When it comes to cleaning the apartment, it’s easy to forget (and take for granted!) how many different tools we rely upon to get the job done. If you want your dishes to sparkle and your clothes to be fresh and clean – and let’s be honest, who doesn’t? – then it’s important to take the time to remember to clean the cleaning appliances. Let’s take a look at the best tips for doing this.
Cleaning your apartment kitchen appliances
How to clean your dishwasher
Dishwashers are put through a lot; they handle platters and utensils from big family dinners, caked-on food from casserole dishes, pots and pans, and not to mention unrinsed dishes. If you want your dishware to come out clean, and for your apartment dishwasher to stand the test of time, you need to give it a little love and attention every now and then. Let’s begin the proper care by first looking inside.
- First, clean the filter
Many newer machines have a manual-clean filter, which is there to prevent the food from being pulverized into small pieces and getting clogged in the drain. Although this benefits the dishwasher, allowing for it to perform its duties more quietly, it also means that food will become trapped in the filter. This can lead to possible problems down the line, as well as lingering food smells.
In order to gain access to the filter, you will need to pull out the bottom rack and remove the filter manually. This can be a bit tricky, as there are a few parts, but once you unscrew the center cylinder, you will be able to lift out the entire system and are on your way to giving it a good cleaning.
Make sure to clean each party individually with warm, soapy water; use a sponge, a spray, or a small brush to eliminate all foreign objects. Also, pay attention to the spray arm, where food can sometimes become lodged. Simply rinse the arm and if you notice something clogged within, you can push it out with the help of a wooden skewer. After you have taken care to see that there are no clogged parts, and that everything has been cleaned, reassemble it and return the filter system back into the dishwasher. - Disinfect and freshen
The water that runs through your home, as well as the types of food that you eat, such as tomato-based sauces, or curries that often contain turmeric, can all contribute to discolorations and stains within your apartment dishwasher.
A simple solution to this is to run some vinegar through your appliance. Fill a glass bowl with two cups of white vinegar and place it on the lower rack, in the center of the machine. Put your dishwasher through a normal cycle, without any detergent. This will not only disinfect the interior, but will also remove any lingering odors. - Don’t forget the outside!
So, now that you have cleaned the inside of your machine, you can’t forget the outside. Depending on whether or not you have stainless steal or plastic, will change the way you want to approach this task. If you have the former, you can try a store-bought cleaner such as, Better Life Einshine Natural Stainless-Steel Cleaner ® – an eco-friendly option that will leave you feeling calm after a job well done with its lavender and chamomile scent. You can also clean the surface by simply mixing 3/4 cup of white vinegar with 1 1/4 cup of warm water in a spray bottle, this is a great way to remove smudges, fingerprints, and stuck on dirt.
If your dishwasher has a plastic cover, use a sponge with warm, soapy water and give it a good wipe-down. Be careful around the electronic controls with any sprays and sponges, don’t spray any cleaner directly onto them, but rather onto the cloth or the sponge.
Tips for cleaning your sink
If you prefer to use the sink to clean your dishes, (it can be very therapeutic) you need to keep in mind that sinks can become grimy with food and stains just as any other appliance in your home. Cleaning your dishes in a dirty sink is counterproductive, so make your sink shine with these tips.
Simple ingredients = A great clean
Regularly wiping out your sink after you use it is key to keeping the buildup of grime and water stains to a minimum. Odds are, you probably think that your sink is supposed to have a dull appearance and that only new sinks actually give off that lustrous shine. We’re here to tell you that isn’t the case, but before we give you the secret to making your sink sparkle, first you need to give it a good clean.
The easiest way to clean your sink is not only the most effective, but is also as eco-friendly as you can get, and only requires a few items you likely already have lying around in your kitchen. If you have a stainless steal sink, as many of us do, every week or so, clear your sink of all dishes and sprinkle it thoroughly with baking soda. Allow the baking soda to sit for a few minutes.
Then, with a soft sponge, rub the baking soda in circular motions scrubbing the entire basin, or if you have two, both basins. Baking soda is a great scrubber, that won’t scratch the surface of your sink, it’s like Mother Nature’s scouring pad.
Once you have rubbed the baking soda into the sink, pour over some vinegar and watch the fizz and bubbles remove hard water stains and disinfect it, all before your eyes. Once the bubbles have calmed down, simply rinse the residue away with some warm water and a sponge.
Don’t forget the drain
Whether you have a drain or a garbage disposal, you will want to keep that area of the sink as clean as you can. A great environmentally friendly homemade mixture uses the same baking soda and vinegar you used before, but as it bubbles up from the drain it reminds us of those science experiments we used to do in high school, so it’s pretty cool too.
