When was the last time you gave your large appliances a deep cleaning? Deep cleaning your kitchen appliances is not just important for a clean, fresh-smelling kitchen, but it also helps to maintain them and keep them working properly longer. Check out our comprehensive guide for cleaning your large appliances.
How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen Appliances
Microwave
First of all, invest in a good quality de-greaser! If your microwave is above your stove, the top and underside of the appliance will be very greasy. Get in there and start scrubbing with the de-greaser.
You’ll also want to remove the vent cover and give that a thorough cleaning too. Once the grease is removed, clean the entire outside of the microwave with a glass cleaner or stainless steel cleaner depending on what you have.
Now for the inside: To remove any stubborn stuck-on food, place a bowl of water with a half a lemon in it and microwave it for a few minutes. The water and lemon will create a natural de-greasing steam that helps release any residue. You’ll be able to simply wipe down the inside with a paper towel.
Oven
Start with the inside of the oven. Remove racks, then scoop up any loose food that may be on the bottom of the oven. Spray the oven with a store-bought cleaner or make your own using natural ingredients.
Leave the cleaner on the oven for a few hours or, if your oven is really dirty, you might need to leave it on overnight. Then, use paper towels or rags to wipe out. Finish with a clean, damp cloth to get any leftover cleaning residue.
Don’t forget the oven racks! You can clean those with the same cleaner you used for the inside of the oven. Another easily forgotten component is the warming drawer! Make sure you clean that too!
Now it’s time to break out the de-greaser again. Use that and some elbow grease to rid your stovetop and backsplash of greasy residue from cooking. Clean the top of the stove with the appropriate cleaner which will vary depending on if you have a flat glass top stove or one with burners. When you are finished, clean the face of the oven.
Dishwasher
When deep cleaning your dishwasher, start from the inside and work your way out. If your dishwasher has a food trap or any other removable parts, take them out and clean them.
Using your favorite cleaner, wipe down the inside of the door, paying special attention to the joints where the door opens and closes. Wipe out the bottom of the dishwasher as well and remove any food or debris that may have collected there.
Then, run the dishwasher through a cleaning cycle. Use either the manufacturer’s recommended cleaner or simply put a bowl of vinegar in the top rack and run empty. This should disinfect your dishwasher and remove any odors. Then, all that’s left is cleaning the front.
Refrigerator
To deep clean your refrigerator, start by removing all the food and tossing anything that’s expired. Pull out all the drawers and shelves and wash them with warm soapy water in the sink. Using your favorite cleaner, start at the top and work your way down, wiping the entire inside of the fridge.
Dry the drawers and shelves and put them back in. Restock the fridge with the food you removed. This is also a great time to re-organize the fridge. Replace the water filter if needed.
Now for the outside: grab a step stool and wipe down the top of the refrigerator. You’ll be surprised how dusty it can get up there! Pull the fridge away from the wall and vacuum the back, sides, and front area underneath the doors to suck up any dust. Move it back to its original location and clean the front.
If it’s been a while since you tackled deep cleaning your kitchen appliances, maybe now is the time. So grab your supplies, and start deep cleaning!
