Deep Cleaning Your Kitchen Appliances: Refrigerator and Dishwasher

Keeping your kitchen appliances sparkling clean not only improves aesthetics but also contributes significantly to hygiene and extends the lifespan of your machines. This guide focuses on deep cleaning your refrigerator and dishwasher, two of the hardest-working members of your kitchen appliance family.

Refrigerator Deep Clean

Before you begin, unplug your refrigerator to ensure safety. Empty the refrigerator completely, discarding any expired items. Remove all shelves, drawers, and bins. Wash these removable parts in warm, soapy water. For stubborn stains, a baking soda paste can work wonders. Once cleaned, rinse thoroughly and allow them to dry completely before replacing them.

Next, wipe down the interior walls and floors of the refrigerator using a mixture of baking soda and water (about 1 tablespoon of baking soda per quart of water). Pay close attention to crevices and corners. For persistent odors, you can try placing a small open box of baking soda inside for a few days to absorb unpleasant smells. After cleaning the interior, clean the exterior of the refrigerator with a damp cloth. Consider checking the condenser coils in the back (or on the bottom depending on model), using a coil brush to remove any accumulated dust for better efficiency. This will also prevent overheating. More on cleaning appliance coils.

Dishwasher Deep Clean

Your dishwasher may seem self-cleaning, but regular deep cleans are crucial for maintaining performance and preventing unpleasant smells and even damage. Start by running a short, hot cycle using a commercial dishwasher cleaner. If your dishwasher is prone to odors, use white vinegar cleaning your dishwasher using vinegar in addition to the cleaner to neutralize build up in your washer.

Next, inspect the spray arms. Often, food particles or minerals build up here, obstructing proper cleaning. Clean these carefully, scrubbing off debris with a brush or old toothbrush. Check the filter – it might have collected a fair amount of food particles over time, remove it clean it completely before you re-install it. Remember to thoroughly rinse the dishwasher and run another cycle afterwards How to completely empty the food particle filter in a Bosch dishwasher in this section to prevent food residue left in the appliance after emptying the filter.

Consider a regularly scheduled deep clean of both appliances monthly schedule for cleaning home appliances. It'll be less taxing if you do a thorough cleaning often instead of only when there are significant stains that need cleaning!

Regular maintenance is your best friend. Consistent smaller clean ups prevents these items from getting deeply caked on and causing additional difficult cleanup and repair issues later down the line.