Cleaning: Expert reveals best way to clean home appliances

Cleaning has never been more important than it has been in the past few months. With many deep cleaning their homes, certain appliances can be super hard to clean and take up effort and time. This means that they tend to be forgotten about but it is important to clean the white goods in your home.

Deep clean the washing machine

Hoover says: “An eco-friendly way of cleaning the drum is to put one small glass of white wine vinegar directly into the drum and run an empty wash at 95°C.

“To clear any build-up of softener or residue that can attract bacteria, soak your detergent drawer(s) in a solution of hot water and bicarbonate of soda for about an hour, before cleaning the surface with a cloth or toothbrush.

“Always leave the door and detergent drawer open after a wash to help it ventilate and keep nasty smells to a minimum and keep the door seals fresh by wiping them monthly with a bleach-soaked cloth.”

De-fluff your tumble dryer

The cleaning experts explain: “Lint filters should be cleaned after every use, simply by gently ‘scraping’ lint from the internal surface of the filter. Failure to do this will result in a build-up of lint which has the potential to cause a fire.

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“A monthly deep clean will help ensure that suction stays as strong as possible. For bagless vacuums, simply give the filters a wash in warm water and allow to dry for 24 hours. Models with Silver-Ion treatment and/or HEPA filtration are a good option for allergy sufferers, too.

“The bags in bagged models should be replaced regularly to prevent ‘dirty’ air recirculating into the home.

“And finally, a handy scissor guide on the brush bar will help to keep the vacuum hair-free.”

Care for your cooking appliances

Hoover says: “Dirty ovens littered with grease and pieces of burnt food can be inefficient, so make sure they’re cleaned regularly. A bicarbonate of soda paste will give the oven door and cavity a deep clean and the shelves, as well as filters from the ventilation hood, can usually go in the dishwasher.

“If your oven doesn’t have pyrolytic or steam-clean functions, then heating a (heat-resistant) bowl of water at a high temperature for 20 minutes will help you to remove any grime with a damp cloth once the appliance has cooled down.”

Stay cool with a clean fridge

The experts explain: “Make sure to wipe up spills or leakages immediately. Liquids that drip onto foods can harbour bacteria and spread it onto other foods.

“On top of this, plan to clean your refrigerator top to bottom once a month. Do this by taking everything out of the fridge, washing the drawers and shelves in hot, soapy water, as well as the interior.

“A quick vacuum of the metal coils at the back removes all the dust and grime which can affect how efficient your fridge is too.”

Clean your microwave

Hoover says: “A microwave-proof bowl with one cup each of white vinegar and water will break down any grime in the microwave cavity. Adding a squeeze of lemon juice will keep it smelling nice, too.

“Simply microwave the bowl for 5-10 minutes and then wipe the inside with a microfiber cloth.”

Stand the heat and get in the kitchen

The cleaning experts say: “Steam cleaners kill germs, bacteria, viruses and mould, providing a powerful cleaning force that can penetrate surfaces and fabrics with ease.

“Available in all shapes and sizes, from handhelds to large units, the accompanying attachments can help people to super-charge their elbow grease with steam power.”

source: express.co.uk