1.) Give your refrigerator an interior facelift.
Soon you will need refrigerator space for leftovers. Take care of that now and save a headache later. Check the expiration dates on condiments along with other products that hang out in refrigerators for extended periods. Odds are that you have a few items that should be escorted to the trash bin.
Use hot, soap and water to wipe down refrigerator door gaskets and the interior drawers and shelves.
To keep the refrigerator smelling fresh, make use of a deodorizer that's specially formulated for refrigerators. This is our favorite.
2.) Clean your range/stove/oven/cooktop.
Cleaning your most significant cooking appliance is a wise idea because grease and other flammable liquids may cause problems for your machine – at the worst time.
Spray oven cleaner should never be used on a self-cleaning oven. It'll eat away the factory-made coating around the oven walls, floor and ceiling.
Dirty drip bowls/pans? Replace them when they get dirty. They radiate heat back at the pan which improves efficiency. More dirt = reduced cooking efficiency = problems.
Have a smooth glass cooktop? Avoid abrasive scrub pads, as they possibly can leave permanent scratch marks. Make use of a standard cooktop cleaner or perhaps a non-abrasive cleanser.
3.) Teach your helpful guests how to load the dishwasher the right way.
Your dishwasher will be working overtime to clean dishes and cookware not commonly used. When well-intentioned family members place mugs towards the bottom rack, tell them that RepairClinic.com recommends dirty, large items be loaded towards the bottom rack – closest to the spray arm for the best cleaning. Mugs and other small items ought to be placed in the top rack.
Other dishwasher tips:
- Despite what your mother-in-law may say, pre-rinsing dishes is still a waste of time but it is wise to scrape away large chunks of food before placing them inside your dishwasher.
- To avoid any leaking disasters, look at your dishwasher's door seals, which are recognized to tear easily. If you find tears, you should replace them immediately.
- For a brand new dishwasher, use a cloth to wipe the area near the bottom of the door and also the bottom front of the tub to prevent mold growth.
- Is your glassware looking foggy? That's called etching also it caused by using too much detergent.
4.) Reduce refrigerator energy consumption.
(Remember to disconnect power to your refrigerator before cleaning or performing any kind of maintenance.)
Did you know that a refrigerator's job isn't for cooling but rather to remove heat? For this, it relies on the proper functioning of their coils. Unfortunately, coils are also dust, dirt and pet hair magnets. Layers of this dust make it harder for the refrigerator to remove heat efficiently. Cleaning the condenser coils will reduce energy consumption as well as your electric bill.
Some refrigerators have large, black radiator-like coils located at the back. Coils on these models can be cleaned by gently brushing away dust and dirt. A long-handled bristled brush works best. Think about this one.
More commonly, coils are located beneath the refrigerator. This makes them dust and dirt magnets and significantly more vulnerable to problems if not cleaned every 12 to 18 months. If you have pets, you may need to increase cleaning frequency to each six months, as pet fur and hair are recognized to form thick layers quickly.
On these models, you have access to the coil by removing the bottom grill or kick-panel found at the front or an access panel behind. A flashlight will be useful in this dark area to prevent any damage to the fan. Using your vacuum's crevice attachment or perhaps a convenient long hose attachment, carefully remove dust and fur on and around the coil. Consider this brush, also is great for cleaning beneath other large appliances. Make sure to remove stubborn dirt by gently managing a long-handled bristle brush over the coil. Vacuum again, if required, and restore power to the unit.
Have a torn door seal? Your refrigerator is working extra hard to get rid of heat. Fix it and lower energy consumption. RepairClinic has replacement gaskets and seals. With your refrigerator's model number handy, head here.
5. Freshen up your garbage dispose.
Potato peels, husks, celery and other fibrous foods can cause problems for your garbage disposer (a.k.a. disposal) therefore it is best to keep them away from your sink or cut them into small pieces before putting them on the disposer.
Smelly disposer?
While running the disposer and also the faucet, pour in a solution of 1 gallon of water and one half cup of bleach. This will destroy odor-causing bacteria.
We use these biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning pellets to eliminate disposer odors naturally:
Your disposer's splash guard is really a bacteria haven. Some disposer models have replaceable splash guards; consider replacing it for those who have trouble eliminating odor.
We wish you wonderful gatherings and celebrations with your family and friends over the coming weeks.
