How to Clean Your Kitchen

The burnt grease and cheese splatters caked onto the walls of your toaster oven are unsanitary, and letting food build up in a cooking appliance is also a fire hazard. Ideally, you’re wiping it down regularly, but realistically, you’re doing it only when we remind you to, so here’s your reminder in four easy steps.

1. Unplug the toaster oven.
2. Remove the crumb tray and cooking rack(s) and wash them with a sponge and dishwashing detergent. Stubborn messes might need an overnight soak in hot soapy water.
3. Remove burnt-on food from the toaster oven’s interior walls using a damp polyester or nylon scrubber. (​​Metal scouring pads and abrasive cleaners can damage the coating on the walls.)
4. Use a damp, sudsy cloth to clean the glass door, then rinse and dry with a clean towel. Got residue that won’t budge? Try The Pink Stuff, which cuts through greasy messes by creating friction.

Over time, minerals accumulate in the water tank and tubes of your drip coffee maker, which can hinder performance. Coffee residue also builds up in the carafe and can ruin the taste of even the best breakfast blend.

Most odors that come out of the garbage disposal are coming from food buildup on the splash guard. That’s the removable black rubber panel that sits atop your sink’s drain hole. You can scrub it with warm water and baking soda or simply toss it on the top rack of a dishwasher. Food residue can also gum up the walls of the garbage disposal. For that, follow these steps:

1. With the disposal and faucet turned off, put six ice cubes in the chamber, followed by 1 tablespoon of baking soda, three thin lemon slices, and 1 teaspoon of bleach. Top it all off with six more ice cubes.
2. Turn on the disposal without running water until you hear the grinding stop.
3. With the motor still running, flush with cold water for 30 seconds.

Condenser coils dissipate heat from the refrigerator to keep it cold. Over time, dust, dirt, and other debris can collect on the coils and act as an insulator, making it harder for the coils to keep the refrigerator cool. The’re usually located on the back of the fridge or underneath it behind the grille. For built-ins, check the top of the appliance. Once you gain access to the coils, gently vacuum them using a soft brush attachment. 

For your dishwasher to run smoothly, it needs clean and clear spray arms (the propellers that shoot water onto your dishes). The bottom spray arm should lift off its base with a gentle tug. Unscrew the center wash arm from the bottom of the top rack using a Phillips screwdriver. Check to see whether food debris is clogging any of the spray nozzles. Gently remove debris with a toothpick or pipe cleaner, being careful not to deform the hole. You’ll also want to clean the filter more often than you think. Industry experts recommend manually cleaning the filter every month.

For more advice on how to keep your dishwasher last longer, check out our other dishwasher tips.