Keep Your Appliance Manuals! Here's Why

Paper is dead, right? Tell that to the pile of junk mail you probably get on a weekly basis or the thick booklet that came with your microwave or refrigerator. Not everything has gone completely digital, and there are some compelling reasons to keep certain bits of paper filed neatly away in your home. Why should you keep owner's manuals and warranties for appliances?

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Turns out that paperwork can save you a lot of time, hassle and even money later.

Do You Need to Keep Appliance Manuals?

Keeping manuals for your appliances can be a good idea, even if it seems like a hassle to store that paper. Once your washer is installed and working or you've mastered the several dozen options on your new blender, you may hold the manual in hand and think, "This bit of paper doesn't spark joy." Before you go the Kondo way and add it to the garbage or recycling bin, consider the reasons below in favor of keeping those appliance manuals.

5 Reasons You Might Want to Keep Home Appliance Manuals

The first reason to keep an appliance manual on hand is that it tells you exactly how to operate the product. Even small kitchen appliances like toasters come with numerous options today, and if you don't use all those options regularly, you may forget how they work. If you have a vague memory that your toaster has a special annihilating function, for example, you can grab the manual to remind yourself how to use it.

Some other reasons to keep home appliance manuals include:

Self-Help Support For Troubleshooting

Most appliance manuals include easy-to-follow guidance on troubleshooting. Typically, you'll find a table or list of common issues people experience with a type of appliance and what you can do if you find yourself in that boat. The manual can help you know if there's an easy fix that saves you from the time and money involved in calling a repair person.

Appliance Model Information

If you do need to move beyond DIY repairs or maintenance, you might want to call the manufacturer for assistance. Whether you're talking to the manufacturer's customer service line, calling in a pro repair person or ordering replacement parts, you need the model number for your appliance. That number isn't always easy to find on the appliance itself but is usually in the manual.

Part Lists and Ordering Info

Most appliance manuals include parts lists and information on how to order new ones, which can be helpful if you need to replace a shelf in the fridge, a pitcher for the blender or other specific parts.

Warranty Documentation

Manuals often come with warranty information that can be helpful if you need to use the guarantee on your product. Because appliance warranties can cover multiple years, many people don't remember the details when they need to leverage this coverage.

For the Next Owner

Having the manual on hand can be helpful if you want to pass a small appliance on to someone else. The original manual — and even the original box for small appliances — can also potentially increase the amount you can sell an item for.

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Can't You Just Access the Manual Online?

Many manufacturers do put versions of manuals online. However, finding the exact right PDF for your kitchen appliance can be difficult. Even if you have model and serial numbers, finding manuals online can take a lot of time, and you may not ever be sure you've found the exact match for your small appliances.

How to Organize User Manuals

Instead of leaving things to chance, consider slipping manuals and warranties into sheet protectors and keeping them in a binder. You can organize the binder by dates of purchase, appliance type or anything else that makes it easy for you to find information when you need it.