Practical Advice for Taking Care of some Common Kitchen Appliances
by Guest on Feb 23, 2012
Like any other piece of equipment, kitchen appliances last longer if they are maintained in good condition with regular care. Cleaning is essential to the maximum efficiency of any appliance, from meat grinders to microwave ovens. Always remember to keep the manual on hand so if you have any damaged parts you can refer to the manual to see if it is covered by warranty.
Microwave Ovens
Microwave ovens are vulnerable to power surges because they contain solid-state circuitry. Therefore, make sure to plug the microwave into a surge protector, not a regular outlet to safeguard against any shorts that an outage may cause. Remember to clean the interior of the microwave once a month with a good kitchen degreaser to remove any build-up or food that has accidentally splattered on the sides during cooking or reheating.
Dishwashers
Dishwashers are especially easy to clean as they simply require a monthly scrub down with soapy water to remove detergent buildup. Check racks for signs of rust and replace them if rust is found.
Meat Appliances
Any item that comes in contact with raw meat, poultry, or fish needs to be thoroughly cleaned after every use. Meat grinders are made of numerous parts, from the grinding plates to the barrel to the pusher and the augur. For a detailed description of meat grinders, you can read reviews like the one here. Each part needs to be disassembled and washed thoroughly in hot soapy water, followed by a soak in hot water with a tablespoon of bleach. After several minutes in the bleach, rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean towel. Do not air dry, as the parts can rust. If you use the grinder only occasionally, you can store the parts individually in plastic bags with a few grains of rice to keep moisture out. Otherwise, store the grinder in a moisture-free place.
Juicers
Juicers come in many sizes and styles, but they all can build up bacteria if not washed after every use. To clean your juicer, you will need a garbage can, a plastic spoon, a clean dry towel, a scouring sponge, liquid dishwashing detergent, a nylon cleaning brush, and a small pipe cleaning brush.
Unplug the juicer and disassemble the parts. Empty the pulp container into the garbage can; lift the juicer cover and use a plastic spoon to scrape out the remaining pulp. Lift the filter bowl that surrounds the stainless steel filter basket from the motor base.
To remove the filter basket from the filter bowl, turn the filter bowl upside down and allow the filter basket to drop out. Be careful to hold the filter basket only along the mesh edge. The blades at the bottom of the filter basket are very sharp. Run warm water over each part of the juicer to remove the excess pulp, then soak the parts in hot, soapy water.
Use the clean scouring sponge to carefully wipe down each part. For small, hard to reach areas, such as the pour spout opening on the juice cover, use a small pipe cleaning brush. This will prevent long-term buildup that can attract bacteria to form inside the opening.
A nylon cleaning brush works best to clean the stainless steel filter basket and blades. Vigorously scrub the blades and filtration edges of the basket until the basket is clean.
If the pulp remains in the mesh holes of the filter basket, soak the basket in a mixture of 1 part lemon juice to 9 parts water before washing. This will help break up the caked-on pulp in mesh holes.
Rinse each part under hot water and place and on a clean dry towel until all of the parts are washed. Allow the juicer parts to dry.
Use a damp scouring sponge to carefully wipe down the motor base. Double-check that all of the parts are dry, reassemble the juicer and store the juicer in a dry, clean area until its next use.
Knives
Keep kitchen knives sharp with a sharpening steel or whetstone. Motorized sharpeners remove too much metal in the sharpening process and shorten the life of the blade. Professional sharpening is a good option; some grocery store meat departments will sharpen knives for a small fee – or even free of charge.
If necessary, a good source for parts is APWagner.com. They carry factory-direct parts for all major household appliances including refrigerators, washing machines, clothes dryers, air conditioners, freezers, dishwashers, mixers, and more.
This article was contributed by Liz Krause, an avid Italian food enthusiast. She enjoys cooking at home and operating her website featuring simple Italian recipes. She also writes about various Italian kitchenware like the popular Italian gelato maker like this one here
Popular Articles
Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
73992 Views
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
67739 Views
Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
63646 Views
Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
43679 Views
Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
27123 Views
Latest Articles
Navigating Singapore's Property Regulations: A Guide for Foreign Investors
Singapores property market has been attracting foreign investors for many years, thanks to its stable economy, strong legal system, and transparent...
on Mar 22, 2023
What Truck Size Do I Need to Move a 3-Bedroom House
Moving to a new home can be a complex and stressful process, but with the help of the right truck size, you can make it a smooth and seamless...
on Feb 13, 2023
Five Tips to Take Better Care of Your Basement Insulation
Basement waterproofing is an essential part of home maintenance, as it helps to protect the basement from moisture, flooding, and other...
on Feb 12, 2023
Homeowner In The UK? Here's Why You Need to Know about Rainwater Drainage Systems
In the United Kingdom, there is an average of around 1,200 millimeters of rainfall annually. Keeping rainwater out of your home and away from your...
on Feb 2, 2023
What are the Advantages of a Metal Roof
Metal roofing is durable and beautiful, allowing a home to stand out from others with conventional tiled roofs. A metal coating can last a...
on Feb 1, 2023
Featured Articles
What Type of Licensed Contractor Should You Hire?
on Feb 28, 2017
Hire Contractors / Estimates

Looking for a specialty project? There are many types of contractors available for your home improvement needs. Finding the right type of...
Sponsored Articles
Real Estate Investment for the Next Generation
on Oct 18, 2022
Real Estate / Finance

Investing in real estate is something that people have been doing for a long time. Most people invest in a home, so they can stay at the home. This...
Real Estate Investment for Future Generations
on Mar 14, 2022
Real Estate / Finance

Purchasing a home is not simply a financial commitment. It is also an excellent way to start accumulating your wealth. Your home is also a...
Can I Sell My House with a Leaky Roof?
on Oct 28, 2021
Real Estate / Finance

The answer to this query is YES. It is possible to sell a house with a leaking roof, but it's always essential to evaluate some factors before...
Actions
Top Categories
- Garden / Landscaping / Patio — 260
- Kitchen / Bathrooms — 239
- Real Estate / Finance — 195
- Appliance / Repair — 185
- Interior Design / Decor — 183
- HVAC / Air Conditioning — 147
- Cleaning / Maintenance — 143
- Improvements / Remodeling — 131
- Plumbing / Basements — 118
- Floors / Tile / Hardwood — 115
- Doors / Garages — 113
- Safety / Security — 112
Articles Archive
More DIY Articles
5 Ways to Determine if Your Garage Door Needs Repair
There are so many things around the house that we hardly worry about and assume that they do not really need to be repaired and are working fine....
Choosing the Best Heating System
Selecting the right home heating system is a daunting process because there are numerous brands in the market. Choose a heating system that will...
Are Annual Maintenance Contracts For Your HVAC Unit Necessary?
A HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning) system or unit is very important as it takes care of all the heating, ventilation and air...
How to Start a Rental Business
Americans are starting rental businesses by the thousands. Investing in real estate has become one of the most popular ways to bring in extra...
Choosing the Right Heating Unit for Your Home
It can be very tempting to buy cheap heaters. When you look at these models, you may not get what you are looking for. It may only be a matter of...