Love cooking but hate to clean? Discouraged to whip up any more delicious dishes because of the pileup of pots and pans, or the sight of crust and grime on your appliances?
Our advice to you is: if you already cook like a pro, you should learn to clean like one! Keeping your appliances clean will increase your efficiency in the kitchen and protect your food from exposure to dirt and bacteria.
Don’t know where to start? Here’s a handy guide to getting your appliances back in tip-top shape!
Getting Started
The key principle to follow when it comes to cleaning your kitchen appliances is to first remove buildups of food residue. Then you have to break down grease and oils, and finally, and make the surface of the appliance a bit more slippery so that the stains and grime can “slide” off more easily.
What will help you immensely in doing all of these are quality cleaning instruments, most of which can be bought at affordable prices. They will be a big help in making your cleaning experience that much easier.
Some examples of good tools to have on hand are microfiber towels, steel food scrapers, and kitchen degreasers. Microfiber cloths are a boon for cleaning both the insides and the surfaces of most kitchen appliances. The very fine polyamide fibers can “grab” and hold on to debris, dust, and other particles, and they are also very absorbent. Another valuable tool to use alongside microfiber cloths, especially in keeping your stove tops shiny and clean, is a reliable food scraper. Lastly, a good kitchen degreasing solution will go a long way in removing persistent grease.
With just these three items on hand, you can already clean up most of your kitchen appliances!
Pro Tips for Cleaning Your Appliances
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- Stovetops. Crust and grime naturally accumulate on a stovetop that sees regular use. To get your stovetop looking neat again, first wipe off the top layers of crust with a microfiber towel dipped in a little water. Then, spray your preferred degreaser to break down the grease on the surface, scrape off the remaining crusted food bits, and finish it off with a water rinse. Wipe it down again with a microfiber cloth to dry it completely. Make sure your stove is off and properly cooled down before you begin cleaning!
- Stovetops. Crust and grime naturally accumulate on a stovetop that sees regular use. To get your stovetop looking neat again, first wipe off the top layers of crust with a microfiber towel dipped in a little water. Then, spray your preferred degreaser to break down the grease on the surface, scrape off the remaining crusted food bits, and finish it off with a water rinse. Wipe it down again with a microfiber cloth to dry it completely. Make sure your stove is off and properly cooled down before you begin cleaning!
- Food processors and blenders. For appliances that have sharp blades, first remove the detachable parts and then hand-wash the carafe or the processor bowl separately with soap and water. Next, safely remove the food particles from the blades with a nylon brush. Lastly, wash the blades and wipe them dry with a microfiber cloth before reassembling and keeping.
- Dishwasher. First, pull out your dishwasher’s rack and clean the inside with a cloth dipped in soapy water. Clean the rack separately with a toothbrush to remove any particles clinging to the wires. Then, run an empty dishwashing cycle with white vinegar in the detergent cup; the acid will help break down stains. Finish by dusting the dishwasher’s fan slats and gently wiping the doors.
- Microwave. To easily clean your microwave oven, you can loosen sticky and crusted food bits by filling a bowl with a vinegar and water solution, placing it on the tray of the microwave, and running the oven on high for about two minutes. Afterwards, unplug the appliance and remove the turntable, then wipe the interior with a microfiber cloth. Clean the surface of the turntable as well, and also scrub off any grime that’s stuck on the wheels. Don’t forget to also wipe the fan slats and the microwave door.
- Coffee maker. Clean a coffee maker with an old-fashioned white vinegar solution. First, remove the machine’s carafe and filter and soak it with soap and water. When these are clean, reassemble the coffee maker and pour an equal-part solution of white vinegar and water into the water chamber. Turn on the machine like you would for a regular cycle, but turn it off halfway through to let the solution sit for an hour. Then complete the cycle, and run another two brewing cycles with plain water to wash out any remaining vinegar. Wipe everything down with a clean cloth.
These are just a few tips to keeping your kitchen appliances in good shape, and ready to get you cooking again. Clean like a pro and give your kitchen a clean slate for your creativity. Happy cooking!
