It is very important to keep your kitchen appliances always looking their best, however it takes a lot more than just cleaning them on the outside. Most appliances have different internal pieces that are often forgotten about but those pieces need to be cleaned as well. Here are some tips to help you keep your kitchen appliances working their best.

Blender, Mixer and Food Processor

1. Make sure to wash any removable parts thoroughly, especially the blades, with warm water and dishwashing detergent. If needed, use a nylon brush to remove any particles that are caked onto the blades.

2. Check to see if the blender carafe or processing bowl is dishwasher safe. If not, hand wash them using warm, soapy water.

3. Make sure to dry all the pieces thoroughly before reassembling. This is particularly important when it comes to the blades, as to prevent rust.

4. Before putting everything back together, use a damp cloth to wipe down the base of the machine. You can also use Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes to keep all your surfaces free of germs.

Kitchen Aid Coffee Maker

Coffee Maker

1. Remove the filter and the carafe; it is best to soak them in warm, soapy water for 2 – 3 minutes. Make sure you rinse them with clean water before installing them back into the machine.

2. Water deposits can become an issue so you need to ensure that you descale on a regular basis, especially if you have hard water. Descaling is very important as not get a build up of water deposits. Check out affresh® Coffeemaker cleaner by Whirlpool.

3. Here is a homemade solution that you can try if you do not have any tablets handy.

• Add together 2-3 of water and 2-3 cups of white vinegar.
• Pour into the water chamber and brew.
• Turn off the machine halfway through the cycle and let stand for an hour
• After an hour turn the machine back on to complete the cycle
• Once completed make sure to run fresh water through the machine a couple of time to ensure there is no leftover vinegar.

4. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the outside of the machine.

Dishwasher

1. Pull out the all the racks and use a small brush or toothbrush to scrub the racks’ wheels with warm, soapy water. It is possible that bacteria could be hiding in the crevices.

2. Like your coffee maker you need to ensure that you don’t get lime deposits in your dishwasher and you will need to help prevent this from happening. Once a month fill the detergent cup with white vinegar and run a normal cycle.

3. Make sure that the fan slats are clear and dust and particles have not settled in. Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to remove any build up in the slats.

Electric Can Opener

1. Once you have unplugged the machine, remove the cutting wheel and the lid cover and soak them in hot, soapy water. Use a soft brush to loosen any particles and make sure to scour the blade.

2. Before reassembling the opener, make sure to dry each piece with a clean cloth to avoid rust.

Microwave

Microwave

1. To eliminate odours and to soften food spills from within the machine, place a coffee mug filled with water and a few slices of lemon in the centre of the microwave on the turntable. Run the machine on high power for three minutes. Once the cycle ends, let the lemon water stand inside for three more minutes. The steam tends to soften the caked on particles and the lemon aroma will eliminate the odours.

2. Grab a wet, soapy cloth and wipe the interior walls to remove any other of the food particles.

3. If your microwave has a turntable, remove the turntable and make sure to scrub the wheels with a soft bristled brush to avoid bacteria from building up.

Toaster and Toaster Oven

1. Before cleaning this appliance, make sure to always unplug it before doing any cleaning or maintenance on it.

2. Empty the crumb tray to remove any loose particles, and then wipe the crumb tray with a dry cloth to remove any other particles.

For more tips on how to thoroughly clean your small and large kitchen appliances, check out this article from Martha Stewart.

Isabelle, Your Appliance Expert