The kitchen is often the repository of some heavy duty equipment and machinery. While these are very important for day to day use, their maintenance is something that should not be neglected. Many appliances and gadgets are very easy to clean. All that they need is a gentle swipe with a clean cloth or at times a wet sponge. If you take care and prevent dirt from accumulating, most of them work fine. Some gadgets, however, attract dirt and grime because of the very nature of the tasks they do. Such gadgets require some detailed cleaning and listed below are neat and easy ways to clean the biggies of your kitchen.
1. Dishwashers
The dishwashers that you use at home to keep your dishes clean can get quite dirty themselves. That should not be a big bother if you know how to clean and deodorize them. Dip a cloth in baking soda and use it to clean the exteriors of the dishwasher. You can also clean smudges and the liner in the same way. If the stains are stubborn, make use of a scouring pad. The hard-water stains can be removed and the dishwasher can be gifted a sparkle by running a full wash load with a powdered lemonade mix. This mix contains ascorbic acid to help in the cleaning.
To completely deodorize the interiors of the dishwasher, simply sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of the dishwasher and keep that way overnight. The next wash will ensure that all the odors are gone.
2. Range Hoods
All cooking ranges come with hoods that are either vented ( opening to the outdoors) or non-vented (have replaceable charcoal filters). They both have large exhaust fans that draw in smoke and odors from the kitchen. Thus, there is oil, grime and carbon build-up that needs to be cleaned. Regularly wipe the hood on the exteriors and the interiors. In case of stubborn build-ups, make use of hot water, dish-washing detergent and ammonia to clean. Wear gloves as you do this. The blades of the fan too could be cleaned in ammonia solution.
Remove the cover of the filter and wash it in hot soap-water. Dry it completely and then only replace it. The filters should be replaced as frequently as mentioned in the manual. Whenever the metal-mesh filters get dirty, clean them. But at any cost, avoid washing the charcoal filters themselves. This will reduce the efficacy of the charcoal in cleansing.
3. Microwaves
A lot of cooking goes on in the microwave oven and it often gets battered and splattered. To clean the insides of the microwave, make use of a mild washing detergent, glass cleaner or baking soda. The glass tray can be washed in the dishwasher or the sink. Don’t ever think of using commercial oven cleaners in the microwave.
In case of a grease and oil build-up inside the microwave, place a glass of water with 25 percent vinegar inside the oven. Boil for about 3 minutes and then simply sponge away for a clean and non-greasy interior. Keeping a bowl of vinegar overnight inside the microwave oven is the best way to deodorize it. For strong odors, repeat the solution with the vinegar solution for days till the odors completely vanish.
4. Refrigerators
When you are thinking about cleaning your cold-storage unit at home, the first thing to do would be to defrost the freezer compartment. You should also empty the refrigerator and start taking out all the shelves, racks, bins and trays. Wash them all with a mild soap solution and dry them completely before putting them back.
Take out the drip pan and drain all the water. Then clean it in the sink. Wipe the interiors of the refrigerator completely before you start putting back things. Ensure that you do not put anything into the freezer for at least half an hour after it has been cleaned and turned on. Do not forget to vacuum away the dust behind the refrigerator’s bottom grille.
5. Ovens
Many ovens come with self-cleaning or continuous-cleaning abilities. They usually make use of pyrolytic cleaning where the stains and grime are burned away. For such ovens, all you have to do is to faithfully follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Also ensure that you take the necessary care and precautions prescribed. Suck away the ash, dust and remnants with a vacuum cleaner after every cleaning cycle.
When it comes to cleaning other ovens, there are many brands of oven cleaners available in the market. These are very strong and so ensure that you are well-protected when you use them. Make use of masks and gloves and make sure that the cleaning agent does not spill on your skin or any surface that it is not intended to.
The stubborn, baked and blackened areas and racks in the oven can be cleaned by wrapping them in towels and placing them in tubs containing a dilute ammonia solution. You can simply wipe them clean after a few hours. Just have the area well ventilated because ammonia emits vapors. Wipe the whole oven with a mixture of water and vinegar using a sponge.
