Tips to Make Your Electronics Last Longer
Replacing those electronics can be a real pain in the wallet. Sure, you could go without a TV, but if your phone or computer breaks, you’ll probably have to replace it immediately. If only there was some way to make sure your electronics lasted longer.
Well, there are multiple ways, and we’ve gathered them right here! Plug in and get ready to make your gadgets go the extra mile! TheLending shows you how!
Clean them well.
You know you need to clean your house and you obviously need to clean behind your ears, but did you know you should also be cleaning your electronics? It’s true!
“Overheating will kill your electronics in no time,” warns Karen Hoxmeier of MyBargainBuddy, “Always make sure fans are clean. A $5 can of compressed air is a worthwhile purchase.”
You need to be careful, however, since different electronics have to be cleaned in different ways or else you can risk damaging them. Be sure to look online to find out how to clean any specific device.
It’s also worth “cleaning” your digital devices by deleting unnecessary apps or data. That should lower the risk of your device crashing or stalling.
Plug into the right places for the right amount of time.
Not every electrical outlet is the same, and choosing the right outlet to plug your device into can be the difference between life and death (of your device).
“A power surge can fry a TV or computer,” Hoxmeier told us, “Make sure those items are plugged into a surge protector.”
The amount of time you leave your devices plugged in is also important. As Michael Banks, founder of FortunateInvestor.com, told us, “Don’t keep your laptop plugged in. It over-stresses the battery. Instead, unplug it when it’s charged to 70 or 80% to get the most use out of your laptop.”
It might also be worth getting a better plug. Here’s what the experts at Z-Wave.com had to say:
“Using smart home devices like a smart plug can help you extend the life of everyday electronics and save overall energy usage. Smart plugs give average devices like lights, coffeemakers, toasters and TVs connected features and allow you to see the status of that device and control it remotely. With a Z-Wave smart hub, you can set up schedules or automations to turn off devices or appliances when certain rules apply. Some hubs allow you to see the energy drain of each outlet and adjust your usage accordingly. Whether home or away, a smart plug can help cut down your energy consumption and extend the life of the electronics in your home.”
Treat your devices with care.
This seems obvious, but it can be the difference between constantly replacing your electronics and bragging to your friends about how you haven’t had to buy a new phone in years.
“Dropping a cell phone once is enough to crack the screen or make it inoperable,” says Hoxmeier, “Protect it with a sturdy case.” She also offered this advice when it comes to batteries and cables: “If the electronic device runs on alkaline batteries, check them every month or so to make sure the batteries haven’t leaked. To prevent damage from leaking batteries, always remove dead batteries from your devices.
“Avoid coiling cables tightly on phone chargers, laptop chargers, and headphones. This speeds up wear and tear and can cause a short in the cord.”
When you need to store any of your electronics for an extended period of time, be sure to use the original packaging. If that packaging is long gone (and let’s face it, it probably is) then you should still try and cushion the object with packing materials or some other sort of insulation. You also don’t want anything with a screen to be stored lying down on the floor, and you should make sure not to keep anything on top of it, either.
Finally, you should read the manual that came with the product.
What?! But isn’t reading the manual for nerds? Who doesn’t know how to use a TV?
We hear you, but reading the manual will tell you the best way to handle any specific electronic device so that you make sure to get the most out of your purchase.
Follow all of these tips, and you’ll be able to squeeze all the use you can out of your devices. You’ll be SHOCKED at how well proper care for electronics can save you money!
Michael Banks is a seasoned finance professional and founder of FortunateInvestor.com. With 20 years of professional experience in the financial services industry, he uses his expertise to turn simple lessons on money into lifelong habits that form the basis for a successful financial future.
As a stay-home-mom, Karen Hoxmeier took up couponing and bargain hunting to keep her family’s finances in order. She turned her love of frugal living into a blog in 1999. Over the last 18 years, she has helped her readers save millions of dollars with her tips.
Z-Wave.com is an online resource for consumers that provides resources including tips, facts, how-tos, FAQs, and blog posts about smart home technology. Z-Wave is the leading wireless home control technology in the market today, with over 1700 certified interoperable products worldwide. The Z-Wave standard is a key enabler of smart living solutions for home safety and security, energy, hospitality, office and light commercial applications. Z-Wave.com helps consumers learn about connected home technology.
