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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The Year That Was 2014

W.L. May Portland
Our New Home In Portland
It's the last day of the 2014. We at W.L. May are enjoying the end of the year and ringing in 2015 with our loved ones. As the year winds down, it seems like a good time to look at the year that was.

Some positive developments for the appliance industry occurred over the course of the year, The United States major appliance makers all made announcements about expanding technical training and moving more manufacturing onshore from foreign sites.

The year began with news from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Appliances were big news at this years show with induction cooktops being featured as well as early "smart appliance" prototypes. Shortly after the show, GE announced new "magnetocaloric" technology for refrigerators that potentially could eliminate the freon compressor and provide for greater efficiency.

February brought the United Servicers Associations Appliance Servicer Technical Institute (ASTI) to the West Coast. Brad and Todd represented W.L. May at the San Diego event in late February. Being a West Coat event, many appliance service companies from our area were able to attend and expand their skills at the annual event.

In March, we saw the introduction of a new Maytag Man. In a twist, the Maytag Man morphed from being a machine repairman, to actually becoming the appliance itself.

April brought us a new addition to the W.L. May family. Trev Pelzer took the reins as sales manager and  quickly made himself known as a doer and valuable addition to our staff.

The Spring was largely a quite time for the industry overall. Behind the scenes, the staff of the W.L. May Portland store was busy making preparations to move to a new location. In Mid June the move was made pretty smoothly. Well thought out planning helped keep any disruptions of service to a minimum.

As we settled into our new home, Whirlpool made a July announcement that it would be purchasing Italian appliance maker Indesit. But that was not to be the big manufacturer news of the summer. That occurred late in July when General Electric made the major announcement that, after over a hundred years of operation, they would be selling their Major Appliance Division.

In early August, two suitors had emerged for the GE division. Quirky, a startup company for smart appliance development (purchased by GE in 2013) was one candidate. The other contender was Swedish owned Electrolux. Fairly quickly, Electrolux emerged victorious, announcing the impending purchase in August. More to come on this in 2015, to be sure.

September saw the end of summer and with the arrival of Fall, the United Servicers Association was at it again. Their Fall Regional Servicer Training Institutes were held in 26 cities across the US and Canada. W.L. May was proud to sponsor events in September in Sacramento, CA, in October in Salt Lake City, UT and finally in November the Clackamas Meeting served the Portland area. As always it was gratifying to see so many service companies expanding their skills.

Also in September, we shared a rather strange story that is continuing with more developments just this week.  LG executives were attending an appliance trade show in Germany. The execs are alleged to have broken the doors on display model Samsung washing machines. Samsung demanded an investigation into the alleged vandalism. The investigation is underway and within the last week, LG's top executive has been barred from traveling to the US for the CES show in Las Vegas in January and the offices and homes of several top level LG executives have been raided by investigators.

As you can see, it has been a busy year. Tomorrow we begin 2015. It promises to be eventful as well. We look forward to serving you throughout the New Year, thanks for all of your support in 2014. Happy New Year!

For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Kelly's Korner - After the Holidays

EDITORS NOTE: W.L. May Company will be closed Wednesday, December 31st & Thursday, January 1st. We resume normal hours on Friday, January 2nd, 2015

Hey, All,

I'm ba-aack!  I had a wonderful vacation/birthday/Christmas and am relearning how to to my job lol!  I hope all of you out there had a great Christmas!

We just had one minor catastrophe - my water heater decided to pump out cold water instead of hot.  Now while W L May has very little to do with water heaters, we do carry a couple of thermostats and elements.  But my heater is still under warranty so I called the nice people at the manufacturer's and they were able to troubleshoot for me and give me instructions on testing.  I will go home tonight and do that and call them tomorrow with the results and they will send me the part I need (I can hit the reset on the upper thermostat to get it to work so we are not all too stinky!).  Do not attempt to do any testing or repairs on any appliance unless you absolutely know what you are doing!
The pets are exhausted - must be tough!

