Kitchen
appliances must be kept clean for sanitary reasons as well as looks,
performance and sometimes, safety.
Cleaning kitchen appliances can be a real chore! Here are some tips to make things easier:
Cleaning the microwave: Use a
mixture of baking soda and warm water to clean the interior once a week. Wipe spills and splatters after each
use. Better yet, prevent spatters by
covering food when cooking.
Deodorize the microwave: Mix water and lemon juice in a microwave-safe bowl.
Put it in the microwave and heat to boiling for about one minute. Let it
stand for 5 or 10 minutes before removing.
Vanilla extract in place of the lemon juice also works well to remove
odors from the microwave.
Cleaning the glass coffeepot: Mix a paste
of baking soda and water to scrub away stains.
Cleaning the auto-drip coffee maker: To clean the
inside of the coffee maker, run a brew cycle with half vinegar, half water;
then repeat the cycle with clean water to rinse.
Clean and freshen the dishwasher: Run the
dishwasher empty through a wash and rinse cycle with a few tablespoons of
orange drink powder like Tang.
Oven and Range Tips:
When
using an electric range with a glass cooktop, it is critical the bottom surface
be completely flat. Old, warped cookware will not work well with a glass
cooktp.
Keeping
the oven clean by lining the inside with foil seems like a good idea to many
people, but it is not recommended by most manufacturers. The foil can reflect the heat back to the
element and cause overheating and failure.
Prevention is the best solution.
Cover food when possible to prevent splattering, but vent it to prevent
overflow.
Use
the self-cleaning cycle frequently to prevent grease build up that can cause a
fire or emit fumes that set off a smoke detector.
Avoid
the self-cleaning cycle too close to a holiday event or dinner party. Though designed to work properly, ovens do
have a tendency to fail during or soon after the self-cleaning cycle.
Clean
the porcelain cooktop with a mild cleaner and non-abrasive cloth. Rather than spraying or pouring directly onto
the cooktop, apply the cleaner to the cloth then wipe the surface.
Do
not use oven cleaners on continuous-clean ovens because they will damage the
coating.
Small
and large kitchen appliances can look old and worn when they are hopelessly
stained. Constant cleaning and
maintenance is the only way to keep them looking new. Cleaner, well-maintained appliances perform
better and last longer. With cooking
appliances, cleanliness can also be critical to safety. Read Electric Range Maintenance Tips to learn more.
Appliance Parts Today has served area
residents and service technicians since March of 2003 with a wide array of
replacement parts for home appliances and air conditioning units. The local appliance
parts store is the DIY’s favorite resource for appliance repair advice and
parts. The knowledgeable staff will help
the customer choose the appliance
parts they need and provide tips to help ensure a successful DIY appliance repair experience.