Your kitchen appliances do the lion’s share of the work and make
our lives a lot easier. You need to keep them well maintained in order for
them to do their job well. You want your beloved items to go the distance, so
give them some well-earned TLC this spring
cleaning.
Refrigerator
Nothing works
harder than your dear old friend the refrigerator, so have it at the top of
your spring cleaning list. The first step is to remove all food items from
inside; check their expiration date and chuck into the trash if necessary.
Then take out all the drawers and shelves and clean them with warm soapy
water – if you have any stubborn stains pop on some baking powder then rinse
and dry. Next you need to remove any odors inside; wipe the walls and door
down with an all-purpose cleaner or with a mix of ¼ cup of baking soda and
four cups of water, then dry. Next, remove dust from the coils (usually they
are located behind) with the brush accessory on your vacuum cleaner. Finally,
clean the seals of the door with warm soapy water and restock.
Coffeemaker
Your coffeemaker is
an important appliance –how would you ever get to work on time without it!
Because of the water constantly running through it, you need to keep on top
of cleaning it regularly. First, take the filter and carafe and wash in warm
soapy water. Then you need to descale: add three cups of water and three cups
of white vinegar into the water compartment and brew as usual. Turn it off
about half way through the cycle for thirty minutes then let it finish.
Run a further two lots of normal water through the cycle – this will
make sure you don’t have coffee with a side of vinegar the next morning!
Finally, wipe down the exterior and
dry.
Blender/Mixer/Food Processor
Take
off any blades or removable accessories and pop them in warm soapy water. To
soak, then scour them using a nylon brush. Then wash the main carafe; you can
do this by filling it half way with water, dishwashing liquid, and a chopped
lemon or a drop of white vinegar. Run the machine and hey presto! Your carafe
should be sparkling. Finally, wipe the base with dishwashing liquid and
ensure to dry everything thoroughly to stop rust.
Oven
This is dependent on the
type of oven you have; if you have a self-cleaning oven then the work is done
for you. If yours is ordinary, then roll up your sleeves and get ready for
some scrubbing! First, remove the metal trays and put them in warm water with
dishwashing liquid. If the inside is caked in dirt, then you can fill an oven
safe tray with a mix of water and the juice of three lemons. Turn the oven to
350 degrees and leave for an hour. After it has cooled, use a paste of baking
soda and water to gently clean the interior then wipe clean. Use the same mix
of baking soda to clean the stove top. Finally, clean any crumbs and dust
from behind and underneath using the hose of your vacuum cleaner.
