While you’re resting comfortably in that easy chair this week recovering from a turkey coma, you may be troubled by the thought that your oven could do with some cleaning after preparing the “big meal”. It’s true that appliances will perform better and last longer with periodic cleaning, and we all want those appliances to look good during the holidays (when guests we only see occasionally maybe snooping around the kitchen). While there are many good specific-use cleaners on the market, you probably have some products lying around the house that you can use right now to clean your oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, or portable humidifier.
Just in time for the upcoming festivities, here are some “hacks” and cleaning tips you may not have considered…
Hydrogen peroxide hacks
Oven
Cleaning your oven isn’t a fun task. They can become greasy and gross, plus, if you go too long between cleanings, you’ll be spending considerable time scrubbing to see any results. Add in the fumes from some oven cleaners and it can become unbearable. You don’t have to wait another day to clean your oven; just mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda and you’re ready to tackle the heavy grime. It is easier to get your oven clean and it doesn’t create horrible fumes in your home when you use this hydrogen peroxide cleaning tip. Burn residue can take ages to scrub off. Since burned debris cakes onto the surface of pots and pans, just scrubbing won’t do much. You need a substance that dissolves and lifts the residue. Use hydrogen peroxide to remove the grime without having to scrub. Pour a generous amount of hydrogen peroxide (3% is fine) to cover all the burned areas. Then stir in a pile of baking soda. Leave the mixture in place between two to six hours. The debris should then lift right off!
Refrigerator and Dishwasher
Because it’s non-toxic, hydrogen peroxide is suitable for cleaning refrigerators as well. Just spray the appliance inside and out, let the solution sit for a few minutes, then wipe clean.
Hydrogen peroxide can also help your dishwasher work better. If it’s been a while since you last cleaned your dishwasher, residue can become caked on the interior of the tub and leave your dishes less than lustrous (along with a lingering odor that is less than pleasant). Before you run your next load, add 1/4 cup (or three ounces) of 3% hydrogen peroxide to your dishwasher. Close the door and run it. The hot water will swirl it around and the peroxide will disinfect the surface. Plus, the hydrogen peroxide will lend your dishwasher soap more cleaning power, so your dishware should look even shinier.
Garbage Disposer
You can also clear or un-gunk your garbage disposal with hydrogen peroxide. If your kitchen disposer smells or the sink drain keeps clogging, hydrogen peroxide may be able to help. Try pouring one cup of hydrogen peroxide down the drain and let it sit for an hour. After an hour has passed, run several cups of hot water down the drain to help break up any obstruction. For the best results, repeat the process every two weeks to keep your drain from clogging up again. It’s always handy to keep a bottle of hydrogen peroxide under the sink!
Portable Humidifier
When’s the last time you cleaned your portable humidifier? Bacteria adores wet, warm places and humidifiers can remain damp for a long time. Plus, standing water allows bacteria to multiply. While you often rely on a portable humidifier to relieve allergy symptoms, a dirty humidifier can trigger these symptoms rather than help them. To clean a humidifier, add two cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide to one gallon of water. Pour it into the humidifier’s water tank and filter, scrub it, and let it sit for 10 to 30 minutes. Then rinse the base in clean water and leave it to air dry.
The hydrogen peroxide can also be added to your portable humidifier on a more regular basis to reduce the germs floating through your home. You’ll want to dilute your 3% hydrogen peroxide a lot. Mix one part of peroxide with eight parts of water and add the mixture to your humidifier. This is a great way to keep your home’s air clean, but don’t forget to change the humidifier’s filter regularly as well.
Olive oil can do more than make pasta taste great
You may have something in your kitchen cupboard right now that can make stainless steel appliances really shine – olive oil. While it’s ideal for cooking, you can also add a few drops of olive oil to help clean stainless steel refrigerators, dishwashers, or stovetops. Olive oil leaves behind a protective film that stops blemishes and scratches from forming on surfaces, so it’s a handy alternative to traditional stainless steel cleaning products.
Before you load the washer, consider Aloe Vera gel
If you’ve managed to spill grease or oil on your favorite shirt, there may be something sitting on your bathroom shelf that can help you out: aloe vera gel. Soak the stained garment in cool water and let it sit for several minutes. Take the garment out of the water and pour the aloe vera gel onto the stain. Rub the gel into the stained spot for a few minutes, and then wash the garment with cold water or as directed. Let it air dry. See, not only does aloe vera gel work wonders for your hair and skin, but it can also work as a safe and effective cleaning agent!
Now it’s important to act swiftly when tackling grease and oil stains. The longer you wait to clean the stain, the more stubborn it will be to remove. When it’s not possible to clean the stain immediately, at least use a paper towel to dab out the extra oil or grease; this will make it easier to wash out the stain later on.
Find dedicated cleaning solutions and replacement parts with Repair Clinic
Or course, you can always use official cleaning products recommended by the manufacturer. Repair Clinic.com stocks many of these items such as Affresh washing machine and dishwasher cleaning tablets, Cerama Bryte cooktop cleaner, oven cleaner kits, Triple-D condenser coil and evaporator coil cleaner, and much more.
Repair Clinic also has the replacement parts needed to fix your appliances, outdoor power equipment, and heating and cooling products. To find the right part for your appliance or equipment, enter the full model number in the Repair Clinic website search bar. You can then use the “Part Category” filter and the “Part Title” filter to narrow the results down to identify the specific replacement part that fits your model. Repair Clinic carries complete lines of original manufacturer parts from brand names like Whirlpool, Electrolux, GE, LG, Samsung, Speed Queen, Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Toro, Echo, MTD, Bryant, Lennox, Goodman, and many more.
Do you have a little DIY in your DNA? With thousands of “how-to” videos, diagrams, and schematics, Repair Clinic will help you to complete many of your home repairs yourself, building your confidence and saving you money.