Your major appliances work hard for you. So, why not pay some attention to your washer, dryer, dishwasher, fridge and stove? Many people believe that the function of the washing machine or the dishwasher is to clean, so it must just clean itself. But this isn’t the case. Over time, if you don’t keep these machines clean, there are things that can lead to their demise.
Cleaning appliances regularly prolongs their life and you won’t have to call up professional appliance repair Ottawa to come and repair a broken appliance due to negligence.
Below are tips on how to clean your large appliances
Make sure you read your appliance owners manual beforehand.
Refrigerator
You should be wiping down your refrigerator shelves with warm soapy water on a regular basis, but taking everything out and giving the entire fridge inside walls and drawers a good scrub should be done periodically.
Pulling your refrigerator away from the wall and cleaning any dust from the back and the floor is also important.
Stove
If your oven has a self-cleaning cycle on it, activate it on a day when you can leave windows and doors open to air out your house during the several hours that it’s cleaning itself.
To get baked-on gunk off your removable burners you can soak them in hot soapy water and then scrub them with a paste of kosher salt, baking soda and dish soap. If you have a stainless steel stovetop, Simply wiping the surface using a sponge or a cloth dipped in warm soapy water will do the trick, but avoid the gas burner holes. Ceramic stove tops can be cleaned with warm soapy water or a vinegar and baking soda paste. Scrub with a soft cloth.
Dishwasher
It might be the machine that cleans your everyday dishes, but the appliance itself also needs a clean inside for it to work at its best performance.
Dishwashers are not an appliance most of us think of cleaning. But models with stainless steel interiors, in particular, will look shiny and fresh if you wipe them down or use a dishwasher cleaning powder or tablet.
If you see mineral deposit buildup inside your dishwasher, put two cups of vinegar in a glass container on the bottom rack facing up and run a hot cycle. If your spray arms come off, give them a check and see if the water jets re clogged with minerals and rinse them off as well.
Washing Machines
Cleaning the interiors is especially important in high-efficiency machines, because they use less water than conventional washers, and excess detergent and clothing fibres can build up inside and cause odours. Many washing machines have a cleaning or sanitizing cycles. You can use vinegar or washing machine cleaner in that cycle to refresh your machine. Or just use those products and run a regular hot-water cycle.
You can also wipe down the gaskets with dish soap or vinegar.
Dryer
You should already be cleaning out the lint trap, but the buildup will clog your dryer duct and, in extreme cases, could cause a fire. Vacuum out any lint clogged in there that might be affecting your dryer’s performance.
You can clean the inside and the seals of the door with a little white vinegar on a cloth and wipes down the dryer frequently.
[…] built up behind these appliances over time. While you’re at it, you might as well give them a good clean on the inside […]
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