How To Clean Your Kitchen Appliances Properly

If you ask a bunch of people they’ll probably all agree that when it comes to cleaning and maintaining a house, the kitchen is one of the most difficult rooms to maintain. This is usually because food preparation and cooking creates a big mess, quickly!
Often, as a result we try and take shortcuts when cleaning our kitchens but and one of the first things we avoid is our domestic appliances.

Regularly cleaning your appliances is essential however as it kills any bacteria which could lead us to become unwell or cause illness. Appliances which handle the storage or preparation of food (such as fridge freezers and ovens) can especially become breeding grounds for harmful bugs so it’s really important to clean these appliances at least once a month.

In this guide we’ll take a look at four common domestic kitchen appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers, and ovens) and some simple DIY tips to keep them free of bacteria:

How To Clean A Washing Machine

You’d think a machine which is designed to clean things would be very clean inside, but the fact of the matter is that your trusty washing machine too needs cleaning. The reason for this is because the warm and wet conditions inside your washing machine are priming breeding grounds for bacteria from your clothes to grow within the machine. This is also one of the reasons your machine could be smelling.

Cleaning your washing machine is very easy. Start by removing the detergent dispenser from the appliance and soak it in some warm and soapy water. Let it soak for about an hour or so and then give it a good scrub to remove any black residue.

Secondly, add a cup of white vinegar to the inside of your appliance and run it on the hottest cycle possible. This will kill any bacteria within the drum. When the cycle finishes, keep the door slightly ajar and allow it to air-dry before using it again.

How To Clean A Tumble Dryer

Like your washing machine, your tumble dryer can also become a breeding ground for bacteria (due to the warm environment). Start the cleaning process by removing the lint filters.

Remove the back panel of your tumble dryer and vacuum the inside. Don’t forget to unplug your appliance and allow it to fully cool down before doing this!

How To Clean Your Oven

Stains which develop over time can be hard to remove, especially if the appliance hasn’t been cleaned for a while. You can loosen these stains by adding a heat-proof bowl of water on the middle rack of your appliance and heating it for 30 minutes.
Once the oven has fully cooled down, take a damp cloth to get rid of those stubborn stains!

As you can see with some quick and simple tips cleaning your appliances isn’t as bad as it may have first appeared. Keeping your appliances regularly cleaned and maintained will help to not only prolong the life of your appliances, but also help to keep you and your family free from illness.

If your appliances aren’t working effectively, take a look at our other helpful DIY guides to see if you can repair the problem(s) yourself. Alternatively, you may need to seek the services of a professional domestic appliance repairs specialist.