Your appliances are the workhorse in your home. They clean so you can spend more time on what really matters. But how often do you clean and maintain them? Here are the top 10 tips to keep your appliances in tip top shape.
Refrigerator Condenser Coils – dirt, dust, grease and pet hair can collect on these integral parts of your refrigerator. To clean, first unplug your unit and remove the base grill. Using the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner clean the front surface area and open areas behind the grill.
Detergent & Fabric Softener Dispensers – detergent and fabric softener can leave residue and drips on and inside of your dispensers. Give them a simple cleaning inside and out.
Dryer Vents & Duct Work – any time is an excellent time to check out the proper ventilation of your dryer. Start by following the length of the duct work. Check for gaps or breaks in the segment connections. Next, clean out the duct work if you have easy access to it. Your local hardware store has some tools that can make the job easier but if need be, you can contact product service. Lastly, go outside and check the vent to make sure it is clear of obstruction. In the winter it can be obstructed by snow and in the fall leaves can easily obstruct.
Dishwasher Filter – if your dishwasher has a filter, remove all parts and clean them out with simply hot water. Once rinsed, replace parts and make sure all parts are securely locked in.
Microwave Soils – heat 1 cup of water for 2 to 5 minutes. The steam should loosen tough baked on soils.
Burner Grates & Caps – wait until cool, then remove caps and grates. Some grates can be loaded in the dishwasher, be sure to check your use and care guide before loading. Cooked/burned on soils can be soaked before adding to the dishwasher. Caps can NOT go into the dishwasher but can easily be cleaned with a non-abrasive plastic scrubbing pad and a mildly abrasive cleaner.
Ice Bin – for fresh tasting ice, discard ice and remove storage bin. Wash storage bin with warm water and a mild detergent. Rinse, allow to dry and replace.
Hood Vents & Filters – over the range microwave ovens and vent hoods have filters that can easily become greasy. Removable grease filters can be easily cleaned with warm water and a mild detergent. Non-vented filters cannot be washed and should be replaced every 6 months.
Front Load Washers – Clean out the bellows of your front load washer; that rubber gasket between the opening of the washer and the drum. Detergent, hair and soils can deposit there and a quick clean up keeps this area fresh. Also clean the inside of the door. Generally the door is glass and the soils that come off of your clothes during wash can leave debris on the window. A good cleaning will leave it sparkling.
Dryer Drum – use a clean damp cloth to clean the interior of the dryer drum. If you come across anything more than lint, use a gentle all purpose cleaner.
As always, for product specific cleaning always check your use and care guide.
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