This month, Real Simple has a great piece on how to know if you can fix a major appliance that's having issues and when to call in the big guns. The story looks at common ailments of refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, and laundry machines. They have some great tips on how to troubleshoot things like build-up on dishes, fridges that don't chill well, and scary sounds that come from within...

The story also has a great timeline of beautiful appliances throughout the decades, including a 1964 GE World's Fair Special Refrigerator, a 1966 Tappan Resersa-Jet dishwasher, and a 1971 Magic Chef oven. It's like taking a walk through an appliance museum. We're sure you'll get all nostalgic once you find a machine you used to own.

(Image: Design Boner via AT Chicago )