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.
