Most everyone has heard of Spring Cleaning, but what about Fall? Fall is the time of year we spend more time indoors. Trying to rid your home of germs, allergens and dirt can be helpful as we enjoy the great indoors.
Let’s begin with your kitchen’s major appliances:
Refrigerator
You will need to remove all the contents, as well as the racks, bins, trays and shelves. Wash the entire interior with an antibacterial cleaner. Don’t forget the door gaskets, which help create the seal that keeps the cool air inside and the warm air out. Be sure to include vacuuming the condenser coils on the back or bottom of your refrigerator. Cleaning these coils helps the appliance run more efficiently and can help save energy dollars. It’s unappetizing to find a science experiment when searching for a meal, so before you replace all those expired condiments and mystery leftovers back into the refrigerator, check the freshness date and discard if necessary. And lastly, don’t forget to add a box of baking soda, to keep it smelling fresh.
Oven
No one wants to compromise the taste of your upcoming holiday meals and treats.
If you have a self-cleaning oven then you’ll be able to pass on some of the scrubbing, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. However, some people believe that using the self-cleaning method may not be good for your oven or your health. Check out this link to read more about the possible hazards of the self-cleaning option. You can clean your oven without harsh chemicals by steam cleaning. There are steamers that have an oven brush attachment to help soften grease and melt it away. Then you’ll only need to wipe out the excess water and grease with paper towels and toss them in the trash. Be sure you take out the oven racks and clean them separately.
Dishwasher*
I bet you didn’t think that an appliance meant to get things clean could get so dirty. But leftover food remaining at the bottom of your dishwasher can cause odor problems. Use baking soda on a damp sponge and wipe down the interior of this appliance, including the racks, which may have remaining bits of food stuck to them. Gently scrub the door gasket and rubber seal around the door with an old toothbrush dipped in warm sudsy water or a mild all-purpose cleaner. Also clean the filter, which is below the bottom spray arm. Check your owner’s manual to find out how to remove and properly replace (if the filter is not properly locked in place you could cause damage to your machine).
- Unlock and remove the filter & rinse under hot running water.Use a soft toothbrush to scrub the mesh screen and frame to remove any grease or food particles stuck in the crevices. Then rinse with hot water.
- Lock the filter back into place.
*If you prefer to fight any residue buildup, without scrubbing, you can clean the dishwasher with vinegar. You can place one cup of vinegar, in a dishwasher-safe bowl, on the top rack and run a heavy (hot) cycle without detergent or dishes. For extra freshening, after performing the vinegar cycle, sprinkle a cup of baking soda in the bottom of the empty dishwasher and run a quick or short cycle.
Garbage Disposal
Toss a few fresh lemon peels into the disposal and turn it on.
Other small items to clean during your FALL cleaning process:
- Clean and descale your coffee maker.
- Wash out trash and recycling receptacles.
- Clean your dryer’s lint trap.
- Toaster – remove the crumb tray or hold the toaster upside down over a trash bin.
- Clean out and organize your pantry.
- Change out HVAC filters.
- And don’t forget to change those smoke alarm batteries!
If you just can’t find the time to do these tasks, you may consider hiring a maid service, scheduling a few hours to tackle them for you. Cosmopolitan Maid Service is here to support you in achieving and maintaining a clean and healthy living space.