Hopefully, all of you made it through the holidays with no major appliance disasters.  Now all the major cooking and baking is done, now would be a good time to clean that oven.  If you have a self-clean oven and don't have anything major coming up that you'll need your oven, run the self-clean cycle.  For some reason, and it doesn't matter the manufacturer, the self-clean cycle tends to blow the computer boards on ranges and ovens, so be prepared.

Go through your refrigerator, and if you have holiday leftovers left, either toss them, use immediately, or put them in the freezer if possible - you are looking at close to a week of their preparation and need to be taken care of before they turn into a science experiment or turn toxic.  Remember:  When in doubt, throw it out!

If you did have an appliance go kaput, get on the phone now with your favorite tech and get your repair scheduled.  They are just as busy after the holidays as before so get your appointment now.

I don't know about you, but I am done with cooking for a while, so I'm going to dig out my crockpot and throw stuff in there to cook - lotso good recipes on the 'net for them!

Have a safe New Year's and I'll see you next year!


Monday, December 29, 2014

Monday Motivation

I believe in process. I believe in four seasons. I believe that winter's tough, but spring's coming. I believe that there's a growing season. And I think that you realize that in life, you grow. You get better.-Steve Southerland

        For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Peacock Lane

W.L. May Company is closed today so that we can celebrate the holiday season with our families. We hope you are celebrating as well this holiday season.

Since 1929, Portland has a holiday tradition that brings the city together during this time of short days and long nights. There is a street in Portland called Peacock Lane that dresses up thoroughly for Christmas. It is a popular choice for a winter stroll, and many carloads of people drive down it as well. Even tour buses and horse drawn carriages parade down the busy residential street. We would like to take you there via some images we found on Flickr.  Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Welcome to Peacock Lane
(Flickr User Aaron Parecki/CC)
Peacock Lane Rules
(Flickr User Dianne Yee/CC)
Peacock Lane Tourbus
(Flickr User mike krzeszak/CC)
Peacock Lane Carriage Ride
(Flickr User User mike krzeszak/CC)
Peacock Lane Colorful House
(Flickr User Francis Storr/CC)
Peacock Lane Schroeder
(Flickr User User mike krzeszak/CC)
Peacock Lane Peanuts
(Flickr User User mike krzeszak/CC)
Peacock Lane Rudolph Lighting
(Flickr User User mike krzeszak/CC)
Peacock Lane Flamingos
(Flickr User User mike krzeszak/CC)
Peacock Lane Grinch
(Flickr User User mike krzeszak/CC)
Peacock Lane Muppet Christmas Carol
(Flickr User mike krzeszak/CC)
Peacock Lane Nativity Scene
(Flickr User mike krzeszak/CC)
Peacock Lane Holiday Greeting
(Flickr User mike krzeszak/CC)
For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Kelly's Korner - Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays, All,

Yes, I am still on vacation - and it's wonderful - but I wanted to wish all of you and your families the best of the holiday season.

I am busy doing some long awaited projects, making my Christmas goodies and doing the last minute shopping.  And a lot of relaxing!  And today is my birthday so I'm really pampering myself!

I just wanted to remind everyone that W L May will be closed December 24th and 25th.  Also, we will be closed December 31st and January 1st for New Year's.  We will be open regular business hours elsewise:  7:30am to 5:30pm weekdays and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays (Portland, OR branch only on Saturdays) except for noted above.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Monday, December 22, 2014

Monday Motivation


I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included. ~Bernard Manning

For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Friday, December 19, 2014

Friday Morning Videos: Gas Stove Top Burners

YouTube user Bill Newberry has put up several videos regarding appliance repair. Here are his tips for gas surface burners that might not be working.



