In This Post:
– Microwave cleaning hacks
– How to clean the refrigerator
– Clean the dishwasher
– How to clean the food processor
– How to clean the kitchen stove
Appliances are an indispensable part of any functional kitchen. You can’t cook or manage chores in the kitchen without their help. From the kitchen stove, refrigerator to the microwave and air fryer – all play a pivotal role in bringing cooked food to the table. As these appliances bring so much convenience and comfort into your daily lives, it is important to maintain them in order to keep them running. In this blog, we will discuss some easy tips to clean kitchen appliances at home.
Let’s begin!
Tips to Clean Kitchen Appliances at Home
Managing a clean kitchen is no difficult task. Frowning over a dirty microwave oven, or an overloaded refrigerator is not going to help much. You have to deal with it one day or the other. The more you put off the task of cleaning kitchen appliances, the greater the chances are of breeding cockroaches inside your microwave, refrigerator or coffee maker. All you need is some will to carry out small cleaning jobs on a daily basis and you will be able to maintain a clean kitchen.
These are some of the most common appliances used in a kitchen along with their cleaning tips.
- Microwave cleaning hacks
- Cleaning the insides of a refrigerator
- How to clean a dishwasher
- Keeping your food processor clean
- Deep cleaning tips for an air fryer
- How to remove grime from the kitchen stove
Let us discuss different hacks to clean kitchen appliances at home.
Microwave cleaning hacks
Microwaves are one of the most convenient kitchen appliances at home. If you are looking for some tips to clean kitchen appliances like microwave then make sure you follow this step-by-step guide.
- Take a bowl with a cup of water and 4 tbsp of vinegar. In case you don’t have vinegar, you can also use lemon juice or a teaspoon of liquid dish soap.
- When you microwave the solution for about 2 minutes, it releases steam which lifts grime, grease and dirt from the microwave. It is important that you don’t boil the solution or spill it. Don’t open the microwave’s door as soon as you are done. Let the steam reach everywhere inside the microwave for maximum cleaning.
- Use a clean cloth to wipe off the insides of the microwave. If there are tough stains in the microwave oven, use an abrasive sponge to scrub off any stuck on food.
- Take out the rotating plate from the microwave and wash it with soap and water.
- Clean the microwave’s exterior, especially the buttons on the display panel with a cloth.
- Wipe the gasket and rubber seal around the microwave with a soapy solution. Then take a wet cloth to wipe down the gasket.
Cleaning the insides of a refrigerator
You won’t believe but an unclean refrigerator is a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. More often than not, a refrigerator needs to be cleaned and sanitised. You need to remove milk spills, residual food items, any stale bread that might develop moss and fungus or food items that have outlived their shelf life. Follow this step-by-step guide on how to clean a refrigerator.
- It is best to start cleaning the refrigerator when items inside the fridge are on the low side. For instance, when you plan to go for your weekly shopping, switch off the fridge for a few hours so that the ice melts and everything can be easily taken out, especially from the attached deep freezer. Now, take everything out on a clean surface. All shelves should be emptied.
- You have a limited time to clean the fridge, especially if the weather is hot outside as the number of items you take out from the fridge might reach their danger zone if left for a longer period of time.
- Now, sort through the items you have taken out from the refrigerator. Check out expiry dates and discard all items that are moldy or seem questionable in any way.
- Remove shelves and the egg crate from the fridge. Wash it with soap and water. If the stains are resistant, then use an ammonia solution with a 1 part ammonia and 5 parts water and soak the shelves in it before you start scrubbing. Wipe it with a clean cloth to dry them out quickly. Air dry them first before putting the shelves back in the fridge.
- To clean the insides of a refrigerator, mix two tablespoons of baking soda in a 1 quart of hot water. Dip your cloth in the solution and wipe off stains.
- Clean the gasket or the rubber seal of the refrigerator with a half water and a half vinegar solution. Do not apply bleach or any other cleaning agent on the gasket.
- Now, store back the food items inside the fridge. Make sure to wipe everything down and keep a check on the expiry dates of the items you shove back into the fridge.
- Wipe down the exterior surface of the refrigerator with a dishwashing liquid soap and hot water. Also, clean the roof of the fridge to help it function properly.
- The condenser coils and fan are an important part of a fridge that release the heat back into the air. Clean the coils of the fridge which are otherwise covered with dust, debris and hair. If the heat isn’t properly released in the air, the compressor works hard to keep the fridge cool. Make sure that you have unplugged the kitchen appliance. After cleaning the coils with a brush, clean the blades of the fan as well. Remember not to use any cleaning solution on condenser coils and fan blades. Plug the refrigerator back into the electric power. It is also important to change the water filter in your fridge every six months.
