COVID-19 has made us more wary of the surfaces in our homes. We disinfect surfaces harder than before, knowing for a fact that the coronavirus stays on them for 3 to 5 days.
While disinfecting might seem a daunting task, it’s still important to keep our appliances clean. For a start, do some research on the best products to use to disinfect your house. You also need to plan carefully before disinfecting your home.
Why Disinfect Your Appliances?
Every new appliance works well in the first few months or years. It gives us the comfort and convenience that we need. You need to disinfect your appliances so you can:
Prevent contamination
Food deposits, grime, mould, and other kinds of dirt can help in building up bacteria on the surface and inside your appliances. Bacteria and microbes thrive in warm areas and multiply faster than you think. Cleaning your appliances regularly will prevent contamination that might result in a string of health issues.
Maximize their efficiency
Clean appliances work as they should with regular cleaning. Your refrigerator gives the right temperature and your air conditioning unit blows cold air without making you feel sick. Lastly, damage is the last thing you’ll worry about when an appliance works efficiently.
Improve their durability
Appliances that are cleaned regularly last longer than dirty ones. Our appliances have to exert a lot of energy when used and if it isn’t kept clean, wirings become damaged and dust can gather in the inner parts of the machine. Cleaning appliances regularly saves you the money you need for a replacement.
Maintain low electric bills
Dirty appliances consume more energy and can take up a huge chunk of your monthly budget just for electricity. You will notice the difference when you compare your electric bills for the next few months.
Enjoy them better and for a long time
Admit it or not, using clean appliances gives you a fresh experience. It feels new and your appliances also give better results. You won’t have to worry about constant breakdowns.
Practicing the habit of cleaning appliances becomes easier over time. With a simple wipe, you can prevent bacteria from building up and eventually harming you. You’re even miles away from sickness if you know how to disinfect your house.
Never Say Never to A Deep-Cleaned Kitchen
Your kitchen is one of the dirtiest areas of your house. That’s where you cook food, store supplies, and wash the dishes. Imagine the amount of visible and invisible dirt lingering in the corners of your kitchen. You’ll need a strong kitchen disinfectant for deep cleaning and sanitizing.
The stove, oven, and microwave oven are the most heavily used kitchen appliances. When dirt builds up on these surfaces, they’ll surely end up getting contaminated. Learn how to disinfect kitchen appliance surfaces with these tips:
Stove
Remove the grates and knobs and soak in soapy water. Dampen food particles with water so they’re easier to remove. You can use baking soda for stubborn food particles.
Microwave
Remove stains and dried food particles with a piece of cloth. If your microwave smells really bad, dilute 2 tablespoons of baking soda with water and place inside the unit for 3 minutes. Wipe the interiors with a damp cloth too.
Oven
Soak oven racks in a huge container filled with hot water and non-toxic dishwashing detergent for almost two hours. Wipe the racks with cloth right after soaking and let dry. Wipe the interiors with a damp cloth as well.
It’s always a good idea to clean every single appliance, but don’t forget to clean the entire kitchen too! You can always choose to clean routinely to prevent heavy dirt buildup.
Wipe your stovetop every after use with a damp cloth. Mix a small amount of liquid detergent with water if you want to remove stains in a snap.
Wipe the exteriors of your oven and microwave as much as the interiors. These surfaces build up bacteria too. If you have a self-cleaning oven, remember that this feature does not include the outside of your appliance.
When cleaning your coffee maker, mix an equal amount of vinegar and water and let it brew inside the machine. Baking soda is an excellent alternative if you don’t have vinegar. After the first cycle, throw the dirty water and replace it with a fresh one. Start the second cycle and throw the water away. Wipe the coffee maker with a dry cloth.
When cleaning the bread toaster, unplug it and put it upside down. Shake until there are no crumbs left. Pull the bottom tray and throw the remaining crumbs. Soak it in a mixture of soap and water. Wipe the surface of the toaster with a damp cloth.
Wipe your kitchen counters and refrigerator surfaces and throw anything that doesn’t belong in the kitchen. Leave no single clutter in sight. Clean your sink and throw the garbage. Replace your sponge and other cleaning equipment right after.
Call repair technicians in case of emergency. Whether you’re in Vaughan, Markham or Pickering, appliance repair companies, like SimplyPro Appliance Repair, are always ready to help you.
Keep That Fridge Cool and Clean
You might forget to clean your refrigerator just because you use it to store food. A dirty refrigerator can contaminate its contents, which can lead to several health issues. Additionally, the odour from spilled food will remain inside the refrigerator and contribute to contamination.
