Home Improvement

Road to a Healthy Home: Appliances You Should Clean Now

Cleaning isn’t exactly an enjoyable chore for many. But it’s necessary. Besides, a clean home is a healthy home. The easiest part of cleaning may be sweeping surfaces and vacuuming the floors. Meanwhile, cleaning appliances can be a pain. They need more work and, sometimes, need special cleaning materials. This additional requirement can make the task of cleaning even more unpleasant.

Just because you often use certain appliances doesn’t mean it doesn’t need much cleaning. Whether you use them a lot or not, regular cleaning is still a must to ensure your and your family’s safety.

Here’s a list of appliances you probably rarely clean but need to as soon as possible:

Washing Machine

Your washing machine is one of the most used appliances in your home. There is scientific evidence that a washing machine can be home to bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. Also, washing certain clothes together can result in the spread of bacteria, such as E.coli and salmonella. This risk is especially higher for energy-efficient washing machines that use low temperatures during a wash.

To avoid the risk, you need to wash your washing machine once a month to keep it clean. Wiping the surfaces and seals of the machine with a diluted bleach solution will also help.

Air Conditioner

Your HVAC system works hard all year round, especially during the summer when you need to crank up your air cooling system. Its regular use can cause dirt and particle buildup in its air filters. When this happens, your cooling system will need to work harder, contributing to a higher electric bill. Also, if you don’t clean the filters, 

If your AC unit has been in your house for more than a decade, the more practical step is to have it replaced. You can hire someone to help you with air conditioning system installation. Having a new unit will help you save money in the long run, especially if you get an energy-efficient one.

Toaster

If not cleaned regularly, a toaster can become a fire hazard. It accumulates bread crumbs at the bottom. And if they’re not removed, they can cause a spark inside the toaster that may turn into a fire.

Thus, it’s important to clean out your toaster regularly, especially if you use it every day. If the toaster has a slide-out bottom, you can remove it and dump the crumbs in the trash. You can also hold the toaster upside down. Tap the bottom gently to flush out other crumbs stuck between the crevices inside the toaster.

Refrigerator

The refrigerator is one of the most valuable appliances in your home. It’s where you store food and drinks for the family. But sometimes, you may forget what you have in your refrigerator. And in time, the leftovers get spoiled. This can make your refrigerator a health risk due to the growth of bacteria and other viruses inside.

Avoid this risk by cleaning your refrigerator regularly. For instance, you can do this once a week or once every two weeks. Also, if you happen to spill food onto a surface inside your refrigerator, make sure that you immediately wipe it.

Stove and Oven

Another appliance that you use daily is your stove. It gets a lot of beating whenever you cook. So it also needs some TLC.

Deeply clean your stove at least once a month to ensure good food hygiene in the kitchen. If your stove also has an oven that is rarely used, you can wipe the door and the walls inside it. But if you use it often, place a bowl of water and heat it inside for a few minutes to loosen the substances sticking in the oven’s walls. After a few minutes, wipe them with a damp cloth.

Coffee Maker

Coffee is an important part of most people’s day. It gives them an energy boost and makes them more productive. But this also means that the coffee maker at home can take some beating with constant use. 

If you have a coffee maker at home, you’ll also need to clean it often. Wash the carafe and its lead every day. Regularly wipe the surface of the coffee maker to keep dust away. Deep clean the machine at least once a month.

Since you need to clean several appliances in your home regularly, it would help if you include them in your weekly or monthly plans. Jot the task down on your planner or add it to your Google Calendar so that you don’t forget.

Cheryl Henson

Cheryl Henson is a passionate blogger and digital marketing professional who loves writing, reading, and sharing blogs on various topics.

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