Sang An
Behind every shiny surface lies a nettlesome problem. Or two. Or three. When polled on what you loathe most about spring-cleaning kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms, Real Simple readers came back with a compelling hate-to-do list (ovens, bad; toilets, worse).
But take heart! In this easy guide, you'll find time-saving techniques, simple shortcuts, and a bucketful of hard-charging, expert-recommended, staff-tested products to help make the dreadful a little more doable.
Cleaning Small Appliances
Germs breeding in your microwave? Gunk stuck in your toaster? Give
your kitchen workhorses a much deserved spa treatment.
Microwaves
Cheese meltdowns, syrup spills, and butter tsunamis: Readers said
this indispensable machine takes a beating -- inside and out. To
soften up grease and calcified oatmeal (or whatever that crud is),
place a bowl of water mixed with lemon juice in the microwave and
run on high for one minute, then use a food-safe sanitizer (such as
Lysol's version) to banish germs lurking under the turntable.
An all-purpose cleaner (such as Windex MultiTask) or a mildly
abrasive powder (like Bon Ami) can usually dislodge one of the
biggest reader complaints: constantly reappearing streaks and
fingerprints on the door. Buff with a rag or a microfiber
cloth.
Toasters
To get rid of those "annoying crumbs stuck in the bottom of
the toaster," slide the tray out and wipe it down, then blast
the interior with a computer-keyboard cleaner. Don't forget the
exterior: Coax stubborn rust spots off chrome with a ball of
crumpled aluminum foil. Before cleaning any appliance, always
remember to unplug it.
Coffeemakers
While dispensing your favorite brew, your coffeemaker may harbor
oily residue (from the grinds) and caked-on minerals (from the
water). Every one to six months, run a descaling solution (such as
Barista Cleaner & Descaler) through the machine. Then rinse
thoroughly with clean water. Check the coffeemaker's
instruction manual first.
See Cleaning To-Do Lists at Real Simple.
More Tips
- A mild abrasive will immediately lift the dirt off cabinet knobs and handles, but don't use it on painted cabinets -- it will dull the gloss.
- To extract grime lodged in nooks and crannies, apply a multipurpose cleaning solution, then get into the groove with a cotton swab.
- Control where your cleaning solution goes. Unlike a spray, a gel glass cleaner won't seep behind push buttons or into appliances.
Sang An
Stovetop stains, grungy ovens, dusty refrigerator coils, and petrified dryer lint (oh, the horror): Yes, you can conquer them all.
Cooktops and Ovens
Burnt-on splatters are a major reason stoves are so "troubling
and daunting," as one reader put it. So soak before you scrub.
Remove cooktop grills and saturate stains with an all-purpose
cleaning solution (such as Simple Green or Mr. Clean). Give the
solution about 10 minutes to do its job, then wipe clean. When you
scour the oven, you'll need a powerful, highly alkaline oven
cleaner, which may contain lye, so be cautious. (Try a fume-free
product, like Easy-Off.) Caveat: Oven cleaners are not safe for use
in a self-cleaning; they can damage the interior.
Refrigerators
Food debris beneath the bins bugs you big time. Pull them out and
use a food-friendly spray cleaner (like those made by Home Thymes),
which won't contaminate fruits and vegetables. If you really
want to do the refrigerator a favor, dust the condenser coils with
a coil brush or your vacuum cleaner's crevice tool. (The coils
are located on the back of the refrigerator, usually at the
bottom.) Appliance wheels, available at hardware stores, help move
the refrigerator away from the wall.
Clothes Dryers
"Is that a fire hazard?" a reader asked, referring to the
dust clouds that gather inside the dryer duct and in back of the
dryer. "Lint is highly flammable," confirms Captain Jim
Doucette of the Sacramento Fire Department, in California. Once a
year, check to see if air is coming out of the duct outside your
house. If you can't feel air, snake a lint-removal brush up the
duct or call a professional to do a deep cleaning. Also, vacuum
behind the dryer at least once a year.
Learn the Best Way to Dust at Real Simple.
More Tips
- Any filter in the house should be cleaned at least once a year. Range-hood filters can be degreased in a sink filled with hot water and detergent.
- No need to buy sprays and wipes made especially for stainless steel. Spritz with window cleaner and polish with a worn T-shirt.
- Put those irritating fake credit cards that come in the junk mail to good use: Scrape along the edges of the stove's knobs to get rid of accumulated grease.
More from Real Simple:
Dread Cleaning the Bathroom and Living Room?
How to Make Tricky Household Surfaces Sparkle
How to Disinfect
