How to clean kitchen appliances

1. How to clean the oven

The oven is an appliance that we dread cleaning, even though it's not that difficult. There are lots of oven cleaning products on the market that we have to use according to their instructions at least once a month to avoid dirt becoming encrusted and more difficult to remove.  
 
But, prevention is better than cure... Whenever your oven gets dirty when you're cooking, clean it as soon as possible.  

2. Cleaning the fridge

The fridge can often be overlooked when it comes to cleaning. At the end of the day, it doesn't get as dirty as other kitchen appliances like the oven. But it's one of the places where the most bacteria and dirt can build up. Here are a few tips for cleaning the fridge:  

• Clean the outside of the fridge with a multi-purpose or grease removing product at least once a week. If it's made of steel, you can avoid marks by wiping it with a dry piece of kitchen roll afterwards.
• The inside can manage a few weeks between cleans if you're careful when you're putting your food away (no spillages, etc.) and paying attention to the food you've got so that it doesn't go off.
• We recommend emptying it completely every 15 days, throwing out anything that's gone off or expired and, once it's empty, giving the walls, drawers and shelves a once over with a cleaning solution or a mixture of water and vinegar. That will keep it in perfect condition.

3. How to clean the washing machine

The washing machine, just like the fridge, can also be easily overlooked. "How is it going to get dirty when it's a cleaning appliance?" Well, it's advisable to clean the outside and inside of the washing machine every week with a multi-purpose cleaning solution.  
 
However, if you have a "self-clean" cycle, or drum clean, use that to give it a thorough clean as often as the manufacturer recommends.  
 
The rubber inside the washing machine tends to blacken and mould and dirt can build up, which is another reason why it's important to clean the inside every so often. The best thing to do is leave the door open for a while so that all the humidity can escape and then dry the rubber with a dry cloth or kitchen roll after each wash.  

4. Tricks for cleaning the dishwasher

The dishwasher is the appliance that can smell the worst in the kitchen. But you can avoid that by following proper cleaning guidelines:  

• The first thing is to avoid putting in plates with food scraps left on them.If you do leave food on them, it will end up inside the appliance and its filters. It will smell bad and build up, making it harder to clean later.
• The most important thing is to clean the filter at least once a month. Check the manufacturer's instructions to see where it is and how to clean it if there are specific instructions. It can normally be found in the bottom of the dishwasher. Most of them are removable, so take them out and wash them with soapy water and scrub them well to get rid of all the dirt, or follow the instructions. Then pop it back in and you're done!

• Grease and dirt can also build up on the arms. Some open up and some don't, so check the manufacturer's instructions to see how to clean them.
• It's also advisable to take the trays out of the dishwasher to wash them every so often, and to wipe down the door seal with a damp cloth and cleaning solution.
• Finally, use a dishwasher refresher. It won't make it cleaner, but it will smell better. 

5. Give the microwave a good clean!

We're rounding off our list with the one that gets used the most on a daily basis, the microwave. It should be cleaned more regularly than the rest. Clean it at least twice a week with a damp cloth. You can do it with just water, a specific cleaning product or a solution of lemon water if you want to give it a nice smell. Oh, and don't forget to clean the plate as well! Wash that at least once a week as well.