Kitchens are often associated with memories of elaborate dinners, quiet conversations. Of the early teen years when one would work on homework while mom cooked a meal or memories of sunday brunches that dad was intent on making. Appliances play an important role in preparing said meals, thus it is important to take care of them. This article explores ways in which you can take care of your kitchen appliances.
Appliances such as a microwave, kitchen tops and others should be cleaned daily, it helps to keep them in pristine condition. Kitchen appliances are designed to operate on their own with minimal human intervention. In most cases, all you have to do is press a button and let it do its thing which means homeowners have very little to do on a daily basis to keep their kitchen appliances running smoothly. Indeed, appliance maintenance can be summarized in three words: inspect, clean, and maintain.
Refrigerators and freezers
Refrigerators and freezers are prime examples of "plug it in and forget about it" appliances, but this is a mistake because neglect is a leading cause of fridge and freezer failure. You should vacuum the unit's compressor coils at least twice a year, and more frequently if you have pets. Compressor coils are critical to keep the appliance cool, they are located at the back or bottom of the said unit. If a device is run for a longer period of time then it is difficult to remove heat from within the unit because of the dirty coils, it is one of the lead causes for premature failure. You should also inspect the rubber gaskets on your refrigerator and freezer doors. These seal the unit shut, keeping the cold where it belongs: inside. Finally, avoid overloading your appliance. This again restricts airflow and causes the unit to run hotter than desired.
Microwaves
Regular cleaning is the way to prolong the life cycle of an average microwave. One of the easiest ways to clean a microwave is to keep a bowl with vinegar until it boils. The steam helps to get rid of the material that may be stuck inside it. You can clean the surface clean after this. The constant cleaning assists in maintenance of the appliance along with increasing its longevity.
A microwave can be cleaned with only a bowl of water:
- Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and place it inside it
- Let it heat until the water is brought to a boil
- The food that might be stuck must come loose simply with a wipe of the surface.
Kitchen Stoves and Ovens
Spills of oil, seasonings, and whatever else you cook with will inevitably end up on your stove top. The key to cleaning your stove top quickly is to be thorough. Before the food splatters on the surface make certain to scrub them away. After you've finished cooking and the stove top has cooled, wipe it down with an all-purpose cleaner sprayed on a damp cloth.
If there are stains on your cooktop then:
- The stain should be stained in a cleaner and it should be left to soak
- If the debris is to be scrapped clean then do it with a blade by holding it at a 30-40 degree angle
- Later wipe the top clean
For the oven, you can use a spray-on oven cleaner or scrub it down with baking soda and vinegar, but many ovens have a self-cleaning feature that can be used generously. The oven will reach a very high temperature, effectively burning off any caked-on food inside. All that remains is to clean up the crumbs.
One of the most effective methods to clean an oven is listed below:
- Heat the oven to over 225 degrees
- Then, place a pan of water to sit in it for about fifteen minutes and then turn off the oven
- Once the water is cooled dip a sponge and wipe the insides clean
Dishwashers
Dishwasher maintenance entails keeping the appliance clean, sealed, and debris-free. Even if you have a countertop dishwasher, maintaining it will save you money and time. For a thorough cleaning of the dishwasher, start with the tops and sides of the door, then remove all accessories and removable parts and scrub them thoroughly. A toothbrush can be used to get rid of any remaining particles.
Things available in the kitchen are often remedies for most of the things from common cold to cleaning off appliances, here you can use vinegar to clean the dishwasher.
- Fill a dishwasher safe cup with water
- Once you have filled the cup place it on one of the racks inside
- Then, run the dishwasher on its hottest and longest cycle, it helps to loosen the food materials inside the dishwasher and sanitize it.
