We came home this past fall to blood running across our garage floor. After realizing it wasn’t the scene of a murder, I found that we had stored a folding table behind our freezer and it had hit the plug just enough that it lost power. Our meat storage was lost, BOO! There are few things more frustrating than having your appliances not work properly. 

Just a couple of months ago, something similar happened. Our dishwasher broke. I thought it was a goner since it is about eight years old. Luckily, we have a friend in the business. Speaking with Jonathan Baker of iFiX about best brands to buy, he said you get what you pay for and the machines that range from about $650 to $850 with certain features are what he recommends. (He can tell you about those features if you are shopping for a new one). He casually asked what was wrong with our dishwasher. I told him, and he said that it’s probably not too bad to fix. I replied that our washer was not cleaning our dishes very well anyways, so I thought it best to just start over. 

After finding out what brand our machine was, he said that it is actually a good machine and will probably last for several more years with some minor repairs. Plus, he said he could get it to clean our dishes much better with a few minor adjustments. I have been so impressed with the outcome and so grateful that I didn’t have to spend between $650 to $850 on a new machine that I wanted to tell you all about it. 

Not only was our machine leaving crusty food particles on many dishes, it was putting a white hazy residue on our glass ware. It was embarrassing when someone would come over to the house and to give them a drink in a glass that didn’t look clean. Jonathan went to work. Before he showed up he had us soak the inside of the machine with white distilled vinegar to loosen things up. He then cleaned out the washer, removing hard water deposits and other things that reduced the flow of the water.

He taught me that there are three key things to focus on to get clean dishes. 

1. Heat: He said one of the key problems is that dishwashers should run at an optimum inlet temperature of 130º. If the temperature is below that the dishes won’t get clean. If the temperature is above that then you will start to get the hazy white residue. He said most of us have our water heaters set too high. Ours was at 160º, so we adjusted that down. 

2. Detergent: Here was another problem. We were using cheap detergent thinking they are all the same. They are not. He is a big fan of the Finish brand of detergents, specifically Finish Quantum. It contains cleaning enzymes that are ideal for clean dishes. You pay a little more for the good stuff, but your dishes are much cleaner. It really helps. 

3. Maintenance: First of all, if you have white residue on glass ware, you may be able to reverse it. Finish makes a product called Booster which comes in a pink bottle. If your glasses are not permanently etched, this will remove the white film. Works great! Our glasses are clear again. Plus, he recommended using Jet-Dry which is also made by Finish. 

The best part is our dishes are much cleaner and we didn’t have to fork out a small fortune on a new dishwasher that would have had the same problems if we didn’t change how we use the machine. 

Here is a link to a detailed explanation of what he did https://ifixutah.com/causes-white-residue-dishes-dishwasher/ or you can just call Jonathan and have him come out and get you set up right 801-731-4349. It is so nice to have clean dishes again. 

Q: I’m thinking of switching my checking account to a credit union. How is it different than using a big bank?

A: ​You’re not alone. Many Americans are dissatisfied with their banks, and are looking to make a switch. As a credit union member, you ​can expect to​ have a more rewarding experience. Credit unions are member-owned, and more attuned to the needs of their members. While banks and credit unions offer nearly identical services and account choices, there are some differences.  

1. Account fees 

To the unsuspecting consumer, big banks may not feel like money-hungry monsters. Once your account is up and running, expect to get hit with steep maintenance fees. The average bank charges consumers close to $150 each year for having an open checking account. On the flip side, many credit unions offer free checking.  

2. Overdraft fees 

Sometimes you miscalculate the funds in your account and overspend. If you make this mistake on a checking account at a bank, get ready to cough up those overdraft fees! These fees usually top $30, and some banks will make consumers pay the penalty for each transaction they make while their account is overdrawn. While some credit unions do charge an overdraft fee, on average, these fees are a lot lower than what banks demand.  

3. Fewer strings attached

Most big banks won’t allow you to open a checking account unless you have a minimum balance of several hundred dollars. In contrast, 76% of credit unions have no minimum balance requirement at all.  

4. Credit unions are government-regulated 

Both credit unions and banks are federally governed. A credit union that’s federally insured, like a bank with federal insurance, covers your accounts up to $250,000. However, credit unions face more government restrictions on their investments and loans than banks do. This means your credit union must be super careful with how it invests your money. 

5. Superior service 

When you’re banking with family, you don’t have to worry about overworked tellers, curt managers, or representatives who are indifferent to your individual needs. When you stop by your credit union, you’ll be greeted with friendly, familiar faces, and representatives who care. They’re always ready and willing to help you because they only have your best interests in mind.

6.  Checking Rewards

Instead of paying your bank for the privilege of using your checking account, how about getting cash back or earning a high dividend on your checking account every month? Rewards checking pays you back with simple requirements like using your debit card, being enrolled in e-statements, and using online banking to manage your finances.   

Why choose a credit union for your checking account? With lower fees, fewer strings attached, better service, and rewards, it’s the best place possible to park your money!