A simple spray cleaner and some wiping up isn’t going to cut it, so we’ve scourged the web to find out exactly how we can clean our appliances the right way. Here are some of our tricks that can prolong the life of your appliances and make them look and work their best.

Cleaning Your Fridge

FRIDGE / FRANCOIS SCHNELL / CC BY

This is one of the most used large appliances in your home, which should be cleaned every 4 months. Make sure to unplug your fridge before you move on with any cleaning. Remove all food and racks out of your freezer and using mild dishwashing liquid, scrub the whole interior and exterior of your fridge. Rinse with a damp cloth and then place a box of baking soda on the shelf to deodorize your fridge.

How to Clean Your Dishwasher

Even though the main purpose of your dishwasher is to clean your dishes, it can surprisingly still get dirty and even clogged with old food. To clean the exterior and interior is easy, just dip a damp cloth into a box of baking soda and scrub away! The baking soda is abrasive, it disinfects and deodorizes, making it the perfect cleaner for your dishwasher. To get rid of odors, just sprinkle a few tablespoons of baking soda at the bottom of your dishwasher overnight. The baking soda will kill any smelly odors and will eventually be washed away the next time you turn on your machine.

DISHWASHER / BRYAN BIRDWELL / CCBY

Cleaning Your Microwave

Even though I am not a huge fan of microwaves, they still come in handy for warming up food and defrosting. The microwave is definitely one appliance that can easily get greasy, splattered with sauce, and dirty. To freshen it up, simply use a mixture of dishwashing detergent and baking soda to scrub the whole interior and exterior. Use a damp cloth to rinse and wipe away, and you are good to go!

Cleaning the Oven

Cleaning your oven is one hard task! Tough grease stains, dried up food, and splatters can make this job seem like a nightmare. Thankfully there are self-cleaning ovens on the market today that use pyrolytic or high heat systems that basically cremate anything left in the oven, creating a powdery ash that’s easy to clean up. If you don’t have a self-cleaning oven, there are tons of strong oven cleaners you can use. However, these cleaners are often dangerous when they come into contact with skin or your eyes. Make sure to wear rubber cloves, and protective eyeglasses while cleaning. Also don’t breathe the spray mist or the fumes – it can be deadly!

OVEN / OSSEOUS / CCBY

Make Your Washing Machine Sparkle

To get your washing machine back in its newest condition, set your washer to run on hot water with the largest load setting. Add 4 cups of white vinegar and ½ cup of baking soda to the water. Allow the machine to run again and mix the baking soda, then pause the cycle and let it sit for about half hour. This will kill any stinky smells, mildew, and gunk inside the washer.

NEW WASHING MACHINE / JIM212JIM / CCBY

Meanwhile the vinegar and baking soda are working their magic, using a damp cloth dipped in vinegar, wipe down your whole washer. Use a toothbrush to get into any tight areas around knobs or buttons. Then, set your washer to drain out all the water. Your washing machine is now good as new!

Save those coffee grounds from your morning coffee and put them to good use! From fertilizing your garden, deodorizing your fridge, to cleaning your pots and pans, there are so many ways you can use coffee grounds! So next time you make a cup of hot coffee, save the grounds! Take a look at our top 10 ways you can use coffee grounds around your home!

1. Get Rid of Scratches on Wood Furniture

Furniture a bit banged up? Steep some coffee grounds and dip in a q tip. Dab the q tip on scratches to hide them.

2. Clean Your Pots and Pans

Place a spoonful of coffee in a dirty pot to help scrub away grease. The coffee acts as an abrasive to get rid of stuck-on food and oil.

3. Give Seedlings a Coffee Boost

When planting seedlings, stir some coffee grounds into the dirt to raise nitrogen levels in the soil. You can also add the coffee grounds to your watering can to give them a boost that way.

4. Age Paper

This one is great for craft projects! If you want your boring white paper to have an aged look, dip the paper into coffee diluted with water. Leave it to sit for a minute, then take the paper out and dab it dry.

5. Get Rid of Insects

Sprinkle coffee grounds around plants to keep bugs at bay. Make a ring around the plants to ward off slugs and ants that want at your precious flowers!

Photo By: Trusty Joe

6. Deodorize Your Fridge

Fridge smelling funky? Put a small amount of dry coffee grounds in a cup at the bottom of your fridge. The coffee will absorb any odors that are lingering in your fridge.

7. Give Your Blue Hydrangeas a Boost

If you’re trying to grow Blue Hydrangeas, add coffee grounds into the soil before planting. The coffee will increase the acidity level of the soil and it will also help the flowers absorb any aluminum in the soil, which helps keep them a vibrant blue!

8. Keep Ashes From Flying Around

If you’re trying to keep ashes from flying all over your floor as you’re cleaning out your fireplace, sprinkle damp coffee grounds over them. The damp grounds will help keep the dust down.

9. Get Rid of Cockroaches

Get rid of these unwanted visitors by filling up a jar with an inch of damp coffee grounds. Take out some sticky tape and wrap it around the jar’s neck. The coffee will help draw the cockroaches into the trap.

10. Clean Your Hands

To get rid of onion or garlic odors from your hands, rub coffee grounds on them before washing them with soap.Photos: Yankee Magazine, Cleanipedia, Well and Good, Brandon and Shelby, Black Down Garden Centre, Working Mom Adventures, Deborah Silver, Passion Potager, Pest Control Toronto, Home Food Safety.

Some people don’t know that you don’t have to settle for boring stainless steel! There are many retro appliances that are available for your kitchen, in any color you want! Try pastel pink or blue, or if you’re into more neutral colors, try crisp white or beige. Whatever your preference, there is something for everyone. Although these appliances do cost more than the average Maytag, those who want their kitchen to be just a little more stylish definitely think that it’s money well spent.

1. Big Chill

These appliances are great because they are energy-saving, but with a retro look. They’re available in many fun colors, from pink, to light blue, to orange. We’re especially loving this pink refrigerator!

2. Elmira Stove Works

This company has been making vintage-style appliances since 1975, and stocks North Star retro ranges in gas and electric. This is the 1954 Candy Red North Star Electric Range, also available in 8 more colors, and they make custom hues as well.

3. Dualit

We are in love with these retro Dualit toasters! Available in many colors, these are sure to add a vintage feel to any kitchen!

4. SMEG 

SMEG has a whole line of retro-style kitchen appliances, in colors for any kitchen. Blenders, ovens, refrigerators, kettles, anything you need, they have it!

5. Kitchen Aid

Kitchen Aid has many appliances such as blenders, mixers, and toasters with a retro look. They come in lots of colors like teal and pink. These appliances are definitely on our wish list!

Photos: Big Chill, Elmira Stove Works, Dualit, Smeg, Kitchen Aid.