Clean and sanitize your refrigerator to keep it functional. If it’s your first time cleaning, here’s how:
Have a schedule. You wouldn’t know the amount of dirt the refrigerator accumulates over time. Choose a cleaning routine that works for you. It can be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, as long as you clean your refrigerator.
Unplug and remove contents from your refrigerator. Throw any food or drink that already smells bad or is about to smell bad. Wipe the bottles with a cloth to make sure that no drips will come in contact with the refrigerator’s interiors.
Wash and remove all drawers. Soak them in a mixture of water and detergent. Brush them after a few minutes. Wash and let dry.
Wipe the inside of the refrigerator with a vinegar and water solution. For tough stains, use a mixture of baking soda and water to wipe them off. To give your cleaning a final touch, wipe the interiors with a mixture of bleach and water. Wipe it dry and plug it back until it’s cold before you replace the food. Don’t forget to wipe the exteriors of the refrigerator with a damp cloth.
You Can’t Just Wash and Dry those Germs Away
Washing machines and dryers make our laundry sessions quick and convenient. Hand washing is still a good thing to practice, but these machines help if we want to wear our clothes again after a quick use.
Along with the convenience comes the challenge of cleaning these appliances. With the onset of COVID-19, viruses can survive on surfaces for quite some time. The way you clean your washer and dryer can determine how clean your laundry is.
Follow these simple steps when sanitizing your washing machines and dryers:
Set a high temperature in the washer. This is the best starter to clean the washer. Slowly add the bleach or any other mixing solution that you have. Fill it with water and run the first cycle of cleaning. Drain the water after.
Brush the interiors. Include the rubber seals and other components. Inspect the whole washer for residue and moulds. Brush off the remaining dirt. Set a full cycle on the washer with hot water for the final rinse.
Remove the dryer screen. It contains lint from the previous drying cycle. Lint could be contaminated and it could harm your skin.
Wipe the dryer’s interiors. Use the same bleaching solution that you used for the washer. Dip a clean cloth and wipe the rubber seals, gaskets, and the interior part of the dryer’s door. Brush any remaining mould or dirt away.
Rinse and throw in towels. Dip a cloth in plain water and rinse the dryer’s interiors. Throw in old towels and set the dryer to high temperature to remove all remains of the cleaning solution.
Wipe the exteriors. The final touch to cleaning washers and dryers is wiping the outer surfaces. Use a clean cloth for wiping.
Another important thing to remember: call a technician if the washing machine or dryer survives a fire or flood. You might not be aware of the extent of damage to its wirings and using it might hurt you.
Keep Those Germs Off Your Devices
Our phones, tablets, and other electronic devices are a part of our daily lives. Such frequent use leads to the buildup of dirt and grime, and also exposes us to threats of disease. Sanitizing your electronic devices should be part of your appliance cleaning and maintenance rotation.
Mobile phones and tablets
Use a microfiber cloth and distilled water to disinfect the surfaces. 70% isopropyl alcohol and Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are also alternatives to water. Wipe the buttons and edges of the screen with a cotton swab.
Laptops
Unplug the laptop and remove the battery. Wipe the plastic and metal surfaces with a slightly damp microfibre cloth. For the screen, you can wipe it with a microfibre cloth or product-tailored wipes. Shake your laptop to get rid of dirt and crumbs hiding between buttons.
Headphones and earphones
These are quite challenging to clean. Wax and dust build up on headphones and earphones since we use them every day. To clean, use a microfibre cloth to wipe the surfaces and an adhesive putty on the metal wires of the earphones.
Desktop PCs
Use microfibre cloths and water when cleaning desktop PCs. Shake the keyboard to remove food crumbs and dust in between buttons. Dab a cotton swab dipped in a mixture of alcohol and water to clean your mouse.
Flat-screen TVs
Do not use glass cleaners on the screens of your TVs. Glass cleaners have corrosive chemicals that can damage your TV screens. Use a microfibre cloth and water to wipe the surfaces. Just like computer keyboards, shake your remote controls after removing the batteries to remove dirt.
Other smart devices
Microfibre cloths, water, and alcohol are the safest to use when cleaning gaming consoles and smart speakers. For smart watches, cleaning depends on the kind of material the bands are made of. If it’s made of rubber, rub alcohol over the surface. For nylon, mix a small amount of dish detergent and water and wipe the surface. Wipe it again with plain water to remove the smell caused by sweat.