Washing machine hoses- stainless steel vs rubber

You just picked the perfect laundry pair for your home and family. There's one more thing that you should purchase before you are ready to install and test out your washer and dryer, the washing machine hoses. Not all of them are made the same and it's important to not go the cheap route with these. Burst hoses are a common cause of water damage in the home. Follow these tips to avoid issues in the future.

It might seem simple, but do not go with the rubber hoses. It might seem standard to just go with them because that's what our parents used, but don't do it. They are the cheaper hose option and are easier to find, but don't be fooled. These types of hoses are the most likely to burst and cause water damage. Some might even say that they are reinforced, which means that they are reinforced with braided rayon or polyester mesh. This material inside makes the rubber stronger, but there is still chance for leaks and bursts.

The middle option is stainless steel braided hoses. This is what we recommend that you get. They are a little more expensive than the rubber hose, but hands down it's worth the upgrade. With this choice, there is still a layer of rubber in the inside, but is surrounded by stainless steel string that is braided together. This adds strength and will make it way more burst-resistant. Make sure that the hose does not become bent or kinked as the stainless steel can dig into the rubber hose.

Here are additional reasons to go with stainless steel water lines:

• Stainless steel hoses are more resistant to heat
• Stainless steel hoses are more resilient to pressure
• Rubber hoses lose flexibility over time and become rigid, causing the hose to burst

The next upgraded option is to have a auto-shutoff hose. This hose is braided with stainless steel, but also has the feature of having a shut-off valve on one of the ends of the hoses. This is an extra safety persuasion just in case there would ever be a burst. The mechanism can sense a water pressure change and will stop the flow of water from entering into the tube. This can save you from having a huge water or flood damage in the room or your whole house.

You can never be too safe with braided stainless steel hoses for your washer. Take the extra persuasion and make the upgrade today, before it's too late and you have water damage in your home. Remember to check your hoses periodically for signs of aging before it becomes an issue! Let our team know if you have any questions on this topic.

Recipe- Chicken Fajitas

Turn an ordinary day into a fiesta with these healthy, delicious chicken fajitas!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• Salt
• 2 Tbsp canola, safflower, peanut or grapeseed oil (a high smoke point oil)
• 1 large onion, sliced lengthwise (root to tip) into 1/4-inch strips
• 3 bell peppers of various colors, sliced into 1/4-inch strips

Marinade

• 2 Tbsp lime juice
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 jalapeno, seeded and minced
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Extras

• 8-12 flour tortillas
• Salsa
• Sliced avocado
• Sour cream
• Thinly sliced iceberg lettuce dressed lightly with salt and cider vinegar

Directions:

1 Cut thick chicken breasts in half, horizontally: If chicken breasts are more than half a pound, slice horizontally so that each slice is between ½-inch and ¾-inch thickness. (Note: Don’t pound chicken breasts with a meat tenderizer, as this adversely affects the texture of the meat.)

2 Marinate chicken: Mix marinade ingredients together in a glass or plastic container. Add chicken, mix thoroughly, cover and let marinate at room temperature for at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours in the fridge.

3 Wipe off most marinade, sprinkle chicken with salt: Remove the chicken from the marinade. Wipe off most of the marinade and sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt.

4 Sear chicken on high heat: Heat a large cast iron frying pan on high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add a tablespoon of canola oil to the pan.

As soon as the oil begins to smoke, place chicken breast pieces in the pan. Depending on the size of the pan, you may have to work in several batches.

Let chicken cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes, until you have a good sear. Once seared well on one side, turn pieces over and cook for another 2-3 minutes until well seared on the second side.

5 Stack seared breasts, cover with foil and let rest: Once seared on the second side, remove to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil to rest for 5 minutes.

Tip: Stack the seared chicken breasts and then cover them in foil. Together they will retain heat better as you cook the peppers and onions.

If you want to test for doneness, cut into one piece with the tip of a sharp knife. It should be just done, if not, you can put it back in the hot pan for a minute or two.

6 Sauté peppers and onions: While the chicken is resting, cook the onions and peppers. Add another tablespoon of oil to the frying pan. Heat on high. As soon as the oil is hot, add the onions and peppers to the pan.

Use a metal spatula to scrape up some of the browned bits from the chicken and stir to coat the onions and peppers with the oil and brown bits. Spread the onions and peppers in an even layer in the pan. Let them cook undisturbed for 2 minutes. You want them to sear with some blackening. Stir the vegetables and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.

7 Slice the chicken and serve: Slice the chicken across the grain into strips. Serve at once with the peppers and onions, some warm tortillas, and sides of shredded cheese, salsa, guacamole, and/or thinly sliced iceberg lettuce dressed with vinegar and salt.

Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes  Cook Time: 10 minutes  Serves 4

What happens when you put Christmas lights in the microwave?

For those of us who are curious we often wonder what happens when you put something in the microwave that shouldn't go in the microwave. See what really happens when you put Christmas lights in a microwave....

Don't try this at home.




The fist microwave was invented on accident in 1946. Dr. Percy Spencer, a self taught engineer, was doing tests on a radar-related research project with a new vacuum called magnetron. After doing a test, he reached in his pocket and found that his chocolate bar was melted. This brought curiosity to his mind and he started doing more experiments testing to heat up popcorn and more. What he had invented changed the cooking game forever. Microwave ovens are now used in almost every household and is a multi-million dollar industry.

To get more of the story, check it out in this article.

What happens when we put a light bulb in a microwave?

Here is a great example of something that you should not put in the microwave: a light bulb. Watch to see what happens...



Ever wonder how microwaves work? Microwaves heat up food, or in this case a light bulb, by radio waves. The radio waves are set at a certain frequency to agitate water molecules inside the objects in the microwave. These water molecules vibrate which generates heat that warms up the food.

Stay tuned to see other objects "cook" in the microwave.

What happens when we put a DVD in the microwave?

Ever wonder what really happens when you put things in the microwave that your mom and dad told you not to ever put in there?

Here at Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom, we have done some pretty fun and dangerous experiments to see what really happens when you put different objects in the microwave.

Please don't try this at home.

This episode shows you what it looks like when you put DVDs in the microwave...



Hopefully this video blows up your world with imagination.

What would you want to see put in the microwave? Leave your suggestions in the comments section and we will try it out!

Grilling Tips for BBQ Season

Summer is upon us and with it comes barbecue grilling season. When you gather friends and family around and fire up the grill this summer, keep these handy tips in mind:

Don’t forget to preheat- Like an oven, your grill needs a little head start before you try to cook anything on it. Preheat your grill for about 15-25 minutes to ensure that the temperature will be high enough to kill any bacteria on your meats. A nicely preheated grill will keep the insides of your grillables succulent and juicy while searing the outside and improving the flavor of the meat.

Brush as you go- The best time to use your grill brush is while it’s hot, so grab your wire grill brush and go to town after you’ve preheated but before you begin grilling the current meal. Then brush again once you have finished using the grill. Simple!

Skip cooking spray- To ensure a non-stick surface, you can oil your preheated grill by rubbing a paper towel coated in vegetable oil over the rack with a pair of tongs, but whatever you do, don’t use cooking spray on a hot grill, as that can be potentially hazardous.

Practice food safety- To avoid an unfortunate food poisoning situation, watch out for cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods by using separate cutting boards and platters, and always refrigerate meats when you are marinating them.

Follow these helpful hints and you will be crowned Grill Master by your friends and family!