With the holiday season right around the corner, many consumers are looking for ways to save money. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has come up with a list of five appliances that may already be in your home, which can help you save money.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, today’s refrigerators use much less energy than older models. With an Energy Star-qualified refrigerator, you can maximize your energy and dollar savings without sacrificing the features you want. In fact, a fridge from the 1970s uses four times more energy than a new Energy Star-qualified qualified model.

There's probably nothing more horrific than opening your refrigerator only to be welcomed by an awful and offensive smell. Even worse - not finding the rotting perishable item. Once found, discard the offending food item immediately and then clean out your refrigerator to eliminate any remaining trace left.

According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), food may not remain fresh in an automatic defrost refrigerator/freezer or freezer placed in a room cooler than 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

The refrigerator is an energy hog in your kitchen. Follow these tips to reduce your fridge’s energy intake and lower your bill.

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) offers some great tips on how to keep your appliances rust-free. Proper care can control rusting and help lengthen the life of your appliances. Appliance rusting can be most commonly found where there is a moist climate and salty air. Once the rusting begins, halting it can be difficult. Sanding and painting, or replacement, may be the only solutions. To help keep rust from occurring, take the following preventive measures.

The garbage disposal is for garbage, but not all of it. Certain items can cause blockages and give your home's plumbing a beating. Here's a list of some items you should avoid putting down the disposal.

Microwave cooking is convenient and effective. Keeping your microwave oven in top condition is easy and will keep it and your food in top shape.

Over time, your dishwasher may start to lose its vigor when it comes to getting your dishes clean. Built-up food debris and detergent can lessen the efficiency of your dishwasher. To keep your dishwasher working (and smelling) like new, follow these simple steps.

Water minerals can build-up in your coffeemaker and carafe, eventually leaving your coffee tasting (and looking) less than it's best. You can easily descale your coffeemaker every few months to keep your appliance running in top condition and keeping your caffeine source brewing strong.

When the weather doesn't call for a chilly blast from your air-conditioner, a fan can keep you quite cool. The are also one of the most efficient ways to keep your home comfortable.

A major part of running an efficient air-conditioner, is maintaining the condensor coils. If you have central air-conditioning, there is a condensing coil both inside and out. These should be cleaned annually, and is often part of a regular service contract.

Purchasing an air-conditioner is a hefty investment, and it's only natural to want it installed properly to ensure several summers worth of comfort. When choosing an air-conditioner contractor, be sure to take the following into consideration.

When it's hot and humid, you may be grateful for your air-conditioner but not at such a high price. You can reduce your energy costs with a few simple tricks.

Leaf blowers are efficient appliances that help make fall clean-up a breeze. Here's how to use one safely to make fall chores a snap.

When you’re in the mood for a smoothie, or a mixed drink, it’s only a nuisance when your blender goes on the fritz. These steps will help you get you mixing again in no time. 

Stand mixers are versatile when it comes to kitchen appliances. They are expensive, though, so make sure you take care to protect your investment. Follow these simple steps to make sure your mixer shines like new for batches of cookies and years of birthday cakes to come.

Maintenance is key to getting the most cleaning power from your vacuum cleaner. Follow these steps four times a year (we suggest once every quarter) to keep your vacuum the cleaning machine you need it to be.

Keep you refrigerator working like the efficient workhorse it is - and save money - with a few, minor adjustments.

If your room air-conditioner is noisy, Vibration is most likely the cause. Here's how to track down the cause and fix it so that you can stay cool in peace and quiet.

More recent freezers don't need to be defrosted as they're frost-free, but they should be washed out and cleaned periodically. When ice builds up, it decreases your freezers ability to chill properly. Follow these simple steps to defrost your freezer when ice builds up to a thickness between 1/4 and 1/2 inches. 

 With temperatures rising to the mid-90s and higher, keeping your food cool (and safe) is a priority during summer. Keep food fresh by following these guidelines, recommended by the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Do you attempt to clean those pesky seals around your refrigerator door without much luck? Follow these steps to rid the seals of any grime to ensure your refrigerator door closes tight.  

 Your air conditioning system breaks down in the middle of a heat wave. When you need to replace your system quickly, what should you do? American Standard offers these quick tips when you need to replace your air-conditioner in a hurry.

Get ready for the Fourth of July weekend by cleaning up your grill. Have it looking new in no time with only a few steps. 

 The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) offers five simple tips to help families save electricity — and money — this summer.

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) offers these simple energy savings tips to consumers looking for ways to cut energy bills this summer. 

It takes a hefty investment in clothes to keep you and your family looking great, and who wouldn't mind keeping those garments looking like new? A few steps taken during the wash and dry cycles can keep your clothes looking great for years -- and all with the help of your washer and dryer.

If your ceiling fan is wobbling (and annoying you in the process) you don’t need to invest in a new one. Here’s how to make your ceiling fan run silently - or at least close to it.
 

Save energy -- and money -- with these ideas for your major appliances suggested by the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC).

After daily use for several months (or years), your coffee maker can end up looking grimy and leaving your coffee tasting the same. Cleaning your coffee pot will result in great-tasting brew and free your appliance of hard-water deposits.

You've probably heard that the analog TV frequency you currently view your favorite programs will switch over to a digital frequency, effective in 2009. You're not alone if you don't know what, if anything, you need to do to keep yourself tuned in.  

It's convenient. You use your garbage disposal all the time, and occasionally, it starts to smell. With all the food thrown down into your garbage disposal, small food bits can leave your food-grinding appliance with a less then desirable funk. Here's how to keep your disposal clean and smelling great - and in a 'green' way too.

Whether you've recently purchases a new a lawn mower or are breaking an old stand-by for the first cut of the season, a few tricks of the trade will help keep you mower cutting for seasons to come.

You're new flat-screen TV has arrived. But before you start drilling holes in the wall, consider five factors that can affect where you place your HD display. The Consumer Electronics Association offers the following tips. 

A ceiling fan is an a cost and energy efficient way to keep your home cool in the summer heat. It can help keep a room comfortable without the air-conditioning running and also help circulate cool air with the AC on. To do so, make sure your ceiling fan is set for summer cooling.

Over time, you may find your washer machine is taking longer to finish the cycle, is leaving more water than needed after rinsing, and is generally leaving your wash unclean. If so, cleaning you washer machine filter might be a quick fix to an efficient laundry cycle. 

Grilling brings the fun of summer, and the ease of outdoor cooking (aka: no dishes) with it. In a survey by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), 70 percent of respondents said they find “a lot” of pleasure in having few or no pots and pans to clean up when grilling as opposed to indoor cooking.

The change of season is a perfect time for maintenance checks on your household appliances, including your washing machine.

With spring finally in the air, you should include your air-conditioner as part of your spring cleaning. A little pre-season maintenance will keep you cool and your unit operating smoothly -- even in the dog days of summer.

You've purchased an energy efficient appliance, but do you know how much energy (and money) you'll really be saving? Learn how to decipher those energy labels to find out.

Although winter may technically be over in a few weeks, the chiller weather is still with us and still driving our utility bills up. To help conserve energy, and money, replace an old mercury thermostat with a digital, programmable one. 

Whole house humidifiers are a great way to prevent the dry, winter weather from taking over your home. They're also a great investment if anyone in your household suffers from asthma, allergies or other respiratory problems. You should consider price, features and efficiency when it comes to purchasing a whole house humidifier, but here are a few guidlines to help you choose the best humidifier for you.

Humidifiers need regular cleaning, especially during the winter months when they are used more frequently. Check your manufacturer's instructions and use your judgment when cleaning a humidifier to make sure this method works for your machine. After that, try this simple method.