For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Throwback Thursday: News Recap December 18, 2014

If you have been reading the W.L. May Blog but haven't checked us out on FacebookTwitter or Google+, you may not be getting the whole story. We use all of those social media outlets to share news stories that relate to our industry as well as appliance tips we have found from other sources. Here is a recap of some of the top stories we have seen lately. It's been kind of a slow week for news, but there was a little bit. So without further ado:

We start with some consumer friendly articles we feel would be great for sharing:
  • According to Consumer Reports, when it comes to dishwasher detergent, you don't always get what you pay for. LINK
  • Useful maintenance tips from Womans Day. LINK
  • Refrigerator maintenance basics from the Topeka Capitol Journal. LINK
Next, we look at the manufacturers and how they have been in the news recently:
  • Are you ready for the heat pump clothes dryer? Whirlpool is expanding it's rollout to the West Coast. LINK
We found an article that might be of interest to those of you who love all things appliance:
  • New appliances can make some people nostalgic. LINK
Sometimes, the links we post are related to technology, business or happenings on the internet:
  • Forbes talked about smart refrigerators (and other appliances) and the hype they have gotten over the years. Their survey shows that, with advancing technology, consumers are gaining enthusiasm for the idea. LINK
  • Have you ever wanted a robot to do your laundry? At Berkeley they are working on that. LINK
We close with a just-for-fun story:
  • Some people have all the (bad) luck. An appeal to the universe. LINK
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Repair Or Replace?

(Flickr user Angel Arcones/CC)
A frequent question consumers have when dealing with a broken appliance is whether to repair or replace the appliance. It can be a big decision.

A frequent rule of thumb is if the repair exceeds the more than half of the cost of a replacement, then you should repair it. That's not bad advice and actually can be a pretty decent rule of thumb; Before you cancel that service call and go running off to find a new appliance you may want consider a few other factors.

Let's talk about that "cost of replacement". These days manufacturers offer a wide variety of appliances to meet a spectrum of price points. What that means is that many repairs will exceed half of the cost of a lower end appliance. There is a good chance that what you are looking at replacing is a better, more feature rich unit than the low end "price busters" you might have seen in some ads.

Make sure, when you are thinking of those ads that you saw, that the machine being sold is as good as what you have. If not you will probably be buying a more expensive appliance from your appliance dealer. That higher priced appliance is the true replacement cost, not the low end unit that would not meet your needs or standards,

Also do not forget to take into account delivery charges, installation charges and any expenses that might be involved with getting rid of your broken appliance. As you can see, that "cheap ad" that you saw suddenly becomes a bit pricier.

Besides the question of replacement cost, I might consider the nature of the repair. For example. if the appliance is in great shape, but a fairly expensive switch needed to be replacement, That might be worth doing. On the other hand an inexpensive repair may be a symptom of a more expensive item beginning to fail. This is where hiring a trained, professional service technician can help you make an educated choice.

Nobody likes having a broken appliance and facing the repair/replace dilemma. If you are facing that choice, we hope we have helped sort out the decision for you. If you opt to replace your appliance, we wish you years of trouble free operation. If repairing the appliance is the better choice. we are here to help with the parts and supplies to do the job.

For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Kelly's Korner - A Flirt with Disaster

Hey, All,

Well, I am on vacation this week and next but had to leave something for you all to chuckle over.

So, I get home the other night and my #2 son says, "Mom, we don't have any hot water."

W T ?!?!?!?!?  I had plenty of hot water for my shower that morning - omg, it's Christmas and I can't afford any extra bills - which of my techs can I call for help - AARRRGGGHHH!!!  All this is running through my head in pure panic mode but, because I am the epitome of cool (yeah, right!),  I go turn on the hot water in the tub - yup, nothing but cold water.  So I go into the laundry room where the hot water heater is - looks ok - nothing leaking or burning (electric heater and less that 5 years old).  Luckily, the breakers for the heater and the dryer are right on the wall beside the heater (note:  mark breakers for what they go to - it really makes life easier) so I flipped that.

Eeeh, not really hearing anything....wait!!  Working in this business has taught me a thing or two and even though W L May does not do much with water heaters - in the very back of my brain, I seem to remember that there is a reset button on heaters.  So I grab my handy dandy Phillips screwdriver and take off the top plate and voile!  There is a button!  And I push that button!  And I hear faint noises of the heater elements heating up! And I am dancing for joy!  But I need to wait a bit for the water to heat to see if it is working.

So I spend the next hour watching TV, crocheting and checking the clock every two seconds.  After an hour I go into the bathroom and turn the tub faucet on praying.....Yahoo!  The water is getting warm!  Happy dances all around and Mom has saved the day once again!  And taught my boys if it happens again to fix it themselves.

