Easy Cleaning Tips for Your Appliances

Appliances are here to make our lives easier. Cooking, laundry, dishes, cleaning—everything takes less time when you have the right appliances in your home. But what happens when it’s time to clean those appliances? You can spend an entire day scrubbing and scraping and sanitizing until you have tense shoulders and a sore back. You can also use these easy cleaning tips and be done in half the time and with a fraction of the elbow grease!

Dishwasher

Cleaning the dishwasher can be a long, drawn-out process that includes removing all the bits and pieces to scrub them down. Or it can be a snap with Glisten Dishwasher Cleaner and Freshener Tablets. These easy-to-use tablets don’t require much more effort than running a normal cycle. Simply load the dishwasher, add detergent to the main dispenser, place the Glisten Dishwasher Cleaner tablet in the bottom of your machine, and run the dishwasher on normal. As an added bonus, Glisten dishwasher tablets will not only remove buildup and deodorize your dishwasher, but they also help prevent buildup of odor-causing bacteria. Keep your dishwasher clean, deodorized, and performing like new by adding these easy-to-use tablets weekly to your normal dishwashing cycle.

Microwave

Fill a coffee mug with water, add a few lemon slices, and place in the microwave. Run on high power for about three minutes, then allow to sit for another few minutes. The steam from the lemon water will help soften any stubborn food spills, and the lemon scent will also help get rid of any lingering odors. Remove the turntable and wipe down with a rag or sponge soaked in warm, soapy water. Wipe down the interior of the microwave with the same cloth or sponge. Wipe down the exterior with a kitchen cleaning wipe or a cloth sprayed with an all-purpose cleaner.

Oven and Stovetop

Let your oven do the heavy lifting by using the self-cleaning option. Use a little soapy water or vinegar to wipe down areas like oven door hinges and frames, which aren’t reached via self-cleaning. For baked-on food that won’t budge, use a spray oven cleaner or some baking soda on a sponge. To clean the stovetop, remove burners, knobs, and vents and soak for a few hours in hot, soapy water. If you have a glass-top stove, be gentle. Use a microfiber cleaning cloth or sponge and a special glass-top stove cleaner. For dirtier glass-top stoves, spray the surface with vinegar, then sprinkle baking soda on top. Dip a clean towel in hot water and place over the vinegar and baking soda. Allow to sit for about fifteen minutes. Remove the towel and wipe away the cleaning concoction with a microfiber cloth. Spray the surface with vinegar again and use another microfiber cloth to buff out any streaks.

Coffee Maker

For traditional coffee makers, remove and wash/rinse any removable parts. Pour a solution of two parts water and one part white vinegar into the water chamber. Insert a coffee filter, run the solution through the machine, and then run clean water through twice to get rid of any lingering vinegar. If you have a single-cup brewer like a Keurig, start by unplugging the machine and removing the removable parts like the water reservoir, K-cup holder, and drip tray. Wash in warm, soapy water and allow to dry, then reassemble the machine. Fill the water reservoir halfway with white vinegar, then cold water for the remaining half. Plug the machine back in and run without inserting a coffee pod/K-cup. Discard and repeat until all the water and vinegar are gone. Refill the water reservoir with cold water and rerun the cycle without a coffee pod/cup. Repeat until the vinegar smell is gone. Alternatively, you can use a store-bought descaling solution for any coffee machine.

Refrigerator

The area behind the refrigerator tends to be forgotten when it comes to cleaning. To clean this area, pull the fridge out and sweep and mop behind it. Use the vacuum cleaner to clean dust and gunk from the coils. Use soapy water or a half-and-half solution of vinegar and water to wipe down the inside of your fridge. For sticky or stuck-on bits, you might want to remove the shelf or drawer and soak it in some hot, soapy water. Use a damp cloth to remove fingerprints and smudges on stainless steel exteriors.

Toaster

Here’s a quick and easy way to clean a crumby, messy toaster. Unplug the toaster, spread out a few layers of newspaper, and place the toaster on top. Pour a tablespoon of kosher salt in each slot, then tape a piece of paper over the top. Give the toaster a good shake to get those grains of salt working, knocking out the crumbs and other food particles. Remove the paper from the top and empty the toaster over the newspaper. Voila! Give the toaster a good exterior wipe down if needed.

Blender and Food Processor

One of the simplest ways to clean your blender or food processor when you’re finished using it is to add warm water and a couple of drops of dish soap. Blend like you’re making your favorite smoothie or sauce! This method is quick, easy, and efficient. Be sure to rinse the container and blades afterward, and give the appliances a deep cleaning every now and then as needed.

Cleaning household appliances doesn’t have to be backbreaking work. With some simple prep work and a hand from easy cleaners like Glisten Dishwasher Cleaner and Freshener Tablets, you’ll be able to knock out your cleaning to-do list in no time flat.