Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. You prepare and eat meals there. However, this means it can also become one of the grossest rooms; germs, bacteria and bad odors can accumulate. Knowing how often you should clean your kitchen appliances is an essential way to keep your kitchen immaculate. It is also vital to keep your kitchen appliances clean so they work properly.
Find out how often you should be cleaning your kitchen appliances, as well as some tips on how to tackle those nasty stains and smells.
Microwave
For an appliance that is used almost every day, such as the microwave, you should wipe up spills and spots as they happen to avoid bad smells and germs; wipe down the handle and keypad every time you use them to avoid cross-contamination. Once a week, though, do a deep clean to really target any messes.
To deep clean, fill a microwaveable bowl with one cup of water and one cup of vinegar. Add some lemon slices. Turn the microwave on and bring the mixture to a boil (about three to five minutes). Let it sit for five minutes, as the steam will help loosen any stuck-on grease and grime.
After five minutes, use a damp cloth to wipe down the surfaces. You can put the turntable in the dishwasher or hand-wash it if it has serious stains.
Blender and Toaster
These two appliances should be cleaned weekly. For the blender, make sure you get out any leftover food bits. You can hand-wash it with soap and water. Let it dry thoroughly before using it again.
Keeping the toaster clean is a vital concern to avoid any fire hazards. Dump any crumbs in the trash before hand-washing the toaster. Let it dry thoroughly before using it again.
Dishwasher
For the dishwasher, you should be wiping down the outside of it once a week. Deep clean it every few weeks. This is to ensure that the appliance runs smoothly by avoiding any food buildup and mold.
When you deep clean, first wipe down the outside. To sanitize the inside, empty the dishwasher of any dishes, utensils, racks and accessories. Check the drain strainer and remove any debris.
Next, put back the racks and fill a glass bowl with one cup distilled white vinegar. Put the bowl on the top rack. Run the hot water cycle but skip the drying part. Instead, open the dishwasher and sprinkle one cup of baking soda on the floor. Run another hot water cycle.
Another way to sanitize the inside is to do the opposite: Leave a cup of baking soda on the top rack overnight. The next morning, remove the baking soda and put in a cup of vinegar before running the hot cycle.
Coffee Maker
Your coffee maker should be deep cleaned monthly. Minerals can build up and negatively affect the taste of the coffee.
Fill up the reservoir with equal parts of vinegar and water. Brew the solution about halfway and then turn off the coffee maker. Let it sit for 30 minutes before turning it back on and finishing the cycle. Once the cycle is done, run another cycle with only clean water.
Refrigerator
As the biggest kitchen appliance, keeping a refrigerator clean is no easy task. However, it is essential to do so since your fridge houses raw meat and vegetables, cheese and eggs, sticky sodas and syrup and more. All of these items can host a variety of mold and bacteria, which can cling to other food items in the fridge.
On a weekly basis, wipe down your fridge (interior and exterior) of any stains to avoid germ buildup. Throw out any old or rotting food to prevent mold and mildew growth. To help tackle bad odors, open a box of baking soda.
Deep clean your fridge every one to three months. For a deep clean, empty the fridge completely – food, shelves, bins. Then mix a solution of one teaspoon of dishwashing soap and one quart of hot water. Use a sponge to wipe down the interior and exterior, the door panels and the top of the fridge. For the bins and shelves, rinse them in your sink. Let them dry before putting them back.
If you want to get real heavy-duty with your deep clean, unplug the fridge and pull it away from the wall enough so you can vacuum behind and underneath it. Wipe down the vents if dusty.
Oven
The last major kitchen appliance is the oven. As with the others, wipe the stovetop down as you cook; to help avoid stains, use baking sheets to catch any spills. Wipe down the front of the oven about once a week. You can deep clean the oven every three to six months.
When deep cleaning, first determine if your oven can self-clean or not. If it can self-clean, follow those instructions.
If your oven doesn’t self-clean, first look for stains on the floor, sides and grates. Sprinkle the base with baking soda and spray vinegar until it creates a light foam. Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the sides. Also spay with vinegar. Let it sit overnight before wiping it down in the morning.
Clean the stovetop burners with dishwashing soap and hot water. You can use a plastic spatula to remove any caked-on food. Put removable knobs in the dishwasher. If you have non-removable knobs, clean them with a toothbrush and mixture of warm water and vinegar. Clean the racks in the sink or tub.
3 Maids
If all of this sounds like a lot of work – which it is – then call 3 Maids to come do it for you! As a part of our 49 Point Checklist, we tackle your kitchen to clean your oven, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher and stovetop. Contact us today so we can clean your kitchen appliances.
