Appliance CLEAN UP!

Tackle tough to clean appliances in your kitchen with these smart tricks. The clean kitchen you want is only a few steps away. Cleaning appliances might seem like a long task, but with these tricks, your kitchen will be spotless in no time.

Refrigerator Clean Up

A clean refrigerator can rid your home of odors, expired foods, and unsightly clutter.
Here’s how to clean a refrigerator the simple way:

Mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Keep this food-safe cleaner in the refrigerator (with a label) so it’s on hand to clean up spills. Spray and wipe up spills as they occur.

Aside from the routine cleaning, give your refrigerator a good in-depth cleaning 3 or 4 times a year. Remove drawers and shelves to clean all surfaces and check expiry dates on sauces and condiments. Ensure the door gasket is wiped down to maintain a proper seal.

Dishwasher Clean Up

It seems odd to clean an appliance that’s main job is to clean, but that doesn't mean it never needs cleaning itself. To keep odors from lingering and to ensure that seals work correctly here are a few easy steps for how to clean a dishwasher.

Fill a dishwasher-safe cup with vinegar. Place the cup on the top rack of the empty dishwasher. Run the dishwasher on the hottest, longest cycle. This will sanitize and loosen any baked-on food debris and soap scum.

Use a toothbrush to clean the spray arm and remove any debris caught in the sprayers. For any hard water deposits replace the vinegar method above with lemon juice.

Microwave Clean Up

Food splatters coat the inside of your microwave every time you use it. With just
a bowl of water and a slice of lemon, you have a chemical-free way to get your appliance looking new and smelling fresh.

Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and a slice of lemon and place it in the microwave. A little lemon juice mixed with the water will also work. Heat, uncovered until the water starts to boil. The food on the surface should now be loosened, so you can easily wipe it clean.

Range Clean Up

The key to cleaning your stovetop is to be quick before food bits cook onto the surface, be sure to wipe them away.  (After the stovetop cools, so you don’t burn yourself, of course!)

Here's how to clean a stovetop and get your glass cooktop back to sparkling:

Soak a sponge in the strongest cleaner your cooktop can handle and place it on the debris for 30 minutes. Using a single-edged plastic scraper, carefully scrape the debris while holding the blade at a 30-to-40-degree angle. Wipe the cooktop clean.

Small Appliance Clean Up

Here are a few quick tips on cleaning up your small appliances as well.
BLENDER: Fill the pitcher with hot water as soon as you’re done using it, add a couple of drops of soap, and run the blender like you would for a recipe then rinse.

COFFEE MAKER: Put a paper filter in place, fill the water chamber with equal parts vinegar and water. Start the machine, turn it off halfway through the cycle and let the solution sit for half an hour, then finish the brew cycle. Pour out the vinegar solution, replace the paper filter, run the brew cycle with a full pot of water and repeat with one more full pot of water.

STAND MIXER: Place a wet rag over areas with built-on food residue to loosen it. After a few minutes, the dried food should be softer and easier to wipe away.

TOASTER: Unplug the toaster slide-out crumb tray, or turn the whole machine upside down and shake lightly if it doesn’t have a removable tray. Wash and dry the tray before putting it back wrap with aluminum foil for easy cleaning next time. Finish by wiping the outside with a damp cloth and mild detergent, or a bit of vinegar if it’s stainless steel.

Share

Related Posts

Share on Linkedin Share on Pinterest