Our appliances aren’t just a matter of convenience—they make modern life possible! Our days would look vastly different if we couldn’t rely on refrigerators, ovens, and washing machines to make our household responsibilities easier!
So the least we can do for our appliances is make sure we keep them in good working order. And that means giving them a good cleaning every once in a while! :-)
Today’s post is packed with useful information about when and how to clean all your major appliances. Just follow the guidelines below, and your appliances will continue to serve you well for years to come!
How Often Should You Clean Your Appliances?
Clean These Appliances Seasonally (Or Once Every 3 Months):
▶︎ Refrigerator
The keys to keeping your fridge cleaner for longer are cleaning up spills ASAP and regularly removing food that is starting to go bad. If you do those things, you should only need to do a deeper clean about every 3 months or so!
During your seasonal fridge cleaning, be sure to wipe down all the drawers and shelves individually. Clear out any crumbs or sticky messes that may be lurking in the bottom of your fridge, and toss out any expired foods.
Learn more about cleaning and organizing your fridge here.
▶︎ Oven & Stovetop
The same principles that apply to keeping your fridge clean also apply to your oven and stovetop. If you address spills and splatters immediately, you’ll only need to do a more thorough cleaning every 3 months or so!
Check out these links to past blog posts for easy and effective methods you can use to clean the various parts of your oven and stovetop:
- How To Clean Your Oven
- How To Clean Your Stove Burners
- How To Clean Your Oven Racks
- How To Clean A Glass Stovetop
- How To Clean Your Range Hood Filter
Clean These Appliances Monthly:
▶︎ Dishwasher
Over time, food residue can build up inside your dishwasher and harm its performance. Cleaning your dishwasher once a month will help clear out that buildup and keep it working effectively! It’s super easy to do with just vinegar and baking soda.
▶︎ Washing Machine
Just like with your dishwasher, it’s important to keep your washing machine clean to make sure that it can do its job effectively. The good news is that cleaning your washing machine is easy, because the washer does all the work for you!
Learn how to clean your washing machine here.
▶︎ Dryer
Your clothes dryer doesn’t necessarily need to be cleaned in the same way your washing machine does. However, there are two monthly cleaning tasks that can help keep it working correctly: washing the lint trap, and cleaning the moisture sensor.
Fabric softener and dryer sheet residue tend to build up on the sensor over time, which can disrupt drying times. But you can use white vinegar or rubbing alcohol to cut through the buildup and keep the sensor clean.
Learn more about cleaning and maintaining your dryer here.
More Ideas You'll Love
Clean These Appliances Weekly:
▶︎ Garbage Disposal
With as much food and grease that passes through your garbage disposal, regular cleanings are vital! A simply weekly cleaning will help keep it clear of food residues and help prevent clogs.
Once a week, sprinkle 1/2 cup of baking soda into the disposal, then slowly pour in 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Trap the foam inside the disposal using your sink stopper, then wait for a few minutes until the mixture stops fizzing.
Flush the disposal with hot water to clear out the loosened grime, and you’re done! (If you have a double sink, do this cleaning process on both sides simultaneously for the best results.)
Freshen up your disposal between cleanings with these frozen cleaning cubes!
▶︎ Microwave
Cleaning your microwave every week might sound like overkill, but the more frequently you do it, the quicker and easier it is overall! And with my simple steam cleaning methods, it only takes a few minutes to wipe away splatters and leave your microwave sparkling.
Check out the simple instructions for cleaning your microwave here.
What’s your best tip for keeping appliances clean?
I clean off one shelf on my fridge each week; there are only three shelves, so I include the freezer as a fourth “shelf”. The trash goes out on Monday, so that’s the day I do this chore. The first time around, there were some unpleasant surprises. Now, it’s a snap!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oven & Oven Rack ”Hacks”
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Regarding the Oven Cleaning tip:
I followed the instructions precisely. The only thing that came clean, was the door! The sides and back where another story. Even a lot of elbow grease did not help! I guess that poor little Cornish Game Hen I had baked in an open pan, got its revenge! Well, I have the self-cleaning electric oven, so I turned it on, 4 hours later it was sparkling clean.
Regarding the Oven Racks Cleaning tip:
I followed the instructions to the ’T’. While my racks were rust-free when I put them in the tub, they no longer are. After soaking them overnight, I found I few spots of rust in the morning, thankfully on the dryer sheets, no on the tub. Again it took quite some elbow grease to get the racks 95% clean. Unfortunately you cannot run them through the self-cleaning cycle in the oven.
Result(s):
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Both, the Oven and the Racks looked better than before. But would I do these procedures again? Definitely not!