Save your stuff—and save money

Simple ways to extend the useful life of appliances and other things you own

Consumer Reports ran a charming bunch of photos last spring featuring readers with their ancient but still working appliances-including an 83-year-old gas stove and a 29-year-old TV set. The magazine didn't ask what the readers had done with the money they'd presumably saved as a result, but I'd like to think that it went into a retirement account. In fact, maybe that's why everybody in those photos looks so happy.

If you're scrounging up cash for retirement or have already retired and are trying to economize, not replacing stuff more often than you need to is one can't-miss strategy. So to help squeeze extra years out of the things you own, here are some tips from our experts and industry sources.

Air conditioners

For window units, wash the filter regularly in warm, soapy water and let it dry completely before reinstalling. Have central units professionally serviced, and clean or replace filters monthly or as needed.

Athletic shoes

Scrub them with a soft, soapy toothbrush and avoid the washing machine. Let shoes dry between workouts but never in a clothes dryer, which can give them too much of a workout.

Carpeting

Install padding, ideally no more than 7/16-inch thick, unless your carpet came with it attached. Vacuum often, especially in high-traffic areas. Also use pads under small rugs, and rotate them from time to time.

CDs and DVDs

If you have to clean them, wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth, starting from the center and working to the outer edge.

Cell phones

Don't stow in your car's glove compartment during the summer. Otherwise, batteries may overheat, possibly ruining the phone. If you've been known to drop your cell phone, treat it to a protective case.

Clothes dryers

Clean the lint filter after each use and the entire air duct yearly. If your dryer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable new model. But don't expect much gain in performance or efficiency, since dryer technology hasn't changed much.

Clothes washers

Don't overload. If your washer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable model. If you're replacing, consider a high-efficiency washer, which should save money over time. Also consider a front-loader, which is less punishing to clothes than a top-loader.

Clothing

Wash in cold water whenever possible and line-dry if you can; you'll avoid shrinkage and the wear and tear of tumbling in a dryer.

Digital cameras

Use the strap to keep from dropping your camera. When necessary, clean the lens gently with a microfiber lens cloth and lens-cleaning fluid.

Dishwashers

Check the filter regularly and remove any debris.

Down comforters, pillows, etc.

Spot clean whenever possible because goose down loses a bit of its airiness with washing or dry cleaning. Protect down comforters with a removable cover. Shake and fluff bedding and jackets often to keep the feathers from becoming squashed.

Hardwood floors

Dust mop or vacuum weekly. Wipe up wet spills pronto.

Kitchen knives

Keep them out of the dishwasher and store them in a wooden knife block or individual plastic shields.

Laptop computers

Set them on a hard, flat surface rather than a soft one such as a bed or carpet, which can block airflow and cause them to overheat.

LCD TVs

Clean the screen gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth, ideally a microfiber one. Avoid commercial cleaners and paper towels, which can scratch the screen.

Leather goods

Use naturally absorbent cedar trees in shoes and stuff empty purses with tissue to help hold their shape. Hang leather garments on wide or padded hangers to avoid the damage wire hangers can inflict. Allow leather to air-dry, away from direct heat, if it gets wet. Avoid rolling your leather belts, which can cause them to crack.

Mattresses

Rotate periodically. Try not to sit on the edge. Buy a washable, protective cover. And pull back the sheets and blankets to let the bed air out for 20 minutes or so each morning.

Ranges

Inspect the burners on gas models regularly and clean the burner ports with a needle. But don't touch the igniter, which could be damaged.

Refrigerators and freezers

Clean door gaskets with water and mild detergent. Vacuum dust off the coils, usually behind or under the unit, every few months.

Tires

Check your car owner's manual or a sticker, often on the driver's side doorjamb, for guidance on keeping your tires properly inflated. Both under and over-inflation can cause premature wear and handling problems. Underinflated tires will reduce your gas mileage. And at today's prices, that could negate a lot of your efforts at frugality.

This article appeared in Consumer Reports Money Adviser.