How to Clean Almost Every Appliance in Your Home (Including the Small Ones!)

For all the hard work our appliances do — whether they brew our morning coffee, heat our leftovers, clean our dishes, or dry our clothes — they need some care to keep up the great work. Without it, they can often fall into disrepair or stop performing optimally. That’s why today we’re going to clean an appliance that’s getting a lot of use and probably needs some TLC right about now.

Pick your most-used appliance (or one that really needs some love), big or small, and dedicate today’s assignment to cleaning it. Here are some options to consider — and how to get them clean.

Get your cooktop sparkling clean. You should wipe it down regularly to pick up any spills and splatters and give it a more thorough cleaning every so often. 

• For glass stovetops: You’ll need some household items to get them clean, and you want to be mindful of removing debris before you start cleaning to avoid scratches. 
• For gas stoves: It’s important to remove the grates — and clean them separately — to get underneath and clean the surface.
• For electric stove burners: You’ll want to be extra careful not to get the electrical connections wet and to gently clean them. (And don’t forget drip pans if you have them!)

Give your oven the deep clean it needs to remove any gunk and grease buildup inside. Ovens should be cleaned every three months or so, depending on how often you use it. Most times, you can just create a simple DIY cleaning paste of baking soda and water to get your oven clean. And for any lingering residue, use vinegar. You can also go with a store-bought oven cleaner if you prefer. Don’t forget to clean the oven racks, too!

Your dishwasher requires regular cleaning — here are some signs that it needs one ASAP! — and experts recommend using a dishwasher cleaner at least every three months. Vinegar is great to use weekly to naturally disinfect your dishwasher. Be sure to wipe down the seals and exterior, and don’t forget to clean the dishwasher filter, too.

Small appliances you use regularly need some care, too! Here are some you can clean: the coffee maker, toaster, air fryer, microwave, or toaster oven.

It’s important not to wait too long to clean your washer — it should receive some level of care at least monthly — as it’ll not only impact the longevity of the machine, but also the quality of the items you put in it. Depending on the type of washing machine you have (top-load or front-load), you may have to take extra steps to clean it. 

• For top-load washers: You’ll need vinegar, baking soda, a toothbrush, and a microfiber cloth to get it clean. The vinegar and baking soda will be used on separate cycles to get inside the washer clean, and you can use the toothbrush and cloth to scrub and wipe the outside.
• For front-load washers: These are prone to getting mold or mildew buildup, so be on the lookout for that. You would also clean a front-load washer with vinegar — and follow a similar process as top-load machines — but just make sure to thoroughly clean the seal and gasket.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DVFZTTGAlternatively, you can rely on a washing machine cleaner that you can easily throw in on a regular or self-cleaning cycle. There are so many options too, including this Active Washing Machine Cleaner, which descales and deep cleans, Tide Washing Machine Cleaner that’s enhanced with Oxi, or Lemi Shine Washing Machine Cleaner powered by citric acid.

Just like washers, you should be routinely cleaning your dryer. Take out the lint filter and give it a rinse with warm water (and make sure it’s dry before putting it back inside). Also, it’s important to remove lint from the lint filter before every load. Take the time to inspect the dryer exhaust on the outside of your home to make sure there’s no debris or blockage. 

Additionally, the dryer vent needs to be cleaned at least once a year. Using a dryer vent cleaning kit, like this one, can help you keep it clean; however, for a deeper clean, if you’re unsure how to get this done, or if you have a longer vent tube, you’ll want to get this professionally cleaned.

What appliance did you clean today? Tell us in the community forum.

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• Listen to our one-hour cleaning playlist on Spotify.

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