It is the month of love after all, so let’s not forget those really important creations in our home – our trusty household appliances and kitchen gadgets. Let’s remember to show them some love … to keep them going longer!
Clean the lint filter in the tumble dryer
We often overlook the fact that tumble driers need some much needed TLC! They work tirelessly tumbling our clothes and bedding dry but now and again they take strain if their filters are not kept free of lint building up. in the filter. When lint builds up, airflow is restricted and clothes won’t dry as quickly. It’s a good idea to get into the habit of cleaning the lint filter after every load of laundry, so that lint never gets a chance to build up.
Neutralise dust bin odours
First you need to wash the can out with soap and water, with a long-handled bristle, clean the sides; Sprinkle half-cup of baking soda in the bottom of the bin, or even use cat litter or dryer sheets instead. To mask bad smells, you can also put in cotton balls sprinkled with essential oil.
Replacing cooker hood filters
Designed to absorb excess steam and stop grease and food particles from clogging up your vent, cooker hood filters are essential for keeping your kitchen clean and odour free. Depending on the model of your extractor and how often it’s used, you should replace your filter every six to eight months. The more grease and heat the hood is exposed to, the more frequently you should change the filter.
Keeping ovens clean
If ovens are used frequently, from quick mid-week meals to big family dinners, they should be cleaned often. Day to day use of your oven will create a build-up of grease and grime from any spills left in the bottom of your oven and they need to be cleaned after every cooking session.
Also make sure that baking trays or dishes are clean and free of grease before using them.
Maintaining your air fryer
They have become such a popular household appliance, and to make sure that they last for a long time, it’s a good idea to keep the interior free of crumbs and left over pieces of food. Give the interior and exterior a gentle wipe after each cooking session and wash the removable parts in the dishwasher.
Descaling the coffee machine
Whether you’re a lover of pods or a bean-to-cup brewer, coffee is a daily essential for many of us! Water is a key element in brewing perfect coffee, so descaling your machine is essential. Your cleaning routine will depend on the model you have, but usually, such gadgets require descaling every few months to remove limescale, oils and residue.In hard water areas, this is even more important. Failing to descale your machine will not only damage it but will affect the flavour of your brew – so keep the interior clean and free of residue.
Don’t rust on dishwasher tines
There are lots of things that can deteriorate your dishwasher, but nothing is as damaging as rust. Your dishwasher’s tines, or racks, are formed from metal coated in vinyl or rubber. With every use, this protective coating is worn away, exposing the metal to water – the perfect environment for rust to thrive.
Luckily, removing rust is relatively simple. Add some citric acid to your machine and run it empty on a standard cycle. This should be enough to strip the rust from your machine.
Clean the blender immediately
If you own a food processor, a juicer, or a hand-held blender, then you’ll know how difficult they can be to clean. Yet leaving them after use is one of the most detrimental things you can do, since it allows food to become lodged in hard-to-reach places.
Over time, this can damage the blender’s mechanisms, blunt its blades and render it unhygienic. As soon as you’ve finished blitzing, soak your blender in warm water. A pipe cleaner brush or toothbrush will allow you to tackle every nook and remove stubborn stains and odours, too.
This month of love, let’s show some love to our household appliances, they save us time and energy, and are integral parts of our day-to-day routines.