How to Clean the Most Common Household Appliances

Hello World!  Welcome Friends! It is important to maintain and clean your household appliances if you want to prolong their life. They won’t live forever but keeping them around for longer is possible with these helpful tips and tricks.

Source

Toasters

The outside surface of your toaster can be easily wiped down with a cloth, but don’t forget the crumb tray! Most toasters have a removable tray underneath to collect the crumbs and debris, so you can empty this out and clean the tray. You can also lightly shake out the crumbs over the bin. Use an old toothbrush or a small spatula to gently clean the inside, dislodging any larger debris that may be stuck. Be careful not to get the heating element wet and you should always be careful when cleaning electrical appliances that they are switched off and unplugged for safety.

Kettles

Kettles can be easily wiped down on the outside, but the inside is where most of the problems will lie. You will notice over time that limescale can build up inside the kettle, particularly if you are living in hard water areas. The easy home solution is 50/50 water and acid, so vinegar and lemon juice will both work fine. Simply fill the kettle with your acid solution and let it soak for an hour, then boil the kettle, empty it, and rinse thoroughly.

Microwaves

The inside of your microwave can very quickly become a disaster zone, so using microwavable covers will help avoid too many splatter accidents. But cleaning your microwave doesn’t have to be hard and you can let the microwave do the hard work. Lemon is a wonderful and natural cleaning agent, and simply slicing one in half and microwaving it will help to de-grease your microwave and remove built-up food stains. All you have to do is wipe it out afterwards and then happily admire your new lemon-fresh, squeaky-clean microwave!

Dishwashers

Dishwashers are a great time-saver, and if you want to have clean dishes then your dishwasher needs to be clean too. While that may sound complicated, it’s actually very simple! While there are plenty of store-bought cleaning solutions, you can save money and use things you may already have in your cupboards – vinegar and baking soda. Firstly, you will need to check the dishwasher drainage, as gunk can build up over time and should be removed. You may need to remove the dishwasher rack first to reach yours. To clean it, run an empty dishwasher on a hot cycle with roughly a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container, placed on the upper rack. This will safely de-grease your dishwasher and remove built-up grime. Then you can simply rinse with a short hot cycle after sprinkling in some baking soda at the bottom, which will leave your dishwasher sparkling clean and fresh.

Washing Machines

To keep your washing machine in good condition and smelling fresh, a little cleaning love can go a long way. You should start by removing the detergent drawer and letting this soak, to be later scrubbed with a toothbrush to remove any mould and residue. A vinegar cycle will help clean the inside, and a wipe of the rubber seals afterwards will help remove any trapped dirt. You can also find advice on how to clean your washing machine from Hotpoint and should consult your own manufacturing guides provided with your washing machine.

Keeping your appliances clean is important to make them last longer, and with natural cleaning solutions, it doesn’t need to be hard. Just remember to consult the manuals and manufacturing guides if you are unsure about anything.

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