Keep your appliances looking and performing better after the holiday season.
1. Refrigerator
The space behind your refrigerator is one of the hardest areas in your kitchen to keep clean. It’s a gathering place for dust, dirt, and all the other spilled items that have fallen behind the fridge. To properly clean your refrigerator after the holiday season, start by throwing away all old or expired food--say so long to grandma's homemade cranberry sauce.
Then pull out the refrigerator and mop up whatever you find left behind. Vacuum the refrigerator coils behind or beneath your fridge -- keeping the coils clean puts less stress on the fridge’s motor and helps to prolong its life.
To shine the inside and outside of your fridge, simply combine a mixture of soapy water and white vinegar. Using a damp cloth, you can wipe down all shelves and drawers and remove any fingerprints left on the exterior of your fridge.
2. Oven
The oven will likely need a good cleaning after a month’s worth of holiday eating -- luckily, most ovens have self-cleaning options to save you the headache. However, there are still a few areas the self-clean option can’t quite reach. It’s up to you to clean the gunk between the door hinges and the crumb-catching zone between double ovens. Throw on your rubber gloves and easily wipe down these exterior surfaces with soapy water or a bit of vinegar.
The baked-on food can come off with a small amount of baking soda and a gentle scrub from a sponge. Try your best to get in the habit of wiping up spills shortly after using the oven so you don’t have to worry about deep cleaning your appliance.
3. Stove
Between burnt food, a buildup of steam and grease, and the crumbs surrounding the burners, cleaning the stove is one of those household chores that should be done after each meal. Fill your sink with hot, soapy water and soak the grates, hood vents, and knobs to break down grease. Scrub the metal drip plates to eliminate any excess spills or buildup, and wipe down any crumbs that have fallen between the countertop and stove.
4. Dishwasher
Odds are, your dishwasher will be putting in overtime during the holiday season. With all those dirty dishes, it’s staggering how much gunk can accumulate in the back of the dishwasher. You might not think about cleaning the dishwasher because it cleans clothes every time you run a cycle, but it’s important to check the drain underneath the machine for debris and to wipe out the gaskets around the door to prevent any leaks or buildup of water.
Also, try running a full cycle at least once a week to deodorize your dishwasher. Place a bowl of white vinegar on the top rack--the vinegar mixes with the soap during the cycle to create a mixture that will clean the dishwasher without damaging its insides.
5. Washing Machine
One of the most common issues with washing machines is the excess of moisture that stays inside the machine, which can cause mold or a musty odor inside the door seal. While you’re running cycle after cycle to wash dirty aprons and gravy stains off your sweater, try combining water and a small amount of bleach to scrub the door seal and eliminate any grime. Avoid leaving damp clothes inside the wash bin for too long and keep the door open to air out the machine when it’s not in use.
6. Dryer
Emptying the lint trap might feel like you’re cleaning the dryer, but proper maintenance of your dryer includes a few additional steps. To keep your machine drying properly, clean the inside of the dryer’s drum by removing loose threads, clothing tags, or other items stuck in the moisture sensors-- when clogged, these sends a signal to the dryer that your clothes are dry when they aren’t.
Vacuum out any clumps of lint or dust stuck in the dryer exhaust. Scrape out the hose with a cleaning brush and wipe down the inside of the dryer drum with vinegar or a mild detergent. Once the inside of your machine is well-groomed, gently wipe down the outside to remove any scuff marks or stains that may be left on the door or handles -- then you’ll be ready for the next holiday’s pile of laundry.
These easy and efficient cleaning steps are sure to keep your appliances looking new. If you’re ready to wipe away the holiday mess and need help finding the right product, pay us a visit and we’ll help you find the right appliance to best fit your cleaning needs.