Household appliances need to be maintained to ensure you get the best return on your investment.

Here are some cleaning and maintenance tips to help extend the life of your valuable appliance and of course,always read the manufacturers instructions.

Dishwashers:

The dishwasher keeps your dishes clean,but the dishwasher itself can get pretty dirty in the process.Here’s how to keep your dishwasher as clean as your dishes:

Use a cloth dipped in baking soda to clean smudges from the exterior and interior of your machine.Use a synthetic scouring pad to clean stubborn soil.
Clean out hard-water stains,deodorise and sparkle the inside of your dishwasher by using high heat and a rinse aid.
Clean particles from the drain to avoid smells and keep the water flowing freely.

Ovens:

There are many strong cleaning agents designed to clean standard ovens.Wear rubber gloves and protect your eye while cleaning and carefully read your manufacturers instructions when using a commercial cleaner.

When you clean a traditional oven,protect heating elements and oven wiring with strips of foil.

Always wipe up large spills immediately otherwise they may stain the oven surface.

Rangehoods:

Rangehoods are usually ventilated to the outside to remove grease,steam and cooking odours from your kitchen.Some hoods don’t have outside vents and rely on replaceable charcoal filters to clean the air.Both vented and non vented hoods have fans that draw air from the cooking area,and you need to keep them free from buildup in order for them to work effectively.

Wipe the rangehood regularly.After heavy and consistent usage,give the rangehood a good scrub with a solution of warm water,dishwashing detergent and ammonia to cut the grease.Wear gloves.

Remove the filter cover and wash in warm soapy water.Allow it to dry completely before replacing.

Avoid washing charcoal filters,as this reduces their effectiveness

Washing Machines:

Wipe the inside and outside of your machine regularly.

Keep the rim clear.It can sometimes get gummed up with soap and residue which can cause problems.

Dryers:

Clean the dryer lint trap regularly in order to maintain proper ventilation and heating.This will save you electricity too.

Keep the outside exhaust clean,as a clogged exhaust also lengthens drying time and increases energy use.

Lint is highly flammable,so ensure all vents and pipes are lint free.

After all of the above,relax and put your feet up!!