The ultimate guide to spring cleaning your home appliances

Now that the winter season is behind us, it’s time to start thinking about spring cleaning your home appliances. When we think about spring cleaning, we often think about tasks such as scrubbing our floors and making all the surfaces of our home sparkle. Its easy to forget our trusty, household appliances that get a good workout throughout the year! With regular maintenance and care we can increase the lifespan of our appliances and keep them working at their best.  We share our ultimate guide to spring cleaning your home appliances.

Kitchen appliances cleaning checklist

Refrigerator

A refrigerator is a great place to start. Give your fridge and freezer a thorough clean. Start by removing all items and getting rid of expired products. Remove and hand wash your refrigerator shelves, wire racks and drawers in warm soapy water. Tackle stubborn food spills with a non-abrasive scrubber. Spray and wipe the interior of your fridge with a gentle and non-toxic All Purpose Cleaner.

Clean and inspect your fridge and freezer door seal

A dirty, worn or damaged seal/gasket can cause the temperature in your refrigerator to fluctuate. Door seals can often be caked with grime and tiny food particles. Clean your seals with warm, soapy water and a soft bristled brush before drying with a soft cloth. Next, inspect your seal for signs of wear and tear. Damaged seals should be replaced.

Clean the refrigerator coils

Over time, dust and dirt accumulate on your refrigerator coils (these are also called condenser coils). These coils are responsible for the heat extraction process that allows the refrigerant to circulate. To reduce your energy bill and extend the lifespan of your fridge, give the coils a regular clean.

Before you start, switch off the power supply. . Your fridge coils may be located at the rear of your refrigerator (on the outside), underneath the fridge or inside the fridge behind a panel. Once located, use a brush (or coil brush) to remove lint build up, dirt and dust. You can make this job even easier with a small nozzle vacuum that will suck up residue before plugging your refrigerator back in.

Replace your fridge water filter

We know that changing your fridge water filter regularly (every 6 months) reduces nasties and contaminants like iron, particulates, lead and mercury in your drinking water and ice cubes. During the colder months, water consumption can sometimes be lower and we tend to put off this task. If it has been a while since you changed your filter, your replacement light has been neglected for too long, or your water has an unpleasant taste or odour, it’s time to install your replacement. Statewide offer genuine fridge water filters for LG, Samsung, Fisher & Paykel and all leading brands.

Changing a water filter can be done in minutes. Check out our step by step guide to replacing your LG fridge water filter or check out our video guides on our YouTube channel.

Give your stainless steel refrigerator some added shine

Refrigerator doors are prone to fingerprints and smears. A spray of stainless steel polish will remove these and leave a transparent film to protect against marks re-appearing. Take the time to tackle other stainless steel surfaces in your kitchen. Spray and wipe on your oven, rangehood and toaster too!

Oven & Cooktop appliances

Tackle this hardworking powerhouse with a little elbow grease and our easy tips.

Give your oven a thorough clean

Cleaning a dirty oven is a must. There is nothing worse than opening an oven door to find grease splatters and stuck on food particles. This daunting task can be handled with ease. Check out our guide to cleaning your oven naturally.

Remove built up grime on your oven door

Grime and residue can quickly build up on your oven door. A gentle scrub with a microfibre cloth and a tough-on-stains cleaner is a great way to start. For tougher stains on the inside of your oven door, you may need to use a natural cleaning solution made up of baking soda and a small amount of water. Mix until it forms a paste and apply generously. Leave overnight and then wipe clean with a damp cloth to lift away any residue.

If you find that grime is still stuck in the middle of your door, you will need to get out the tools and remove the door to give the glass a good clean. Our easy guide shows you how.

https://youtu.be/BfVdB8Rtig8

Cleaning your oven door seal

Just like your refrigerator, your oven door seal plays a vital role. Start by cleaning your seal thoroughly with a sponge and warm, soapy water. If your seal is damaged, your oven will use more energy and your oven temperature will be impacted, causing unreliable cooking results. Replacing a door seal only requires a few tools and a little know how.

Check your oven elements

If you have noticed your oven elements aren’t glowing bright orange when fully heated, or your food is taking longer to cook, it could be a sign that you need to replace your oven element. Now is a good time to test each element and replace if required.

Change your oven globe

Yes this is an easy one but it is surprising how often this simple task is neglected! A well-lit oven means less time opening the door to check if your food is cooked (which also lets the heat out and amps up your energy costs!). Install a replacement globe that is designed specifically for ovens and ensure the wattage and cap fitting are the same as your existing globe. Take the guesswork out of changing your oven globe with our step by step guide.

Gas cooktop

Clean your gas stove burners

Give your gas stove burners some extra attention with a deep clean. Start by removing the grates and burners from your cooktop and wipe away any debris. Next, soak the burner heads, caps and gas stove grates in dishwashing soap and water. Leave to soak for at least 20 mins before scrubbing with a soft brush. Next, clean your gas stovetop with a few drops of dishwashing detergent and a sponge before wiping away any excess residue. Your parts need to be completely dry before you reassemble your burners and grates.

Rangehood

Clean your rangehood filters

Dare we ask when was the last time you cleaned your rangehood filters? If you take a close look, you will see a build-up of dirt, grease and grime that will have you reaching for the rubber gloves and detergent in no time! Get the job done, with a little effort in less than 5 steps. Short on time? Take our much-loved shortcut and pop your aluminium or stainless-steel filters in the dishwasher and run through a hot cycle. The steam will loosen particles and debris and the water spray will get into those tiny nooks for a sparkling clean.

Change your rangehood globe

While you are giving your rangehood some extra attention, be sure to wipe the exterior and interior with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water. If you find your rangehood globe is blown, now is a good time to change it. 

