5 Benefits of a 3rd rack in a Dishwasher

More and more appliance companies are starting to make a dishwasher with a third rack. From a first glance, it might seem silly to have a third rack; but in reality, the third rack is very helpful. The third rack was first seen in more high end brands like Bosch, but the rest of the industry is integrating this in a lot of their models. Once you go to a third rack, you will never go back.  Here are some benefits of why this dishwasher feature is so amazing.

1. Your spatulas, whisks and tongs have a special place in the dishwasher. The third rack is super convenient in that you know exactly where those extra cooking utensils are. You won’t have to worry about them falling to the bottom and melting. You also won’t have to dig around the dishwasher hunting for where you put your favorite whisk. It can now be organized and all be in one secured place.

2. Third rack dishwashers increase efficiency by providing more space to wash more utensils, dishes and glasses. On average, the third rack gives you 37% more room to utilize in your dishwasher to the fullest.  Without the random utensils in the way, you will have more room in your first and second racks to wash even more dishes. Your mind will be at ease knowing that you only have to do one load at a time.

3. The extra rack can be a great safety tool. You can place your cooking knives flat on the third rack. No one will have to worry about reaching around the utensil basket being overly cautious avoiding cutting themselves. Having a more secure place to put pointy objects is much more convenient and safer for the whole family.

4. The ability to fill your dishwasher with more kitchen items will cut down on the number of times you need to run your dishwasher. This means that you get to save on dishwashing soap, water, time, and energy. Over time, you will find your water and energy bill will be less which is also helpful for the environment.

5. Some of the dishwashers that have a third rack are removable so you can load tall glasses or pitchers on your second rack. This makes it convenient for holiday events all year round. After your special events with your extra large wine glasses or oddly shaped serving bowls, you will be able to wash them in your dishwasher rather than doing it by hand.

With the third rack becoming more popular in the appliance industry, you can find this feature in more brands and models than ever before. With these 5 reasons, the little extra cost of the third rack dishwasher is worth it. Let’s thank the engineers who invented this washing game changer!

Check out the dishwashers now and see which one you like for your kitchen.

Save Energy this Summer with These 13 Appliance Tips

With the weather getting hotter during summer, it can “shock” you when you receive your electricity bill. There are a few things that you can do to make sure your appliances are running efficiently to save you money and energy consumption.

1. Make sure to have ENERGY STAR- rated appliances. These devices are ranked by the U.S. Department of Energy as using less energy than the standard amount. ENERGY Star-rated appliances use about 20% less energy and can save you more than $270 in your energy costs.

Refrigerators:

2. Make sure not to overload the amount of groceries in your refrigerator. Having tons of items in your refrigerator will require more energy to keep it cool.

3. Don’t keep your refrigerator door open for a long period of time. Also make sure to not open your door repeatedly in a short period of time.  Opening the door will cause the cool air inside to escape and makes the refrigerator motor work harder.

4. Keep your refrigerator temperature in between 32- 40 degrees F. Your freezer temperature should be set between 30-0 degrees F.

Washing Machines:

5. Using cold water when doing most of your washes can save you money and still have your cloths perfectly cleaned.

6. Just like dishwashers, you should make sure that you run full loads because most washers will use the same amount of electricity.

7. Have a front-load washing machine. Front-load washing machines use two-thirds less water than top-load washing machines, reducing electricity and water.

Drying Machines:

8. Selecting to have a faster spin cycle can help reduce less time to dry your cloths.

9. When the weather is hot, you can dry some of your cloths outside on a clothesline or a drying rack to save energy costs.

10. Place your washing machine in a room that is warmer than a cold location like a cold basement. The warmer air going into the dryer will use less energy to heat the air up.

Dishwashers:

11. Make sure to load your dishwasher fully for each cycle. Most dishwashers use the same amount of electricity and hot water for each load whether it’s a full load or half of a load.

Ovens or ranges:

12. Don’t open your oven door frequently to check on your food. The temperature can drop about 25-30 degrees and requires more energy to regenerate the set temperature.

13. Use glass baking dishes as much as possible. Glass retains heat better than other materials. This can cook your food faster and you can even decrease the oven temperature.

What other things do you do to consume less energy in your home? Leave it in the comments section.

Gardening 101: Start a Garden this Spring

Spring is a time of growth and renewal: following a long, harsh winter, blades of grass are beginning to shoot up from the ground, buds are bursting out on tree branches, and birds are busily constructing nests for their soon-to-be-laid eggs. Everywhere you look, life is starting fresh. Why not be part of it this spring with your very own vegetable garden? Even if you’ve never planted a seed in your life, this how-to can help you plan and grow your very first vegetable garden.

Start Small

It can be tempting to want a vegetable garden that takes up your entire backyard, but if you’re just beginning to garden, it’s best to keep your garden small until you know how to control it. Planting too much too soon is a common mistake made by new gardeners, and can become problematic when harvest time comes and you have way more veggies than you’ll ever be able to use!

Sunny Side Up

Plan your garden in a sunny location, so that your vegetables can get the 6 hours minimum direct sunlight per day that they need. More sun equals a more bountiful harvest and better-tasting vegetables!

Mind the Soil

Good, loamy soil is ideal for planting your vegetable garden. Making sure the soil is properly drained and enriching it with compost will help provide exactly the right amount of water and nutrients to your plants.