A note to all - if you run into a situation like this and the things I did don't work - STOP!  Call a plumber.  Especially if you have a gas heater - gas scares me and luckily only my furnace is gas and I have Patrick to help me with that.  But there may be other issues that need to be dealt with so call a professional.

Have a wonderful and warm Holiday!

Monday, December 15, 2014

Monday Motivation


Hot cocoa and cold toes remind me of Christmas.―Toni Sorenson

For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Friday, December 12, 2014

Friday Morning Videos: The Maytag Repairman Giving A Demo

Not the best quality video, but it is a slice of time. Here is the former Maytag Man doing an in store range demo.



For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Thursday Tweets: Holiday Edition



While looking through our Twitter feed we found these holiday season tweets to share with you.

To start things off. We all know that there are "morning people" and then there are the rest of us. But one day a year, it seems like everybody becomes a "morning person"...



For some of us, we really need to get in the mood to become a "morning person".



For others, it will take until the kids, who are at college, come home to visit.



Parents of younger kids will be having this conversation.



Even the family pet can get caught up the anticipation of the season.



On the other hand, there are those who just don't seem to have much fun at this time of year, despite the best wishes of their friends.



Maybe its just more fun to make your own baked goods.



Or maybe not. At least a pastry chefs treats are likely to be appreciated. Feel sorry for this guy...



Maybe our last tweeter just made the wrong baked goods...



Like us, this next tweeter is ready for some Christmas goodies. Unlike us, she has a broken oven. If only there was a service industry that could somehow help solve her problem. (wink, wink)  



All this holiday treat talk has me thinking I should see if there are any goodies hiding out around the offices of W.L. May. Often there is something floating around to snack on at this time of year. Thanks to all of you who send us treats. We sure do enjoy them. So I am off to go scouting for yummies. Have a great holiday and remember to be safe when YOU go out scouting around for fun and goodies....



For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE



Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Gift Ideas From W.L. May Company

(Flickr user Tony Alter/CC)
Its the Holiday Season, and Santa Claus has toy for every good girl and good little boy. For the rest of us, its time to go shopping. Did you know that W.L. May can help meet some of your gift needs?

Of course, we know that appliance parts probably won't cut it as gift (unless you include installing the parts). W.L. May does keep on hand some kitchen and home decor items that WOULD make good gift items.

For a few years now, W.L. May has been working with a local artist from Vancouver, WA. Allen Design Studios make these whimsical ceramic clocks that we feature in store. I've lost count of how many people I have seen looking these clocks and have heard numerous conversations suggesting what a great gift idea they are.


Here at W.L. May we have a particular soft spot for the Vintage Mixer  (we know it is really a Kitchenaid mixer) and  Chef Suey clocks. The Wine Time and Steamin' Tea clocks also get a lot of attention.


Another item that makes a great gift for the barbeque-er in your home is a Traeger grill. These pellet grills are a great option for winter grilling and do an excellent job cooking all year around. If you already have a Traeger grill already, you know what we are talking about. In addition to the grills, we stock a wide variety of wood pellets, seasoning rubs and other Traeger accesories.



Do you have a hard working repairman to buy for? A less fun, but still very practical gift would be a new  meter. We stock a wide compliment of meters and testing equipment from UEI.


We would love to help meet some your Holiday shopping needs. What we want even more than that, is for you and your family and friends to have the best Christmas ever! Happy Holidays from W.L. May.

               For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Kelly's Korner - Mini Almond Joy Recipe

Hey, All,

I hit the grocery store this weekend to begin getting stocked up for my marathon Christmas goody preparations - not much baking involved.  As mentioned last week, I am going to give you my Mini Almond Joy recipe - these are fairly easy to make but very time intensive as you will see.

In a large bowl:

1 large bag flaked coconut
1 2lb bag powdered sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 cubes margarine, melted

Mix this all together thoroughly and divide into small plastic containers and put in freezer.  Why?  As you may notice, this mixture is very gooey and unless frozen, very hard to work with.  It thaws quickly, so as it softens, you can switch out containers.

