Spring cleaning is a great way to come out of winter hibernation and bring some freshness into your home. As you scrub floors, wash linens, and wipe down the window blinds, you should also hit the refresh button on your home appliances. After all, appliances that are clean and fresh tend to run more efficiently. Here are some spring refreshment tips for your most commonly-used home appliances:
Garbage Disposal
Luckily, giving your garbage disposal some spring TLC is not a difficult task. You simply need to disconnect it from power, then using a flashlight, inspect the blades. If you notice anything stuck around the blades, use tongs to remove. When you’re done, plug the garbage disposal back in again. Pour about ½ a cup of rock salt down the drain, turn on the water, and turn on the garbage disposal, letting it run for about a minute. Turn it off. You can then pour 1 cup of vinegar and ½ a cup of baking soda down the drain and let sit for 15 minutes. Then turn on the water and run the disposal for another minute. Finally, run it with plain water and voila – you’ve restored the freshness.
The Fridge
Spring is a great time to get rid of all those expired condiments! Start by removing all the food from the fridge. Anything that is old and mouldy should go right into the garbage. Pull out all the shelves, and with warm, soapy water, wash them in the sink. Wipe down the interior of the fridge, using warm, soapy water or vinegar. Make sure you also clean the exterior, including the door handle and the rubber seal around the door’s edge. This is also a good time to restore efficiency by vacuuming the coils in your refrigerator.
The Oven
Time to repay your oven for filling your house with delicious aromas! Start by removing everything from the inside – oven racks, pizza stone, etc. Then in a bowl, make a paste by mixing ½ a cup of baking soda with water. Spreads the mixture on the oven’s interior making sure you don’t touch the heating elements. To remove grime, slowly rub the baking soda on the interior surfaces of the oven. You’ll notice the baking soda begins to turn brownish as it absorbs the dirtiness. Let the mixture sit for a few hours before wiping the interior with a damp cloth. Don’t put the shelves back in until the oven is completely dry.
Dishwasher
Most people rarely take time to wash the dishwasher but spring is a great season to take your time to thoroughly clean it. Start by pulling out the bottom rack and removing any debris in there. Then, run the washer on the shortest cycle using 1 cup of vinegar. Sprinkle ¼ of a cup of baking soda in and run the cycle again. Using warm soapy water, scrub the exterior of the appliance.
Cleaning your home appliances is like going to the dentist – few of us look forward to it but the rewards afterward are always well worth it. Part of refreshing your home appliances includes scheduling servicing and maintenance for them. If any of your appliances have been showing signs of trouble, our technicians for appliance repair in Winnipeg are just a phone call away.