There are many kitchen appliances that might be trapping grime, food debris and any oils when cooking or cleaning dishes.
Luckily, AO’s appliance expert, Nick Small, has shared some cleaning tips for the overlooked nooks and crannies in kitchens.
Washing machine filters
A washing machine may be working extra hard to make sure clothes are clean, but households tend to forget who’s cleaning the washing machine.
Nick said: “The hidden places on your washing machine like your filter and detergent draw are where the unpleasant smells may be coming from.”
Every couple of months he suggests pulling the detergent draw out and with a toothbrush and hot, soapy water, scrubbing away any detergent or gunk buildup before allowing it to fully air dry.
When emptying the filter, put a tray under it to catch any excess water. Next, remove the filter and check for any random bits and pieces that might fall out.
Kettles
Many may not be aware that limescale lurking in kettles might be making this appliance less efficient.
The cleaning pro instructed: “The most effective way to remove any unwanted limescale is to mix a teaspoon of baking soda with around two cups of water.
“Pour the mixture into your kettle before boiling. Once the mixture has been boiled, leave it to cool for another 15 minutes.”
Then simply rinse out the kettle with cold water and use a dry cloth or a sponge to wipe down the inside and remove any traces of the limescale that may remain.
Dishwasher filter
A well-maintained dishwasher leads to spotless dishes. But, households may not be aware that there’s a cylindrical filter at the bottom of the machine that collects excess food.
At least once a month simply unscrew the cylindrical filter and rinse off food bits collecting at the bottom.
Nick explained: “This will help prevent any odours and bits of old food swilling around your dishwasher during each cycle.”
Cooker hoods
A cooker hood catches all the smoke and steam from preparing food in its filters, but it needs to be cleaned around once every three months as it could be full of grease and grime making it not only “dirty”, but “less effective”.
Households can put most filters in the dishwasher, so check the manufacturer’s manual to see if they are dishwasher safe.
If not or households do not own a dishwasher, let the filter soak in hot soapy water for at least 10 minutes then scrub with a brush.
Toaster tray
Toasters should be spot cleaned if left out on the countertop to get rid of any splashes or sticky residue. In fact, there’s a crumb tray underneath that can be easily pulled out and then emptied into the bin every couple of weeks.
Make sure the appliance is turned off, give the tray a good clean with a dry cloth and use a cocktail stick to get into the corners and remove any stuck bits of food.
Fridge freezer door seals
Fridge freezer door seals may have collected gunk and excess crumbs over time causing an “unpleasant smell”.
Use an old toothbrush to dig grime out and then give it a spritz of anti-bacterial spray before wiping it down. To scrub the inside of the fridge, use a mixture using warm water and lemon to feel a refreshing smell.