Dishwasher

Deep clean your dishwasher

You rely on our dishwasher daily to give our dishes a sparkling clean. Time to return the favour and give your dishwasher a deep clean.

• Start by removing any racks and trays and giving them a good soak in hot, soapy water.
• Next check the spray arms to make sure they are not clogged with any food or debris. You can remove the spray arms and run them under hot water while giving them a light scrub. A thin wire can help you dislodge any debris from the spray arm holes.
• Remove your filter (located below the racks and attached with a twist cap). Rinse thoroughly under hot water. Use a soft bristled brush, detergent and warm water to remove any trapped particles.
• Give your dishwasher a thorough clean with a vinegar cycle. Wipe the interior of your unit and the door seal with warm soapy water and a sponge. Add 2 cups white vinegar to your dishwasher, then run a full hot water cycle.

Check your dishwasher door seal

Grab your sponge and warm soapy water and wipe down your dishwasher door seal. If you have noticed that your dishwasher has been leaking, do inspect your seal for any signs of wear and tear and replace a cracked or damaged seal.

Coffee Machine

Avoid built up oils and deposits that can affect the flavour of your coffee by cleaning your machine regularly. After every use, wipe down and purge the milk frothing wand and wipe exposed surfaces with a soft damp cloth.  For a deeper clean, soak all removable parts in warm soapy water and allow to completely air dry and use a brush to remove any loose grounds.

Descale your coffee machine

For a deep clean, descale your coffee machine. This will improve the efficiency of your machine by removing scales from thermos blocks and steam valves

Recommended cleaning products for your kitchen appliances

• Aktivo All Purpose Cleaner – Eco friendly, gentle on surfaces and tough on stains
• Aktivo Fridge Cleaner & Deodoriser – Eliminates germs and bacteria
• Selleys Oven Plus Cleaner – Heavy duty gel that provides a fast and powerful clean. Best of all? No fumes!
• Aktivo Stainless Steel Polish – Remove fingerprints, smears, spatters and water spots from your stainless steel appliances
• Unilux Glass Cooktop cleaner – Give your ceramic and induction cooktops a sparkling clean
• Aktivo Dishwasher Softener Salt – Softens the water in hard water areas
• Aktivo Coffee Machine Descaler – Improves the efficiency of appliances by removing scale from thermos blocks and steam valves.
• Espresso Machine Cleaner by Aktivo – Removes coffee and oily residue from espresso machines via the backflushing method
• Aktivo Milk Frother Cleaner/Sanitiser – Removes milk residue and kills Salmonella, Listeria and E Coli

Laundry appliances cleaning checklist

Washing machine

Remove odours, soap scum and mould with a deep clean. Start by putting your machine through a vinegar and bicarb soda cycle. For front load washing machine, add 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda into the detergent drawer and ½ cup white vinegar into the drum. Let it run for a complete cycle on the hottest setting.

Descale your washer

If you live in a hard water area, you may find that limescale can start to build up and reduce the efficiency of your washing machine. To descale your machine use Aktivo Dishwasher + Washing Machine Descaler – just add to your machine as per the instructions. This will help remove unwanted odours and thoroughly cleanse your washing machine.

Clean the dispenser on a front loader

Remove the dispenser drawer and rinse clean under clean, warm water. After your wipe it clean, replace the dispenser.

Dryer

With the warm sunny weather approaching, your dryer is due for a well-deserved break! Give the exterior of your dryer a clean with a soft damp cloth.  You can use an all purpose cleaner to remove dirt, grime and build up. Don’t forget the knobs and buttons, which can accumulate dirt and bacteria.

Clean the lint filter

For safe and effective dryer operation, clean the lint filter after each and every use. If lint is left trapped in the dryer, your motor is forced to work harder.

Clean your dryer door seal

Give the dryer seal a clean with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water. Worn out, cracked seals will impact the air temperature in your dryer. This in turn, can impact drying time. Check the seals and replace if required.

Recommended cleaning products for your laundry appliances

• Aktivo Dishwasher/Washer Descaler – For effective grime and limescale removal

Other home appliances cleaning checklist

Vacuum cleaner

Your vacuum cleaner is undoubtedly your best friend during spring cleaning time, so your need to give it extra care to run efficiently.

If your vacuum cleaner has lost suction power, try our troubleshooting tips.

Clean the canister

Unplug the vacuum cleaner and remove the canister. Wipe dust and build up with a soft microfibre cloth. Then, rinse in warm soapy water and leave to air dry completely before replacing it.

Clean the vacuum cleaner filter

Start by removing the vacuum cleaner filter and tapping it against a hard surface to remove excess dust. Next, rinse thoroughly under running water. Before replacing your filter in the vacuum cleaner, allow it to completely air dry.

Check your dustbag

When your vacuum cleaner dustbag is full, or even has a slight tear, there will be a loss of suction and your vacuum cleaner will perform poorly. Change your vacuum cleaner bag to maintain your vacuum’s cleaning performance.

Air Conditioner

With regular and consistent use, dust accumulates on the air conditioning filter. Air flow and performance can be restricted if left unchecked and dirty. Cleaning your filter means better energy efficiency and much cleaner air for your home.

Clean your filters by removing excess dust, grime and debris with a vacuum cleaner. Next wash your filters in warm soapy water. For an extra deep clean these can be soaked in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 5 parts water. Allow to completely dry before replacing them . Check out our complete guide to cleaning your air conditioner filter.

Cleaning your appliances can seem like a daunting task! Our advice, tackle one appliance at a time. It does take a little effort but in turn, it will keep your home appliances operating at their peak for many seasons to come.

If you are after more cleaning tips, check out our 35 cleaning hacks and tips for your home on the Statewide blog.

For replacement spare parts, visit statewideapp.com.au. We have Australia’s biggest range of spares with fast Australia wide delivery.