- In order to have an odour free refrigerator, place a small jar of ground coffee at the back of the fridge. Some other hacks to keep refrigerator odour free are: Place a ball of crumpled brown paper bag amidst fruits and vegetables in the crisper box. A box of baking soda also helps keep bad smells away.
How to clean a dishwasher
Dishwashers are a blessing, especially if you have a large family and a never-ending pile of dishes. To maintain a clean dishwasher, it is important to get it cleaned on a routine basis.
- It is important to clean the dishwasher once a month at least to remove any stuck up food item from washed dishes
- Clear the drain which is present at the end of the rack. Inspect the dishwasher drain to remove any gunk in there
- Take a cup of white vinegar in the dishwasher-safe container present in the upper rack of the dishwasher. Now, run the hot-water cycle to remove any grime, grease or any bad odours from the machine.
- Sprinkle a cup of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher. Now, run a short hot water cycle. This will clean the dishwasher making the insides sparkling clean and odour-free.
Keeping your food processor clean
There is no working kitchen without a food processor. You can shred, chop and blend with its help. But when it comes to cleaning a food processor it seems a lot of hassle. However, if you know the right steps, you can easily clean it in about 15 minutes and get back to making those amazing dishes with the help of your food processor. So, follow these tips to clean kitchen appliances like food processors at home.
- It is advised to clean the food processor after every use.
- Before cleaning the food processor, unplug the appliance and dismantle it
- Dismantling means removing the lids, blades and the pusher unit. Set the blade aside and wash it with clean soapy water.
- In order for the food processor to function properly, remove the blade after use and wash it thoroughly with soapy water.
- All the pieces of the food processor that you have removed can be washed with soap and water
- To clean the base of the food processor i.e. the motor area, wipe it with a damp cloth
- If your food processor is smelly, mix some baking soda in water and let it sit in the bowl of the machine for about 15 minutes. The baking soda will absorb the bad odour, leaving your machine sparkling clean.
- Before reassembling the unit, dry out the food processor completely
Deep cleaning tips for an air fryer
Airfryers are incredibly convenient kitchen appliances. Not only easy to use, they help reduce the oil intake which you inadvertently consume when having deep fried foods. If you go on with the traditional method of deep frying, you will end up with splattered oil on surfaces and greasy pots and pans. An airfryer has a cooking basket which is enclosed within. Therefore, there is no oily mess and any oil or grease that drips from the food item is collected in an oil pan. Although it is highly convenient and easy to use, you still have to clean it in order to keep it productive for more years to come. Follow these steps to deep clean an airfryer at home:
- Don’t start with its cleaning when the air fryer is still hot. Unplug the appliance and allow it to completely cool down before you start cleaning it
- Wipe the outer surface with a clean damp cloth
- Wash the cooking basket, pan and tray with dish washing soap and hot water. You can also place all the components of an air fryer in a dishwasher instead of hand washing them.
- Take a sponge or a clean cloth, dip it in hot water having dish washing liquid and clean the insides of the air fryer with it
- Use a brush to scrape off any food items stuck in the air fryer. If the food has hardened in the heating pan of the air fryer, then soak it in hot water with some dish washing liquid soap overnight. This will loosen the food scraps and make it easier to clean the air fryer.
- Always use a non-abrasive sponge to clean the air fryer as all components within it are non-stick and if you use a hard sponge it can put scratch marks on the non-stick pan
- Once you are done cleaning the kitchen appliance, then make sure the tray, pan and basket are completely dry before you put them back into the air fryer
There you have a clean kitchen appliance
How to remove grime from the kitchen stove
An easy method of cleaning the kitchen stove is to use baking soda.
- Wash the burners with warm water and some soap. Now, make a thick paste of baking soda and vinegar. Apply the paste onto the burner and let it sit for 15 minutes to lift off the stains and any food residue. Scrub off the loosened gunk and wash it with soap and water again to thoroughly cleanse it
- As a regular cleaning practice, take a spray bottle and fill it with white vinegar and water. Spray it on the stove and wipe it off clean. This will help remove any food residue or grease before everything gets baked in
- For cleaning the stainless steel stove and to keep it completely grease-free, use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Sprinkle lots of baking soda onto the surface. Drizzle some hydrogen peroxide and watch how it fizzes and lifts the gunk off the cook top.
So, these were some of the best ways to clean kitchen appliances at home. You should also take a look at some easy ways to organise a messy kitchen. If you are worried about the hygiene standards in your kitchen, then do read our detailed blog on ways to maintain your kitchen hygiene. If you are looking for regular updates then stay tuned to the best lifestyle blog in Pakistan. Don’t forget to write to us at blog@zameen.com and we will surely get back to you. Subscribe to the Zameen Newsletter appearing on the right-hand side of the page.
