We might call it ‘spring cleaning’ but it can (and should) be done all year round! Every household appliance you have will need cleaning every so often. This way you can ensure each appliance maintains its maximum performance and ensure high-quality results.
Cleaning household appliances like a washing machine or fridge might sound simple but if you want to do it well and ensure you don’t damage any appliances then you need to take care and ensure you use the right materials. Below I’ve outlined some cleaning guides for each of your main household appliances so read on to ensure your Spring cleaning is a success.
How To Clean Your Dishwashers
Dishwashers are a more luxury appliance but they take care of one of the messiest jobs for you so it is easy to see why people have them. Dishwashers might not be a standard in every kitchen like a cooker or fridge but they are certainly growing in popularity and becoming increasingly commonplace.
Cleaning one though can be a little tricky but I can help with this simple guide. First, you need to remove everything from the dishwasher and ensure the filter and drain are clear. Then simply put the dishwasher on a hot wash cycle, once complete remove the cutlery holders and trays and leave them to soak in some hot soapy water.
Finally, give the dishwasher a wipe down with a cloth and some dishwasher-safe antibacterial spray. Once this is done dry the tray and cutlery holders and then put them back into the dishwasher and there you have it.
How To Clean Your Oven
Cleaning your oven is really going to be a job anyone really enjoys but it needs to be done. According to research from the appliance repair company Repair Aid, a build-up of dirt and grease on an oven can increase the risk of accidental fires. While it is a dirty and messy job it usually isn’t that difficult when you follow the right process.
The first thing you need to do is remove all the oven racks and tray and leave them to soak in hot soapy water. You can also mix in some oven cleaning liquid as well if you like. Then use a damp cloth to clean inside the oven this can be done while the oven is warm but make sure it isn’t too hot.
Again you can use oven cleaner during this step as well, once clean dry the over racks/ trays from before and then place them back into the now clean oven. Finally, wipe off any residue and leave your oven on for a little longer for preheating before using it to cook any food.
How To Clean Your Washing Machine
Now, this is a job many people don’t really think about doing, but if left for too long your washing machines performance can dramatically suffer. Engineers who are experts in dishwasher repairs, highly recommend cleaning your dishwasher regularly to prevent the appliance performance from suffering and eventually breaking. When cleaning your washing machine you should start with the detergent drawer, clean it thoroughly with hot water and a cloth and use a small brush to get stubborn stains out.
Once that is done move onto the door seal and use a sponge with a mixture of water and white vinegar to clear away stains and mould. Finally, to really make sure the machine is spotless add some more white vinegar to the detergent drawer and put the washing machine through its hottest wash cycle.
How To Clean Your Fridge
Cleaning out your fridge can get very messy but if you want to safely store your food it will need to be done every so often. Thankfully while the cleaning might take a while especially on larger fridge models it is relatively straightforward.
To start simply clear out your fridge and throw anything that is out of date away, then remove the fridge shelves, racks and compartments. Wash these with hot soapy water and leave them to dry, you can use an anti-bacterial cleaning spray as well.
Next, give the interior of the fridge a wash with soapy water as well, make sure the water isn’t too hot or you could damage the fridge. Use a scrubbing brush to get any stubborn stains out and use some kitchen towel to soak up any residue that as pooled at the bottom of the fridge.
Next, use a damp cloth and some anti-bacterial spray to clean around the door seal and then close the fridge to focus your cleaning efforts on the front of the fridge. Once done return the shelves and compartments back to the fridge and you’re done.
How To Clean Your Freezer
Cleaning a freezer requires a slightly different approach since they don’t get dirty in the traditional sense of the word. But to ensure they are always working at maximum efficiency they will require defrosting and clearing out every so often.
First, clear out any food from the freezer and then turn the freezer off at the plug socket. Place some towels around the freezer to collect any moisture and then pull out any racks/ drawers. While you are waiting for the ice to melt give these a soak in soapy water.
Once the ice has melted enough use some anti-bacterial cleaning spray and a towel to clean the interior of the freezer. Dry it out with another towel and then turn the freezer back on, dry the racks/ drawers and then return them to the freezer. Finally, don’t forget to give the front of the freezer a once over with the anti-bacterial spray as well.
How To Clean Your Microwave
Let’s finish up this cleaning guide with a look at cleaning your microwave, there are a lot of ways you can approach this but I’ve outlined my favourite method below. First, squeeze some lemon juice and mix it with water in a bowl and then place it in the microwave on a high heat for around 60 seconds.
Once finished give the microwave a moment to cool and then remove the bowl and wipe down the interior of the microwave with a clean cloth. To clean the glass plate and turning circle simply remove them and wash them in some warm soapy water before drying them off and returning them to the microwave.
