Spring Cleaning: Kitchen Appliances

Kitchen Appliances

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX3NtpH3OA4

Don’t be afraid! Do not fear!

This is going to be a cake walk!

Ovens, refrigerators, and garden tubs are my least favorite things to clean. I get it! It’s tedious, time consuming, frustrating, and physically exhausting.

This post will be broken up into two parts (Refrigerator and Oven).

Refrigerator

Best Products: Favorite Multipurpose, Magic Eraser, and Comet for really tough jobs.

Steps:

1. Remove all the food

2. UNPLUG the thing! I know, I know, I know… but it will be much easier if your product isn’t freezing up on you. You’ll be more comfortable if you’re not freezing as well. Don’t worry, it will get cold really fast. Your food won’t go back in the hour or two that it takes to clean it out. You’ll be fine. Your food will be fine. Your fridge will be fine. I promise.

3. Disassemble your fridge. Take all the drawers, shelves, guard rails, baskets, etc. out of the fridge and put what you can in the dishwasher.

4. Prepare to clean in 2-3 stages. The first wipe out is going to be to get all the hard food and smears of mystery off. The second will be to clean it. The third (if necessary) will be to wipe out all the hairs/fine debris. When you are on your final stage, it helps to wipe top down in a snake like pattern.

5. I prefer to clean the inside of the fridge/freezer first and then everything I’ve taken out. DO NOT place an object you’ve cleaned back on the floor but rather place it back into the sterile refrigerator. I know that sounds so silly, but if you’re aiming for perfection (as we do when we clean for our clients), you can barely breath without messing it up. To prevent double work, reassemble your fridge as you clean.

I typically clean it in this order: Fridge, Freezer (top down depending on style), Shelves/glass tops, guard rails, drawers.

Sometimes it can be easier to put some of these items in the sink to wash before drying. Do not put wet items back into the fridge (dry them off first).

6. Plug it back in! Whew you did it!

7. Put your stuff back in their places.

*Expert Tip* When we place things, we tend to organize by theme, size, and always face the labels out! This will make everything easy to find and it looks AMAZING! It will definitely yield a “Wow” effect for the first several times you open it!

Oven

Many ovens have a self cleaning option. If yours does, USE IT!! The door must be locked and it will take between 3-5 hours depending on your oven settings. The oven will get SO HOT that it will just burn everything in there until it’s very clean. It will need a wipe out when the cycle is finished. This wipe out should be very easy (though you may need a few rags if it’s really ashy).

If you are a cast iron cook and need to restore a cast iron pan, throw it in before you start the cycle! Use some steel wool on it at the end and season it as you would if you just bought it.

Best Products: Bar Keeper’s Friend, Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Multipurpose Cleaner, Scrub brush

Steps:

Take the shelves out of the oven and pull the burners and plates out if you have them (if you get stuck, youtube it).

Oven Racks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4t-3XZjBZk

Burner Plates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwNClydVJ6I

Wipe off and wipe out anything loose from the stove top, under the range (if yours pops up… just pull up on it and it should rise), outside of the oven, and inside of the warmer drawer that you store all your bakeware in (that’s right… it’s a warmer drawer if you want to keep stuff warm for a party).

Spread a generous amount of baking soda on the stove top (or Bar Keeper’s Friend). You might find that you need to switch up your methods as you go. You will likely have to go through 2-5 rounds of cleaning this thing depending on how long it’s been.

Pour the vinegar out (it will bubble and fizz). Some people will mix it together in a spray bottle. I like to do it fresh.

Use a scrub brush to gently loosen any burnt on particles.

Begin round one of wiping (S-pattern, back to front).

Repeat until it “shines like the top of the Chrysler Building”!

Clean under the range (if applicable) using steps 3-7.

Clean inside of the oven using steps 3-7. Don’t forget the oven sides, back, and ceiling. I’m sure you’ll get into all sorts of unflattering crazy positions as you do it… don’t worry… even the pros have to do that. Don’t be afraid to get down on the ground (this will save your back).

Clean out the oven drawer using steps 3-7. If you are feeling REALLY ambitious, you might even consider pulling the drawer out to clean the floor underneath! You might be shocked and

horrified what you find (but I never am).

Clean the outside of the oven (oven face).

Vwa-Lah! You have accomplished a great task and should feel proud!