Now, if your coconut mixture is hard enough, take a whole almond and roll some of the coconut mixture around it.  Place on a wax paper coated cookie sheet.  Keep making bite size balls, switching out your containers of coconut mixture as they get too gooey to work with.  Place loaded sheets back into the freezer until ready to dip.

While your balls are freezing, in a double boiler (I use one of those mini crockpots), melt a bag of chocolate chips and about 1/2 a slab of household parafin wax.  What?  Wax? Yes, this makes the chocolate harden fast and keeps it from melting in your hand.  Or you can use dipping chocolate (almond bark) that you can find in the cake making section of Michael's or Joann's.

Taking one sheet out at a time - well frozen - dip your balls into the chocolate mixture and return to the cookie sheet.  When sheet is full, return to the freezer for a final freeze.  You can then put them into your gift containers.  Keep them refrigerated.  If you want to get really fancy, melt some white chocolate chips in a ziplock bag and snip a very small corner off the bag and drizzle white chocolate over them.

Now, if you aren't wanting to make individual balls, you can use chopped almonds and mix them in with your coconut mix and pour into a greased cookie sheet pan and freeze.  Then cut into small squares and dip those.

Now you all know why I take the week off before Christmas - I make about four batches of these and each year it seems I add more people to the list of who wants them.  As I said last week, my family won't let me come to family Christmas without them!

Don't forget to send me your favorite holiday recipes - kelly.m@wlmay.com - I'd love to see them!  I will be on vacation for the next two Tuesdays but should have a little something to share.


Have a great week!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Monday Motivation

“As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December’s bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same.” - Donald E. Westlake
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Friday, December 5, 2014

Friday Morning Videos: Santa's Helpers

A lot of people like to get in the Christmas spirit by watching the classic stop motion animated special "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer". Did you know, when the series first aired, it only had one sponsor? All the ads were for the same brand. That brand was one we all know and love: GE. These are counter top appliances and not the white goods we love the best. Still, it is fun to watch as GE's appliances were shown off by the animated elves from the special. I hope you enjoy it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6KJJq75YhE


           For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE


Thursday, December 4, 2014

Throwback Thursday: News Recap December 4, 2014

If you have been reading the W.L. May Blog but haven't checked us out on FacebookTwitter or Google+, you may not be getting the whole story. We use all of those social media outlets to share news stories that relate to our industry as well as appliance tips we have found from other sources. Here is a recap of some of the top stories we have seen lately. It's been a HUGE week for news, so without further ado:

We start with some consumer friendly articles we feel would be great for sharing:
  • Our friends at De Anza Appliance are hosting a holiday food drive. Please give generously. LINK
  • Buying a used appliance? Fox31 in Denver says to check that model and serial number. LINK
  • From the UK, here is a warning that really applies to all appliance users. LINK
  • Consumer Reports explains why top loaders still have some popularity, and lists their picks for best models. LINK
  • FoxRio2 in Texas gave us a nice list of little dishwasher tips. LINK
  • Reviewed.Com discusses the causes of washing machine smells and some solutions. LINK
  • Rocky Mountain Power has a program that not only helps you get rid of your old refrigerator safely, it also helps to feed the needy. LINK
  • If you are considering buying a used appliance, it would benefit you to take a few minutes and check for recalls. LINK
  • An important reason to make sure your gas range has ventilation. LINK
  • Putting off a dishwasher repair until after Christmas? Well, if you must, here are some tips for hand washing dishes. LINK
Next, we look at the manufacturers and how they have been in the news recently:
  • Whirlpool is having a good year, posting a 52 week high on its stock price after quarterly earnings growth of 4.1%. LINK
  • Whirlpool released a new video in their "Every Day, Care" campaign. It talks about challenges that face many unusual family living arrangements. LINK
  • Electrolux has a new refrigerator (in Brazil) that features a "healthy eating" app with various recipes and suggestions built in. How to market it? Explode some food, of course...LINK
  • For Maytag's "Day Of Dependability", Whirlpool helped 2 groups. Working with a couple of the local Boys and Girls Clubs they created care packages for our troops abroad. LINK
  • Whirlpool won another round in its ongoing defense of front load washers. LINK
  • With most manufacturers seeing an opportunity in the "Internet Of Things", why would GE sell out? LINK
We found some articles that might be of interest to those of you who love all things appliance:
  • We found a strange kickstarter film project. Picture this: Two washing machines fall in love and have to battle an evil microwave. Hey, it wasn't OUR idea! LINK
  • Schoolkids explained why there is a light in the refrigerator, but not in the freezer. LINK
  • In a promotion for appliance recycling, American Electric Power Ohio painted this classic refrigerator. LINK
  • Bells and whistles are nice, but you can get the job done cheaply too. LINK
Sometimes, the links we post are related to technology, business or happenings on the internet:
  • It's well known there is a shortage of new technicians entering the appliance repair trade. This article shoots down a lot of the stereotypes that steer young people from considering a career in trade work. LINK
  • Amazon rolled out a new program, Amazon Local Service, that is working with contractors and service providers in a few test cities. LINK
  • Regardless of opinions on the politics, this discussion about microfiber pollution could have substantial influences on our trade. LINK
  • Twitter is poised to make some significant changes. If you use Twitter this article is a must read. LINK
  • Early smart appliance prototypes are being developed. Here are some of the developers considerations. LINK
We close with some just-for-fun stories:
  • Possibly the most elaborate explanation for the lost sock phenomenon we have seen yet. LINK
  • An OC Register writer went refrigerator shopping with her teen aged daughter. LINK
  • A statistic about how fewer kids have to do chores these days prompts a reporter to reflect on the chores of her youth. LINK
  • Sometimes you just need to use those tools you bought...LINK
  • This college student does not want a dishwasher. He would rather have the "community" of everyone gathering in the kitchen to wash dishes. LINK
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

We Still Need Toys

Off To A Good Start

It's Christmas time! The famous "Thanksgiving Rush" is behind us and we can now put our attention to getting ready for the big holiday at the end of the month. You may find yourself shopping, and if you do (hint, hint) we are still looking for toys to donate to area children's hospitals.

As you can see from the picture at the beginning of this post. we have had quite a few donations. Then again, there are a lot of kids who are in the hospital this Christmas season and your donations can make their day brighter.

Any kind of new children's toy helps, all that is requested by the hospital is to avoid religious or violent themes, So when you are out there getting ready for the holidays, remember there are some kids who can't join in the shopping fray.

This bin only LOOKS full, It can hold a LOT more!
We are acceptiong donations until December 12th, so you have about a week and a half. Drop by any of our branches to make your donations, or send them to our distribution center.

W.L. May
attn; Toy Donation
1212 W 4th Plain
Vancouver, WA 98660

On behalf of the kids who will be receiving your generous donations...
 Thank You!

For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Kelly's Korner - Holiday Goodies

Hey, All,

With the holiday season upon us, out comes the tried and true goodies that we wait all year for.  Why?  I don't know - we can make fudge and divinity and eggnog and whatever any time of the year but only do it during the holidays.  One of the reasons the holidays are special, I guess.

One of my holiday goodies is my version of the good old Chex mix.  I make tons of it and give it as gifts to friends, neighbors and co-workers.  Here is my recipe:

24 cups of whatever combination you want of:  Wheat Chex, Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Cheerios, nuts, pretzels (I don't like pretzels but you might), if I can find some bags of the Gardetto's rye bread chips (these I LOVE!), bagel chips, little Chinese rice crackers, gourmet bread twists, or whatever else grabs your fancy.

I dump all this in my roasting pan and turn my oven on to 250 degrees.  In a microwave safe 2-cup measuring cup I melt 2 cubes of margarine, 5 tablespoons of Worchestershire sauce, three heaping teaspoons seasoned salt, 2 heaping teaspoons garlic powder and 1 heaping teaspoon of onion powder (I like to over do the seasonings lol), then pour over the cereal stuff while stirring.

