Spring cleaning: Three kitchen jobs you’re putting off

September 6th, 2012

Appliance Talk

September is here, which means that spring has sprung and it’s time to tackle those pesky cleaning jobs that you’ve ignored all winter (or maybe even longer).

There is no denying the feeling that takes hold of many households this time of the year, but perhaps it might be time to channel your efforts into one of the most popular areas of the house – the kitchen.

It can be easy to get stuck into clearing out your wardrobe or garage, but those cluttered cupboards and kitchen appliances deserve some attention as well.

Get your pantry organised

Don’t remember the last time you used that dried pasta? Can’t tell the difference between plain and self-raising flours?  Then perhaps it might be time to overhaul the contents of your pantry.

Whether you have a small cupboard, a walk-in pantry or a set of pull-out drawers, organisation is key!

The first step is to remove everything from the space – one shelf at a time – and start with a clean slate.

Throw away any dry goods or canned foods that are past the expiration date, set aside any unopened packets that you don’t think you’ll use to donate to charity and wipe all of the shelves – as well as the pantry door – with a damp cloth.

You might also like to take this opportunity to section off your space into areas for frequently used items, foods that go together (such as dried pasta and jars of pasta sauce) and less common ingredients.

Keeping on top of your pantry maintenance will not only help you feel more organised, it can also help to reduce the occurrence of weevils (also known as pantry moths).

Makeover your small appliances

Spring cleaning often brings to mind big jobs, so it can be easy to overlook small appliances like your toaster, kettle, coffee machine or microwave.

But these everyday appliances need some love too, so why not know over a couple of quick jobs in a row?

First of all, the toaster.

Obviously, water and electricity don’t mix so that makes cleaning small appliances like a toaster a bit tricky.

The best way to approach the task is to follow these simple steps:

1. Empty the crumb tray

If you’ve never noticed the pull-out tray at the bottom of your toaster before, you’re not alone. But if you’ve ever wondered how to get rid of the burning smell from your toaster, the fallen pieces of bread that lie in the crumb tray may be to blame.

Unplug your cooled toaster and empty the crumbs into the bin, then wipe the tray clean with a damp cloth or vinegar solution. Set aside to dry thoroughly before inserting back into the toaster.

2. Agitate the toaster

The job isn’t quite over yet – with the crumb tray removed, it’s time to dislodge those stubborn pieces of bread from the main unit. Turn the toaster upside down over a sink or garbage bin (or even outside) and shake with all of your might!

For particularly stubborn crumbs, the bristles of an old toothbrush should be able to help.

Other fiddly yet beneficial jobs include:

  • Descaling the kettle – let diluted vinegar (one cup of vinegar and one cup of water) stand in the kettle for an hour before wiping clean and rinsing with fresh water five times
  • Remove residue from your blender – pour half a cup water and one-third cup of baking soda into the blender jar and blitz briefly
  • Clean your electric food mixer – clear any material from the vent with a toothpick

Tackle the fridge/stove/oven

Larger appliances can be intimidating to clean, but they are often the most affected by neglect.

Cracked fridge seals and overcrowded shelves may cause your fridge to work less efficiently, so regular cleaning is essential in order to get the longest life possible out of your appliance.

Must like you pantry, clean your fridge and freezer of any out-dated and unidentifiable food stuffs and give the shelves a wipe down.

If you have an older model and need to defrost your freezer, turn it off at the power point, remove all of the drawers and ice cube trays and line the floor around the base with old towels or newspaper.

To help the process along, wipe down the icy shelves and door seals with some hot water and leave for 20 minutes to thaw. Once defrosted, wipe down once more and return the food to the freezer.

Next, the cooktop. Depending on whether you have a gas, electric, ceramic or induction variety, there may be more elbow grease involved.

Clean removable pieces such as the trivets and burner parts, as well as extractor fan filters, in hot soapy water and let try. Wipe down the cooktop, getting rid of any stubborn stains or hidden food crumbs and don’t forget the rangehood (you can find some handy tips on how to do this here).

Your oven will probably need some close attention too. While cleaning your appliances regularly is ideal, it is often not a reality for most households – and the high temperature that an oven operates at makes baked-on grease and grime a likely scenario.

There is a range of oven cleaning products on the market, but if you prefer the do-it-yourself approach – or you’re simply sensitive to the smell of toxic cleaning agents – a microfibre cloth, a scourer/brush/metal scraper, some bicarbonate of soda and vinegar should do the trick.

Check to see that your oven is not self-cleaning or continuous cleaning variety, ensure that there is as much ventilation as possible in the kitchen, make a thick paste of bicarb soda and vinegar and then scrub away!

It may feel like your spring cleaning will take you well into summer, but a little time and effort now will mean much less work next season.

All the way from the land of the flightless bird, Krissy brings a part of New Zealand culture to the Appliances Online content team. And although she is adamant she does not say 'fush and chups', she can't deny her continuous use of the term 'sweet as' and her ongoing argument with her team on the correct name for jandals (thongs). One thing is for certain, however, her passion for her kiwi slang is matched with her love for sharing news, hacks and buying tips for all things appliances! Krissy's favourite appliance is the Tefal Cook4Me multi cooker, as she believes it's ok to let an appliance do all the work for you.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *