Yearly Appliance Maintenance Guide for Aussie Homes

If your fridge has stopped working before Christmas lunch or your washing machine has quit midweek, you know how much trouble one broken appliance can cause. Simple yearly maintenance can help you avoid these problems, and it’s easier than you might think.

Here’s a once-a-year weekend checklist for easy checks, cleaning, and common parts for fridges, dishwashers, ovens, wahing machines, dryers, and small appliances, plus where to get parts online.

Key takeaways

• Use one annual appliance checklist to give your kitchen and laundry a health check.
• Look for early warning signs such as leaks, odd noises, smells, and poor performance.
• Many issues can be fixed with simple checks and replacement parts, not a whole new appliance.
• Some repairs, such as replacing filters or seals, are DIY-friendly. Electrical or gas repairs and anything involving internal wiring should only be done by a licensed tradie or technician.
• You can buy genuine and high-quality compatible appliance parts online, and get help finding the right part for your model.

How to use this annual appliance checklist

Pick a time each year to go through this checklist for your main appliances. Set aside a morning or an afternoon to get it done.

• Go room by room. Start with the kitchen, then move to the laundry, and finish with small appliances.
• Keep a notepad or your phone ready to record any replacement parts you need to order.

Safety first

Before you touch anything:

• Turn off appliances at the wall and unplug them if you can.
• Wait for any hot parts to cool down before you touch them.
• Never work on anything electrical while it’s still plugged in. Only licensed experts should handle any internal electrical repairs.
• If you smell gas or think there might be a gas leak, turn off the appliance right away and call a licensed gasfitter.

Fridge & freezer maintenance

Symptoms to watch for

• Food is not staying as cold as it should
• Frost is building up on the back wall or in the freezer.
• The motor is running constantly or making louder-than-usual noises.
• Water pooling at the bottom of the fridge or on the floor
• Damaged seals or doors not closing fully.

Simple yearly checks & cleaning

• Door seals: Wipe them down with warm, soapy water and check they grip firmly all the way around. Close a piece of paper in the door. If it slips out easily, the seal may be worn.
• Coils & vents: Where accessible, gently vacuum dust from the rear or under-floor coils and vents (this helps the fridge run efficiently).
• Temperature: Use a basic fridge thermometer to check you’re in the safe range — about 3-4°C for the fridge and –18°C for the freezer.
• Shelves & bins: Check shelves, crisper bins, and door racks for any cracks that might break under weight.

Common replacement parts

If you spot issues, you may be able to solve them with:

• Fridge and freezer door seals/gaskets
• Replacement shelves, crisper bins and bottle racks
• Thermostats and temperature sensors
• Light globes and covers

Head to the Fridge Parts section on the WWSpares site and filter by brand and model to find the right fit.

Dishwasher maintenance

Symptoms to watch for

• Dishes still dirty, gritty or cloudy.
• Standing water in the base after a cycle
• Leaks on the floor around the door or underneath
• Musty smells, mould or food build-up
• Grinding or knocking noises during a wash

Simple yearly checks & cleaning

• Filters: Take out the filters and wash them well under warm water. This simple step can often fix poor performance.
• Spray arms: If you can, remove the spray arms, rinse them, and use a toothpick to clear any blocked holes.
• Door seals: Wipe around the door seals and the bottom of the door to get rid of soap scum and grime.
• Hoses: Check the inlet and drain hoses for any kinks, brittleness, or rust at the fittings.
• Maintenance cycle: Run an empty hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner, or put a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the top rack.

Common replacement parts

Many dishwasher issues can be fixed with:

• New filters and spray arms
• Door seals and latch assemblies
• Inlet and drain hoses and hose clamps
• Baskets, cutlery racks and roller wheels

Check out the Dishwasher Parts category on WWSpares for filters, seals, spray arms and more, plus detailed dishwasher care articles.

Oven & cooktop maintenance

Symptoms to watch for

• Food cooking unevenly or taking much longer than recipes suggest
• Elements that don’t heat at all, or only partially heat
• Door not sealing properly, heat escaping around the edges
• For gas: burners that won’t ignite, or yellow/orange flames

Simple yearly checks & cleaning

• Deep clean: Clean the inside of the oven and the racks well. Don’t use harsh scrubbing pads on the glass or seals.
• Door check: Check that the door closes tightly and evenly. Watch for worn or sagging hinges and flat seals.
• Elements & burners: Turn each element or burner on for a short time to make sure it heats up properly at different settings.
• Gas safety: Make sure burner caps are in place and watch for any odd flame shapes or smells. Only a licensed gasfitter should fix gas problems. Never try to repair them yourself.

Common replacement parts

You may be able to refresh your oven or cooktop with:

• Oven elements (bake and grill)
• Door seals, hinges and glass panels
• Control knobs and dials
• Ignition parts and thermostats (installed by a qualified tech)

Browse Oven & Cooktop Parts on WWSpares by brand and model, and match part numbers where possible.

Washing machine maintenance

Symptoms to watch for

• The machine is not draining or leaving water in the drum.
• Excessive vibration, “walking” across the floor or banging noises
• Smelly drum, slime or mould around the door seal
• Clothes not coming out clean, rinsed or properly spun.

Simple yearly checks & cleaning

• Lint & pump filters: Clean any lint filters and look for a pump filter near the bottom front—many front loaders have one.
• Drum clean: Run an empty hot cycle with a washing machine cleaner, or use a cup of white vinegar and a little bicarb soda.
• Hoses: Check the inlet and drain hoses for cracks, bulges, or leaks at the connections. Tighten any loose fittings.
• Levelling: Make sure the machine is level and stable. Adjust the feet if it rocks or wobbles.

Common replacement parts

Typical washing machine parts that wear out over time include:

• Inlet and drain hoses, hose seals and clamps
• Lint filters and pump filters
• Front loader door seals and latches
• Belts and suspension rods or dampers

Visit the Washing Machine Parts section on WWSpares to search by brand and model, or contact us if you’re unsure.

Dryer maintenance

Symptoms to watch for

• Clothes are taking much longer than normal to dry.
• Dryer runs hot, stops mid-cycle or smells burnt.
• Excess lint around the door, on clothes or near the vent outlet
• Squeaking, grinding or rumbling noises from the drum

Simple yearly checks & cleaning

• Lint filters: Clean the lint filters after every load, and give them a deeper wash once or twice a year.
• Secondary filters & ducts: If you have a vented or condenser dryer, check any extra filters and the vent or duct for blockages.
• Drum & seal: Wipe the drum and check the door seal for any tears or damage.
• Listen in: Run the dryer for a short time and listen for any strange noises that might indicate worn rollers or a bad belt.

Common replacement parts

For many dryers, you can extend their life with:

• New lint filters and housings
• Belts, rollers and bearings
• Door switches and seals
• Thermostats and thermal fuses (fitted by a qualified tech)

Head to the Dryer Parts category on WWSpares to find parts for vented, condenser and heat pump dryers.

Repair, replace parts, or replace the whole appliance?

As a general guide:

• Repair with parts when:
  • The appliance is relatively new or mid-life.
  • The fault is clearly related to a worn part (seal, hose, belt, filter, element, etc.).
  • The replacement part's cost is a small fraction of a new unit's cost.
• Replace the whole unit when:
  • The appliance is very old, rusty or has multiple issues.
  • It has safety problems that make professional repair uneconomical.
  • Spare parts are no longer available for your model.

At WWSpares, we always aim to help you get more life out of your existing appliances where it’s safe and sensible to do so.