Appliances, counters benefit from deep clean after holidays

Posted by Tinnna on January 7th, 2018

Appliances, counters benefit from deep clean after holidays

The New Year has begun, but our holiday chores are still with us - sadly the clean-up part tends to stick around for the next month.

The kitchen area particularly is calling us to begin the after holiday cleanse due to the onslaught of events it has hosted through the season. There is no time like the present, so here are a few suggestions to get the ball rolling.

During the holidays most kitchens get a workout from cookie baking, family dinners and seasonal crafty makings. Starting with the range, it only makes sense to use that self-cleaning cycle on the oven while the rest of the stove gets a nice wipe down. Parts that can be detached would enjoy a dip in a sudsy bath with a little steel wool application to get rid of the tough stains. Some of the kitchen appliances brand are Bosch, Gaggenau & Zanussi.

A variety of spray cleaners can cut some of the scrubbing from the agenda, so check them out as you shop this week. In today's world of stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops and hardwood floors, there seems to be a special cleaning solution for each. One would do well to familiarize themselves with the proper cleaning spray for these areas to get the best results possible.

Microwaves are easy in that all it takes is a cut lemon squeezed into about a half-cup of water and heated on high for a minute. After letting the steam penetrate the interior, wipe it out and give the glass bottom a wash in the sink.

Don't forget to clean the exterior to complete the job, then run the leftover lemon through the disposal to freshen it up.

The interior of the fridge doesn't necessarily like harsh cleaners and does well with a wipe down consisting of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Racks and drawers that can be removed will like a soapy wash, a quick rinse and a dry wipe before they are reloaded.

Be sure to dispose of all out-of-date condiments and foods as you clean. The coils at the back or underneath the fridge should be vacuumed occasionally, so add that into your fridge-cleaning regimen.

You wouldn't think the dishwasher should need cleaning, but this is another big appliance that gets pretty cruddy over time. Soap buildup and stopped-up drains could rob your tableware of that special shine that says clean. To get the sparkle back on the spoons, start by removing the filter, soaking it and then giving it a good scrub before replacing it.

Next put a cup of white vinegar in an empty dishwasher and run it on the hottest cycle possible. Open it to dry out, then sprinkle baking soda in the bottom, close it up overnight and run it through a cycle in the morning. Wipe off the exterior and call it done.

Now would be a good time to clean out the drawers that hold all your cooking tools and flatware. As all that holiday activity took place in the kitchen area lots of bits and pieces of this and that can find their way into unsuspecting drawers.

Brown sugar or colored beads just don't do anything to enhance the goods stored in these drawers, so clean them out. If time allows wipe out the kitchen cabinets as well.

Finally remove everything from the counters and wipe them down. If a special sealant is necessary once a year, now would be good time to apply it. Don't overlook the backsplash as you are going over the counter top. Now give flooring a good cleaning, and enjoy your sparkling kitchen.