

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Duh


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Also with the fridge, spray a bit of silicone on a rag and wipe it over the door seals to prevent seals "sticking".....a fridge techo at Dometic told me that, whether for storage or in use.....



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Wombat 280


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Every time I was posted away with my job I would flog off the white goods and buy new ones when I returned. Found that after prolonged storage they gave trouble with corrosion and they were years older and parts weren't readily available Today's white goods are only good for about 5 years when in regular use. Washing machines are especially bad for corrosion even when prepared for storage, soap remaining in the pump and lines and around the inside the cabinet just eat them out.

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herbie


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With the price of replacing white goods today, i would not consider storing them,it is not just the corrosion and other seals it also is the problem of vermin getting to then and chewing wiring and other plastic parts. Better to sell them and at least get some $$ rather than finding out after four years of storage that they are unusable and get nothing for them. (plus the cost of a storage facility ) if that is what you would be using.Also storing mattresses is not a good idea due to mould/ vermin.



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hako


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I have to agree with herbie and Wombat 280 - sell as much as you can now as it will only degrade in storage. Our son stored all his belongings in a container at our property for 3 years and when we opened it up we found that ****roach eggs hidden in the furniture had hatched and multiplied resulting in a putrid smell in all the belongings. Also had mould in the fridge from crud hidden in door seals...same with washing machine. All books and most fabrics damaged by ****roaches.
****roach eggs will be undetectable unless you totally pull all your gear apart before storage.

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sandsmere


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Maybe it depends where your storage place is . We have ours stored in a shed and a container in central Qld. ( inland ) .

Just been back after 12 months away . Fridge , freezer , washing machine , fan , all other electrics working perfectly .

No c0ckr0aches or other vermin .

But , that is only after 1 year . You are talking 4 years . ( don't know about that ) .



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EllenajoeL


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@Sharlet (and welcome BTW) these are all good comments thus far. biggrin

In no particular order, the biggest problems regarding longevity of such whitegoods will be lack of preparation (cleaning, drying,etc), quality of manufacture, saltspray/humidity/damp/dust, vermin (both floral and faunal) and typical exposure to temperature extremes where they are kept.

At the very least, if you do store them, please consider a safety-checking effort when you return to using them.

So.....IMHO, personally I'd sell the lot, simply because they will be likely replaceable if/when you choose at some random future time..... (and I presume they have limited emotional value).

 



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