Emily's Maids Blog

How to Clean Major Appliances – Emily’s Big Guide

June 4, 2013 by admin

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It’s been awhile! But we are back with a killer post to hit the ground running. Awesome Enterprises has given us the inside scoop on how to clean major appliances, extend their useful lives and save time along the way.

There are some daily things you should get into the habit of doing that will save you a lot of elbow grease later on. Let’s look at those first.

Daily Cleaning for Major Appliances

• Wipe up spills while they are fresh.
• Keep some wipes on hand in the kitchen to spot clean sticky finger prints and door handles.

If you keep up a good “clean as you go” policy you can do major cleaning less often. When it’s time to get your hands dirty we have tips for every major appliance in your kitchen!

How to Clean the Dishwasher

You can’t expect clean dishes to come out of a dirty dishwasher! Here’s how to keep your dishwasher as sparkling clean as your dishes:

• You can use a baking soda paste on a damp rag to remove smudges and stains from both interior and exterior surfaces. If you have a tough stain choose a synthetic scrubber sponge, never steel wool.
• A few tablespoons of lemon juice in the soap dispenser will do wonders for deodorizing and disinfecting. Better yet, use a powdered lemonade or other citrus beverage mix with no sugar added to really bring on the shine!
• If you have tough odors that just won’t quit sprinkle a handful of baking soda in the bottom of the washer and leave it overnight. In the morning run the washer empty to rinse it out.

How to Clean The Microwave

Splattered sauce, popcorn smells and just plain grunge; microwaves can get funky fast. Here’s how to deal if your microwave is looking toxic…

• It’s safe to use glass cleaner, a little diluted dish soap or baking soda to clean your microwave. Just never use oven cleaner (we had to say it) and don’t use steel wool or anything that can be really abrasive to the microwave’s surfaces.
• Remove the glass tray for easier cleaning in the sink.
• If you have old caked on food or tough stains, vinegar can be very helpful. Just put equal parts vinegar and water into a microwave safe dish and microwave that on high until it’s boiling. You’ll see the steam! Don’t open the door yet, let it sit for a minute or two with the steam inside. Then carefully remove the dish and wipe down the interior surfaces.
• If you have burnt something in your microwave (popcorn is the classic culprit) amd you can’t seem to get rid of the smell put a bowl of vinegar in the microwave overnight (don’t turn it on!) Do this every night as needed until the smell disappears completely.

How to Clean the Oven

There are actually two separate procedures we have to talk about here, because the way you should clean your oven depends on whether you have a traditional oven or a self-cleaning (continuous cleaning oven.) Remember to always follow your manufacturer’s instructions for care and maintenance. Let’s look at the way to clean traditional ovens first:

• Many oven cleaning products are harsh and toxic if inhaled directly. Make sure to work in a properly ventilated area. Open the windows and doors. Use gloves to avoid habdling the chemicals directly. There are a great number of green cleaning products for this purpose these days, you might consider a gentler alternative.
• You should use aluminum foil to protect heating elements, knobs, thermostat and painted surfaces from the oven cleaning chemicals.
• Follow the instructions on the oven cleaning product, don’t deviate for your own safety.

Now, what about that so-called self cleaning oven? Funny but you still have to clean it, here’s how:

• You must not expect the self-cleaning cycle to burn off big spills; that can result in permanent discoloration of the surface. You should clean these up yourself soon after they happen.
• After running the cleaning cycle on your oven, allow the oven to cool completely then use the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner to vacuum up the resulting dust from the bottom of your oven.
• To clean oven racks you can pre-soak them in the bathtub with a cup of and warm water. This works great for really baked on food.

How to Clean the Refrigerator

Most new fridges are of the frost-free variety but if you have an older fridge you will want to defrost it at east once every 3 or 4 months. The process for cleaning is the same for both once the older fridge has been defrosted. To defrost a refrigerator simply remove the contents (you can transfer them to a cooler,) unplug the fridge and let all the frost melt out of the freezer compartment. You are ready to clean!

• Remove all shelves, bins and other removable components from the interior of the fridge for easier cleaning. This includes the drip pan. Allow all the components to come to room temperature before washing them with warm water and a mild dish detergent. Wipe them dry and set them aside.
• Use that same solution of warm soapy water to wipe down the interior and exterior surfaces of the fridge. If your fridge has a stainless steel exterior skip the dish soap and use a cleaner made for stainless steel on the fridge’s exterior.
• Vacuum the bottom grill and underneath your refrigerator on a regular basis, every two weeks is ideal.
• For tough odors you can use cookie sheets with baking soda, kitty litter or coffee grounds to absorb the smell. The wider surface area of a cookie sheet will bring faster results than putting the odor absorbing material in a bowl or a cup.

We hope you have enjoyed our guide to cleaning major appliances in your kitchen. Stay tuned for more squeaky clean tips from Emily’s Maids!