If you really think about it, it’s the small appliance parts that make your everyday life so much easier. You wake up in the morning and you use an oven toaster – those are small appliance parts working right there. In the late afternoon in the office, you pour yourself some coffee from the coffeemaker – those are small appliance parts working again.

Indeed, most of our day is spent depending on small appliance wonders, and it’s only right that we learn to use them safely and that we prolong their useful lives by taking care of them. Below are some useful tips.

Follow safety instructions. Never forget to read the manufacturer’s handbook, because it contains pertinent information about the care and use of your small appliance and its parts. Be extra careful with small kitchen appliances – not all of them can get wet. Never plunge small kitchen appliances in dishwasher water, for example, unless the handbook tells you that it’s safe. Negligence or simple actions like this can hurt you.

Be careful where you plug appliances. Make it a habit to plug your small appliances directly into wall outlets whenever you can. If you have to use extension cords, read the cord’s electrical rating first; it should be able to handle wattage that is either at least equal to or more than your small appliance’s wattage. Overloading can cause your small appliance parts to ignite and possibly cause a fire. Also, remember to turn your small appliance off before you unplug it. Never attempt to pull out the plug by pulling the cord; instead, firmly hold the plug and then disconnect.

Clean small appliances with proper chemicals. You can possibly damage small appliance parts if you clean them incorrectly or use the wrong chemical, so again, refer to your manufacturer’s manual. Some nonstick surfaces can be cleaned with off-the-rack cleaners, but be careful not to do this too often, as it may cause surface chipping or fading.