It’s that time of year when the weather is getting warmer, the windows can be open, and we’re starting to get more and more sunshine every day.
It also means it’s the time of year for the dreaded Spring Cleaning.
Now, maybe you’re someone who thrives during spring cleaning season. You can’t wait to deep clean every nook and cranny in your house that has been collecting dust and grime all winter long. If this is you, we say, “We wish we were more like you.”
For the rest of us, spring cleaning comes with dread and frustration. We KNOW we should deep clean some areas of our houses we haven’t seen since we moved in 3 years ago…. but there’s so much differing information online about the best ways to clean things, and it takes so much time that we just can’t bring ourselves to do it.
This is the year that changes!
The Real Kitchen has rounded up some of the best ways to clean the kitchen appliances that do so much for you. It’s time to show them a little love in return!
Is vinegar really all it’s cracked up to be?
If you research how to clean different items around your house, it’s more than likely you will stumble upon good old vinegar (WHITE vinegar – apple cider vinegar does not have the same effect).
There’s a reason cleaning with vinegar has been around so long. Its highly acidic properties make it great at cutting through dirt, grease, and grime that collects over time. It’s also a natural and sustainable cleaning option that is very important to many people.
However, what most people forget is that the same acidic property can damage surfaces just as easily, even when diluted with water. In addition, while vinegar has some disinfectant properties, it does not disinfect the way a household cleaner can.
When deciding between vinegar and another cleaner, the main thing you have to consider is what is the goal of your cleaning routine. Is it to generally cut through the grease and grime that has accumulated? Then a vinegar-water solution (1:1) would probably be a great solution (as long as vinegar is safe for that surface). If your goal is to disinfect, a disinfectant cleaner would be a better choice.
One thing to consider when using a chemical cleaner: Make sure the cleaner you’re using is safe for the area you’re using it in.
For example, a bleach solution should not be used inside your refrigerator because the chemicals in the bleach can contaminate the food, making it unsafe to eat. Likewise for your oven, any chemical residue left over on your oven surfaces can become unsafe when the oven is turned on. This happens because many chemicals that are safe to be used at room temperature can become toxic when heated past a certain temperature.
Always check the manufacturer instructions for the chemicals you use to make sure it’s safe for the item you want to use them on.
Spring Cleaning Your Kitchen Appliances
We use our appliances every.single.day. It’s time we showed them so love in return for all they do for us!
Refrigerator
According to the experts, you should be wiping down your refrigerator once a week and deep cleaning it once a season.
Now, maybe it’s just us, but our home refrigerators get wiped down when there’s a spill and maybe deep cleaned once a year. Life gets busy, and deep cleaning the fridge is pretty low on the list of things that have to get done to keep life moving. However, it is an important job to do, so here are our best tips:
- Remove all shelves and drawers, soaking them in warm, soapy water with mild dish soap. Word of caution: If you have glass shelves, make sure they come close to room temperature before dowsing them with water – hot water on cold shelves can make them crack.
- While the shelves and drawers are soaking, use your cleaner of choice to wipe down the inside of the refrigerator. Make sure to get all the nooks and crannies where food and dirt like to hide.
- Wipe down the drawers and shelves, dry, and return items to their homes.
Oven
Many ovens have a self-clean feature that basically heats the oven up to very high temperatures to burn off any stuck-on bits and pieces. The self-clean feature can be a great way to let the oven do the heavy lifting for you. However, there are areas the self-cleaning feature doesn’t get completely clean, so a good scrubbing is in order every now and then. Here are our best tips:
- Choose the cleaning agent you want to use and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- If you want a natural cleaner, use a baking soda and water paste (½ cup baking soda to 3-4 tablespoons water). Spread the paste around the inside surface of the oven and let sit for 12 hours. Scrape off the dried paste and spray the area with vinegar to get a good scrub. Wipe down with a damp cloth to get rid of any leftover baking soda residue.
- No matter the type of cleaner you choose, always make sure your area is well-ventilated to keep you safe from any fumes.
Dishwasher
Nowadays, they say you shouldn’t even rinse your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. The cleaning agents in dishwasher detergent dissolve the food and get rid of it so you never have to think about it again. But where does the dissolved food actually go?
This is why the dishwasher needs a good cleaning every once in a while. Here are our best tips:
- Remove any accessories and removable parts (filter, etc.), and give each element a good scrub. You can do this by soaking them in warm, soapy water with a mild dish detergent. If you have a small toothbrush, it’s the perfect tool to really scrub the small holes and crevices on the removable pieces.
- Wipe down the inside of your dishwasher with a vinegar-water solution (again, 1:1).
- Once you have reassembled the pieces of your dishwasher, run an empty cycle on the highest water temperature setting.
While it may feel good to tackle all of these jobs in one day, don’t make your spring cleaning a sprint. Take some time over the next few weeks to truly do each job well, giving you a lasting clean instead of a quick scramble.
To send you off, here are a few recipes that are begging to be made in your nice, clean kitchen.
Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos
Old Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake
What are some of your favorite cleaning tips? Do you clean your fridge once a week? What’s your favorite cleaner you always have around your house?
