As I spring clean this year, I want to deep clean my kitchen appliances. Any suggestions?
"You definitely want to make a list and one that's manageable," says Michael Silva-Nash, executive vice president of Molly Maid of Greater Little Rock.
When you clean, you want to do it in such a way that your efforts will last, he says. For example, after cleaning the refrigerator, place baking sheets or parchment paper down on the shelves to catch spills. Then replace the paper as needed.
• Coffee maker
Three parts water and one part white vinegar will remove built-up residue and refresh an electric coffee maker. Run the water and vinegar mixture through the coffee pot as though brewing a pot of coffee. Next, clean the carafes and filters as usual. Rinse thoroughly before making coffee again.
• Garbage disposal
Silva-Nash also likes vinegar along with orange or lemon peels for cleaning the disposal. Run the disposal with vinegar and the peel of a citrus fruit to freshen and clean.
• Microwave
For the microwave, fill a microwave-safe container with one cup water and one cup vinegar, and run the appliance on high for a minute or two, until it gets steamy and the food splatters are softened. Wipe with vinegar and water solution to remove the loosened mess.
• Oven
If the oven is self-cleaning, follow the manufacturer's instructions. For other ovens, Silva-Nash suggests using a commercial oven cleaner (follow instructions) or a paste made from baking soda and water. Spray or wipe the cleaner or paste on the inside of the oven and let it sit overnight. Remove the oven racks and clean them separately. One method is to soak them in the bathtub with enough water to cover the racks plus 1/2 cup of vinegar and 3/4 cup of baking soda.
The next day, wipe down the inside of the oven. If there are
still stubborn dirty spots wipe with a little vinegar and water mixed with a couple of drops of dishwashing detergent. "Now you have a clean oven with no food odors ready for all your new dishes to share," Silva-Nash says.
Once the oven is clean, line the floor with aluminum foil to catch spills. Change the foil when needed.
• Dishwasher
"Many people forget about the dishwasher, thinking that running dishes to clean will automatically clean the dishwasher," Silva-Nash says. To clean this appliance, run it empty through a regular cycle with water and dishwashing machine detergent or vinegar.
For the family that wants to clean together, Molly Maid offers chore charts at tinyurl.com/grx68qq.
-- Linda S. Haymes
Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? We'll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark., 72203 or email:
lhaymes@arkansasonline.com
HomeStyle on 03/19/2016