You're not cleaning your home appliances often enough! Here's how often you should really be doing it
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We all know that we should be cleaning our homes regularly. A tidy house is a happy house, after all! But how often should we be cleaning different parts of the home, and which areas need more attention than others?
In this article, we’re looking at home appliances. These are the devices and pieces of equipment that make our lives easier on a day-to-day basis – but they can also become ‘germ central’ if we don’t clean them properly or often enough!
So, without further ado, let’s find out how often you should clean your home appliances…
The Fridge: Every 3 Months
Your fridge is one of the places where food can go off quickly if it’s not properly stored. It’s also a place where bacteria can grow and multiply if you don’t keep it clean. So, how often should you really be cleaning your fridge?
Ideally, you should give it a good clean at least once every 3 months. Take everything out of the fridge (yes, even the sauces), and give the shelves and drawers a good wipe-down. You can use a multipurpose cleaner, or make your own cleaning solution by mixing water and white vinegar in equal parts.
We here at the SDC are guilty of occasionally letting our fridge get a little... less than fresh... Source: OpenAI
While you’ve got everything out of the fridge, take the opportunity to give the door seals a good clean too. These can often be overlooked, but they can harbour a lot of bacteria. Use a cloth dampened with soapy water to wipe them down, and then dry them off with a clean cloth.
If you have a self-defrosting freezer compartment, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and defrosting. Otherwise, remove your food and tubs every month and clean everything. You should also clean spills and stains as they occur.
The Dishwasher: Every Month
Your dishwasher is one of the most-used appliances in your home, so it’s important to keep it clean and free from bacteria.
Ideally, you should give it a good clean at least once a month. You can do this by running it on an empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar in the detergent compartment. The vinegar will help to break down any build-up of grease and grime, and will also disinfect the dishwasher.
If you have a self-cleaning cycle on your dishwasher, use this once a month too. This will help to keep the dishwasher in tip-top condition and will help to prevent any build-up of bacteria.
The Microwave: Once a Week
Here at the SDC, we use our microwaves daily, so it’s important to keep them clean and free from bacteria. The best way to do this is to give them a good clean at least once a week (once a fortnight is probably fine if you don’t use your microwave as frequently as we do).
Start by giving the inside of the microwave a good wipe-down with a sponge or cloth dampened with soapy water. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies, as this is where bacteria like to hide!
Once you’ve done that, mix equal parts water and vinegar in a bowl, and microwave the mixture for 2 minutes on high. This will create steam, which will help to loosen any stubborn dirt and grime. Wipe the inside of the microwave down with a clean cloth or sponge, and then dry it off.
There’s an alternative ‘lemon cleaning’ technique floating around the internet that doesn’t require any cleaning products and only takes 5 minutes. We can’t personally speak to its effectiveness, but it gets rave reviews. Check out the video below:
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The Oven & Cooktop: As Needed
As long as you clean up spills and splatters right away, you won't need to do a lot of heavy-duty cleaning.
To clean your cooktop, simply use mild dishwashing soap and hot water solution. Do not use harsh cleaners or metal scrubbers as theycould damage the finish.
A plastic spatula is best for getting rid of food that has hardened.
If your cooktop has metal drip pans or grids over gas burners, you should give them a heavy scrubbing about once a month.
You'll get the best results if you let the drip pans soak in a solution of degreaser and hot water for about 30 minutes before scrubbing them with a stiff-bristled scrub brush and a paste of baking soda and water, if needed.
When it comes to the oven, seasonal cleaning is best.
Do not do your oven cleaning before a big holiday cooking marathon! The mess will only get bigger! Instead, do your oven cleaning after every big cooking session.
If your oven is self-cleaning, follow your manufacturer's directions for cleaning. Otherwise, a paste of baking soda and water can be used as a mild abrasive and grease remover.
For really tough baked-on messes, you can use a commercial oven cleaner and follow the directions.
The Washing Machine: Once a Month
Empty the lint filter after every load to keep it running smoothly and prevent lint build-up.
Add 500ml of chlorine bleach to an empty washer and run a hot water wash cycle with an extra rinse cycle to keep it free of musty odours, residue, and calcium and magnesium deposits.
The Dryer: After Every Load
Clean the dryer's lint filter after every load to keep it running smoothly and prevent lint build-up. We recommend opening the dryer door at the end of the cycle and scraping it off before it makes its way into the dryer drum. Other tools like a vacuum cleaner can also be used for this purpose.
Clean the moisture sensor inside the dryer drum with a bit of isopropyl alcohol, monthly. Fabric softener and dryer sheets can leave a film on the sensor that disrupts drying times.
Use an anti-calcium compound or baking soda to descale at least twice a year. Do this by following the user manual.
We know cleaning appliances can be a pain, but regular maintenance can improve their performance and extend their lifespan. Regularly cleaning any type of machine is also crucial in making sure that they stay bacteria and mould-free, particularly if you live in an especially humid part of Australia.
If you have more cleaning tips for your appliances, don't hold back! Tell us about them in the comments section below.
In this article, we’re looking at home appliances. These are the devices and pieces of equipment that make our lives easier on a day-to-day basis – but they can also become ‘germ central’ if we don’t clean them properly or often enough!
So, without further ado, let’s find out how often you should clean your home appliances…
The Fridge: Every 3 Months
Your fridge is one of the places where food can go off quickly if it’s not properly stored. It’s also a place where bacteria can grow and multiply if you don’t keep it clean. So, how often should you really be cleaning your fridge?
Ideally, you should give it a good clean at least once every 3 months. Take everything out of the fridge (yes, even the sauces), and give the shelves and drawers a good wipe-down. You can use a multipurpose cleaner, or make your own cleaning solution by mixing water and white vinegar in equal parts.
We here at the SDC are guilty of occasionally letting our fridge get a little... less than fresh... Source: OpenAI
While you’ve got everything out of the fridge, take the opportunity to give the door seals a good clean too. These can often be overlooked, but they can harbour a lot of bacteria. Use a cloth dampened with soapy water to wipe them down, and then dry them off with a clean cloth.
If you have a self-defrosting freezer compartment, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and defrosting. Otherwise, remove your food and tubs every month and clean everything. You should also clean spills and stains as they occur.
The Dishwasher: Every Month
Your dishwasher is one of the most-used appliances in your home, so it’s important to keep it clean and free from bacteria.
Ideally, you should give it a good clean at least once a month. You can do this by running it on an empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar in the detergent compartment. The vinegar will help to break down any build-up of grease and grime, and will also disinfect the dishwasher.
If you have a self-cleaning cycle on your dishwasher, use this once a month too. This will help to keep the dishwasher in tip-top condition and will help to prevent any build-up of bacteria.
The Microwave: Once a Week
Here at the SDC, we use our microwaves daily, so it’s important to keep them clean and free from bacteria. The best way to do this is to give them a good clean at least once a week (once a fortnight is probably fine if you don’t use your microwave as frequently as we do).
Start by giving the inside of the microwave a good wipe-down with a sponge or cloth dampened with soapy water. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies, as this is where bacteria like to hide!
Once you’ve done that, mix equal parts water and vinegar in a bowl, and microwave the mixture for 2 minutes on high. This will create steam, which will help to loosen any stubborn dirt and grime. Wipe the inside of the microwave down with a clean cloth or sponge, and then dry it off.
There’s an alternative ‘lemon cleaning’ technique floating around the internet that doesn’t require any cleaning products and only takes 5 minutes. We can’t personally speak to its effectiveness, but it gets rave reviews. Check out the video below:
[Embed ]
The Oven & Cooktop: As Needed
As long as you clean up spills and splatters right away, you won't need to do a lot of heavy-duty cleaning.
To clean your cooktop, simply use mild dishwashing soap and hot water solution. Do not use harsh cleaners or metal scrubbers as theycould damage the finish.
A plastic spatula is best for getting rid of food that has hardened.
If your cooktop has metal drip pans or grids over gas burners, you should give them a heavy scrubbing about once a month.
You'll get the best results if you let the drip pans soak in a solution of degreaser and hot water for about 30 minutes before scrubbing them with a stiff-bristled scrub brush and a paste of baking soda and water, if needed.
When it comes to the oven, seasonal cleaning is best.
Do not do your oven cleaning before a big holiday cooking marathon! The mess will only get bigger! Instead, do your oven cleaning after every big cooking session.
If your oven is self-cleaning, follow your manufacturer's directions for cleaning. Otherwise, a paste of baking soda and water can be used as a mild abrasive and grease remover.
For really tough baked-on messes, you can use a commercial oven cleaner and follow the directions.
The Washing Machine: Once a Month
Empty the lint filter after every load to keep it running smoothly and prevent lint build-up.
Add 500ml of chlorine bleach to an empty washer and run a hot water wash cycle with an extra rinse cycle to keep it free of musty odours, residue, and calcium and magnesium deposits.
The Dryer: After Every Load
Clean the dryer's lint filter after every load to keep it running smoothly and prevent lint build-up. We recommend opening the dryer door at the end of the cycle and scraping it off before it makes its way into the dryer drum. Other tools like a vacuum cleaner can also be used for this purpose.
Clean the moisture sensor inside the dryer drum with a bit of isopropyl alcohol, monthly. Fabric softener and dryer sheets can leave a film on the sensor that disrupts drying times.
Use an anti-calcium compound or baking soda to descale at least twice a year. Do this by following the user manual.
We know cleaning appliances can be a pain, but regular maintenance can improve their performance and extend their lifespan. Regularly cleaning any type of machine is also crucial in making sure that they stay bacteria and mould-free, particularly if you live in an especially humid part of Australia.
If you have more cleaning tips for your appliances, don't hold back! Tell us about them in the comments section below.
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