Fill your kettle to the maximum and prepare some boiled water. Pour this water down your drain; this will begin to loosen up any buildup of gunk within, then proceed to boil another pot of water. Measure out about 1/2 a cup of baking soda and sprinkle it down the drain. Follow this with 1 cup of white vinegar and watch the bubbles pop and fizz, much like a volcano you may have once built for a science class. Once the reaction has had a chance to settle down, wait about 10 minutes before you pour the hot water once again down your drain.
To clean out your garbage disposal, use the same trick as you did with the drain; only this time you will use 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar. Pour some boiled water down, followed by the baking soda. Once the baking soda is down the disposal, flick the switch and let it whir for just a moment, then allow it to sit for a few more minutes. Pour the vinegar down your disposal and watch once again the fizzle and pop before rinsing it with more boiled water.
Make sure to run your disposal for a few seconds to verify all is running smooth. To keep your disposal smelling fresh, throw a few citrus peels down there on occasion. Citrus oil has a way of invigorating the senses and making everything feel clean, which is probably why lemon and orange scents are so often found in many cleaning products.
Give it that shine
Finally, to give it that extra shine, (that secret we promised you) that will keep your sink looking fresh for weeks to come, you can choose to spray it with the Better Life Einshine Natural Stainless-Steel Cleaner®, the same product we mentioned before. However, you can also take some lemon or orange peel – or the equivalent found in essential oils —along with some olive oil and give it a rub with a paper towel. Either way, your sink will be left with a satisfying and pleasant aroma and will have that lustrous shine that you probably thought was no longer possible.
Tips for cleaning your apartment laundry appliances
Washing machine
Whether you have a front-loader or a top-loader, both laundry options are susceptible to mildew, mold, unpleasant odor, and a scum residue. Having a clean apartment washing machine is important so that it efficiently cleans the clothes that you wear every day. As newer models often come as front-loaders, they can be especially prone to the buildup of mildew and rancid smells. Use the following tips to make sure you have the cleanest, most effective laundry machine.
Consistent care
With a front-loader machine, use a cloth to wipe down both the door and the rubber gasket that you can visually see within the frame of the machine. As moisture is an unfortunate result of a freshly completed load, leave the washer door slightly ajar to allow for the air to draw out the residual wetness. Leaving top-loader doors open will also aid in circulating air and allow it to dry out the interior of the machine.
Soap and fabric softener dispensers should be filled with the correct amount of detergent according to the lines within and what is directed on the bottles. To prevent buildup, give them an extra wipe every now and then.
A deeper clean
About 4 times a year, treat your apartment washing machine to a deep clean, one that will clean out all the residual gunk within. This can be done by adding about 1 cup of bleach to a bleach dispenser (found within newer models) or directly into the machine (for older models). Bleach is a great disinfectant and will help to kill spores from the mold and mildew that hide within your machine.
If you would prefer a chemical-free approach, you can try 1 cup of white vinegar instead. Simply fill the washer with hot water, add the vinegar to either the bleach dispenser or directly to the water, and let the machine run for minute to mix the two components together. After a minute, open the top-loader’s lid and let the mixture sit for an hour in the basin before you complete the cycle. If it is a front-loader, place the machine on “pause” for the same hour and wait, then recommence the cycle.
You can also purchase affresh®, a washer cleaner for High-Efficiency (HE) washers, that is not only eco-friendly, but is also safe on your septic tanks. This brand also carries convenient wipes to clean the rubber gasket, trays, window, and all exterior surfaces.
Regular upkeep and knowing how to properly clean your apartment appliances are crucial to avoiding dirty, scum-covered dishes and not-so-clean “clean” clothes. Minimal effort and a little time can make all the difference in the world. Try all of our apartment appliance cleaning tips to help keep your cleaning appliances running smoothly for you, and to make sure that whatever you are washing is actually coming out clean.
Frequently asked questions about cleaning your apartment appliances
If you use your dishwasher daily you should clean and disinfect your machine about once a month. If you use your dishwasher less frequently you can go a little longer such as 2-3 months.
Follow your nose. The best way to tell if your dishwasher is in need of a good clean is if you smell any mold or mildew in your machine. Food can become trapped in the filter of your dishwasher causing bacteria to grow, which can cause an unpleasant scent. Another indicator that it’s time for a deep cleaning is if your dishes are not coming out clean. This can be a sign that the filter is clogged or not working properly.
The best natural cleaners for your kitchen and home appliances are vinegar and baking soda. Vinegar has natural disinfecting properties and is a great alternative to harsher chemical cleaning solutions. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and also serves as a fine abrasive for getting surfaces clean of grime.
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