Stick it in the oven and stir every 15 minutes for an hour.  When it's done I then pour it in a brown paper grocery bag to cool.  And beat my boys back to keep them out of it ;-)

When it's cool I divide it up into the cute little tins I get from the dollar store.  This makes a nice gift for someone you want to remember at the holidays and is always a hit at the office and parties.

I would really like to hear from you as to what your favorite holiday treat to make if you are not too proprietary about sharing your recipes - send them to me at kelly.m@wlmay.com.  I will also be sharing my recipe for miniature Almond Joy bites - my family won't let me come to family Christmas without them!

Have a great week!

Monday, December 1, 2014

Monday Motivation


A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.-Garrison Keillor

                 For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Friday, November 28, 2014

In Case You Were Wondering

Take a break from Black Friday shopping to repair an appliance. We are open today! Come on down or give us call, we are eager to help.


Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Thanksgiving Weekend Schedule


W.L. May Company will be closed Thnksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28 to celebrate the holiday with our families and loved ones. We will be open regular hours on Black Friday, November 29, and Saturday, November 30th (9a-1p). We hope you all have a great holiday!
                                                       
Carrier  Thanksgiving  Black Friday
UPS Closed Regular Schedule
OnTrac Closed Regular Schedule
FedEx Closed Regular Schedule
USPS Closed Regular Schedule



For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Kelly's Korner - Cleaning Your Gas Cooktop

Hey, All,

Here is the last installment of stove cleaning - cleaning the top of your gas range.  Now as I have never had a gas range, I had to do some research on this.

First of all, if you wipe up the spills and spatters as they happen, then that goes a long way into keeping it clean - common sense, right?  But you still need to do some deep cleaning periodically.

Wait until your cooktop is completely cool then remove the grates.  Be very careful as these are really heavy.  If you have crusted, burnt on food you can put them in the sink to soak in hot water and dish soap.  W L May does carry a cleaner for them if you want to check that out.  DO NOT put them in your oven and turn on the self-clean!!!!  You will be buying new grates if you do this.  Gently scrub with a sponge to remove the crusties, rinse thoroughly and dry completely before putting them back on the stove.
Grates

CAUTION:  DO NOT TRY TO LIFT THE TOP OF YOUR STOVE!!!  I have had lots of people try to do this to clean underneath and they've had to replace all the gas tubing to the burners.  You can bend, twist or break these gas tubes and then you will have a major gas leak - NOT good.













Now remove the burner caps and wash in hot, soapy water, rinse and dry.  You can use non-abrasive cleaners on these, but make sure they are thoroughly rinsed and dried before replacing.
Burner Cap




















For the burner bases, you can use a mild cleanser, hot water and a soft cloth to wipe them off.  You can use an old toothbrush or a piece of wire to clean the openings.  Be careful not to scratch or gouge the openings and don't use a toothpick - the wood can easily break off and get stuck.  Again, make sure everything is thoroughly rinsed of cleaning products and dried.  Carefully wipe the ignitor with a water dampened cotton swab - don't get it too wet or it may not light.  Using a wooden toothpick, gently scrap off any guck off the ignitor and remove any fibers left from cleaning.
Burner Head
Igniter is white circle on  right
Orifice is brass center circle

Now, give the cooktop a good wipe down with a mild cleaner and sponge - rinse and dry thoroughly.  If you have a stainless steel top, wipe in the direction of the grain and dry with a cloth to prevent spots.  Don't use abrasives or products that contain chlorine because both are corrosive to stainless.  You can use a stainless steel conditioner for a nice shine but do not use this on non-stainless surfaces like the control markings, labels, or touchpads.  Only use stainless steel cleaners on stainless steel.  There are many finishes out there made to look like stainless but are not.  How can you tell?  If a magnet sticks to it, it is not stainless.

W L May carries a bunch of different cleaners and conditioners for stainless steel appliances - come down and look.

Make sure everything is well dried before putting back together and be VERY CAREFUL setting the grates back on top.  These babies are very heavy and if you have a glass cooktop, dropping a grate on it will have you ordering a new top in short order.

Periodic maintenance will enhance the life of of your stove reduce repair calls.

To all my friends out there, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!