Space Out

Pay attention to the directions on your seed packets for spacing requirements. If you plant your vegetables too close together, they won’t get enough sunlight, water or soil nutrients to properly thrive.

Packet Up

Make sure to purchase high-quality seed packets from reputable companies. Also, pay attention to the expiration date on the packets and make sure the seeds are from this year. Seeds that are past their prime are unlikely to germinate, wasting your time and money.

Any gardening tips for newbies? Please share in our comments section.

5 Washer Tips That Will Save You Money & Time

Watch the  video before using your new washing machine. These tips will help you prolong the life of your washer and dryer, and ultimately save you money and time.



Here is a recap:
1. Make sure to use correct type of detergent.
2. Check your pockets before washing.
3. Air out the machine by keeping the doors open.
4. Check your hoses to avoid leaks.
5. Listen to your machine for rattles.

Now that you know these steps before buying a washer, stop by one of our 16 locations to pick out the right washer and dryer for you and your family.

Appliance Specialists Like Nowhere Else

When you have hundreds if not thousands of choices, you need an Appliance Sales Professional to help you through the buying process.

Let us help you save money by helping you find the best appliance for your needs. Stop by one of our 16 locations to answer all of your appliance questions.



Please visit us at ApplianceFactory.com to find a store near you.

30-60% off Appliances (in Spanish)

Andres, one of our Product Specialists, explains how Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom's appliances work and how customers can save 30-60% off our appliances every day (in Spanish).



Andres, uno de nuestros especialistas de producto, explica cómo Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom’s unido funcionan y cómo los clientes pueden ahorrar un 30-60% de descuento en electrodomésticos todos los días (en Español).

Really, What Is the Best Time of The Year To Buy Appliances?

You’ve been seeing the commercials; the ads in the magazines, your fridge just decided to give up, or you moved into a new home and the appliances are avocado green from the seventies. There are so many reasons why you may have started your appliance shopping journey, and one of the most important questions you’re asking yourself is “How?” and/or “Am I getting the best deal possible?”.  Chances are you’ve seen an ad from Home Depot, Lowes, and even us, Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom and every week there seems to be some special deal or sale going on; and you’re stuck questioning when to buy. Or even worse you’re forced to buy right now, and waiting is not an option. If you take a few moments to review these tips you’ll be more prepared no matter the time you buy.

Expert Tip: If you don’t take anything from this article outside of this one tip you’re going to be in great shape. No matter where you purchase, make sure the retailer has a price match guarantee. But wait; not all price match guarantees are created equal. Make sure your retailer doesn’t just price match the day of the purchase but for at least 30 days after the purchase.

Recap: If the retailer will not price match 30 days after the purchase, even against their prices: DO NOT BUY!

Now that we’ve discussed one extremely important item to appliance shopping in general, let’s talk about the best times of the year to buy appliances. Okay, let’s play a little game; take a few moments and think what the world and maybe even you thinks is the best time of the year to buy appliances? …Let me guess you said “Black Friday”? While Black Friday generally has some great deals, fun door busters, and lines around the corner; the best appliance deals are rarely during Black Friday; or even in the 4^th Quarter.

Okay, you’ve waited long enough; the best deals and the best time to buy appliances is over the 4^th of July holiday. However, don’t just focus on that one day; chances are most retailers will start their 4^th of July pricing weeks before. Yes, that means you don’t have to rush to shop for appliances on one of the most fun family days of the year. Let’s make these numbers real so you can understand the discounts a little better.

At Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom we are known for the value we offer in our prices; our customers love to tell us how much money they’ve saved just by walking through our doors. We like when our customers save money, it makes us happy; and we know it’ll make you happy.

•   Everyday customers on average save 15% when shopping with us over the competition.
•   During the 4^th of July our customers have reported saving over 27% – 33% over the competition! WOW! (In comparison to Black Friday where our customers reported savings from 21% - 28% )

Now that that’s cleared up we can’t wait to see you in one of our 16 stores so we can learn more about your project and partner together to find the right appliances for your needs and wants. 

What is great about this year, is that Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom is extending some of their 4th of July sales for a few more months. What are you needing to buy?

Save Money on Air Conditioning in Your Home

In these hot summer months, it becomes a necessity to crank up the AC and keep yourself cool. But how do you effectively cool down your home without breaking the bank? Read on for some helpful tips to keep your cool without sacrificing all your cash.

Keep Air Filter Clean- A dirty air filter makes your AC work harder and use more energy, which translates to a higher electric bill. Changing your air filter every three months will help keep your air conditioning unit from having to work overtime to cool your house.

Invest in a Smart Thermostat- Thanks to modern technology, several “smart thermostats” now on the market can learn your household’s schedule over time and adjust the AC and heat accordingly. Also, these thermostats offer smartphone apps that allow you to adjust the temperature even when you’re not at home. Now that’s smart!

Buy an Energy-Efficient AC Unit- Central air conditioning units marked with the Energy Star symbol are designed to use about 14% less energy than minimum government standards. Not only that, but energy-efficient air conditioning units may qualify for a tax credit, increasing your savings even more!

How do you plan to keep your home cool this summer? Let us know your AC lifehacks in the comments section.