It can be easy to ignore the upkeep of household appliances because we generally expect them to last for a long time. However, with a bit of regular maintenance, they can last a long time – sometimes even a decade or more.
So, how do you clean and maintain your appliances? Luckily, it’s not particularly difficult. Below are some tips for cleaning each major appliance in your home.
How to Clean and Maintain Your Appliances for Longer Lifespan
For main household appliances, such as the fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, oven and microwave, some hot, soapy water and elbow grease will be enough. Clean the inside and outside and wash any removable parts separately. To build on this general advice, here are some specific tips for each appliance.
Fridge
For your fridge, remove the shelves and wash them in hot water. You should warm them up gradually under warm running water just to avoid shocking them, as this can cause them to crack or shatter.
Wash the inside of the fridge with hot soapy water, paying special attention to the drip hole. This is usually at the back just above the vegetable crisper drawer. Do this at least once a month. Around twice a year, hoover the condenser coils on the back of the fridge to ensure they work efficiently.
Microwave
There’s not much to add here on top of the general advice. Remove the plate and spinner and wash in the sink. Wash the inside and outside thoroughly. Check for any signs of rust, as these can necessitate a replacement.
Washing Machine
Remove the detergent drawer and lint trap. This is at the bottom of the machine, usually hidden behind a removable plate. Soak these in hot water and then leave to dry. Wash the drum and outside with hot soapy water. Do this at least once a month.
The hardest part to clean is the rubber seal around the drum. The best tool for this is an old toothbrush as it can get into the gap properly. Feel free to use bleach diluted in some hot water. Once everything is dry, replace and run a cycle on the hottest setting. Either add some washing machine cleaner or around 50ml of bleach.
Dishwasher
Cleaning and maintaining a dishwasher is pretty much the same as a washing machine. Wash any removable parts separately and then thoroughly clean the inside. Ensure the filter, spray arms and drain are all clean. Do this monthly.
Maintenance is fairly easy, too. Check the door seals are in good condition, as these can cause leaks if they crack. Check the spray arms are turning properly and don’t appear to be clogged. You can check the condition of the filter when you wash it – replace it if it looks damaged.
Oven
The oven is perhaps the hardest appliance to clean and maintain if it’s been a while since you’ve done it. Baked on food can be almost impossible to remove, so be prepared to put in a lot of effort!
Most ovens have removable doors. If yours does, consider washing it in the sink because it’ll be a lot easier than trying to wash it while it’s attached. Similarly, remove the shelves and wash them separately. They should be easy enough to wash with some standard washing up liquid.
For the baked on food, you’ll need some slightly more aggressive products. Your first option should be some cream cleaner, as this is mildly abrasive and should shift a bit of the mess. If not, try using an oxygen-bleach-based spray. Leave it for 5 minutes and then wipe down with a damp cloth.
But if this doesn’t work, you’ll need to try a dedicated oven deep-cleaning product. Bear in mind these can be caustic, so wear gloves and ideally some eye protection. Also, ensure the room is well ventilated.
There’s not much to explain for these products as they’ll have instructions on the bottle. Use them as directed and thoroughly wipe down your oven after. Make sure you run the oven for a while at a high temperature to cook off any odour before you use it for food again.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, these tips will help you get the most from your household appliances. If you haven’t cleaned them in a while, the first session will be long and possibly a bit gross. But your subsequent monthly deep cleans should be a lot easier and a lot less messy! You can hire a cleaner in Walthamstow to help clean your appliances if you don’t have time yourself.
