How to Spring Clean Major Appliances

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Spring cleaning isn't just for the rooms in your house. Your major appliances also need the cleaning treatment at the beginning of every year. Major appliances, such as the refrigerator, dishwasher and oven rack up an amazing amount of grime and debris in the course of a year. This buildup can cause them to function less effectively and smell bad. Keep your major appliances in tip-top shape with a good spring cleaning.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Commercial oven cleaner
Stiff brush
Commercial glass cleaner

Give Your Refrigerator a Much-Needed Spring Cleaning

Step 1

Turn off or unplug the refrigerator.
Step 2

Remove all of the food from the refrigerator and set it aside.
Step 3

Take out all of the removable racks and bins. Wash these in the kitchen sink in a solution of warm, soapy water. Use a dishcloth or a soft sponge, and wipe the pieces dry with a clean towel when you're done.
Step 4

Use a soft sponge, soaked in warm, soapy water, to wash the interior walls and affixed shelving in the refrigerator. Make sure you remove any stains and tiny bits of food as you clean.
Step 5

Pull out the drip pan from under the refrigerator and empty it into the kitchen sink or out in the yard. Wipe off the surfaces of the pan and put it back under the refrigerator.
Step 6

Vacuum the dust off the coils at the back of the refrigerator.
Step 7

Discard any food that has spoiled or is too old to eat. Put the remaining food back in the refrigerator.
Step 8

Restore power to the refrigerator.

Help Your Dishwasher Help You by Giving It a Spring Cleaning

Step 1

Remove all dishes from the interior of the dishwasher.
Step 2

Wipe down the interior and exterior of the dishwasher using a damp, soapy washcloth. Make sure you apply enough pressure to get rid of any stains.
Step 3

Wipe out any lingering detergent particles from the detergent cup.
Step 4

Fill up the interior detergent cup with your choice of detergent. Then, run the dishwasher through a washing cycle while it's empty. This will thoroughly clean and disinfect the interior.

Make Your Oven a Clean One This Spring

Step 1

Use a commercial oven cleaner and a stiff brush to scrub out any baked-on food from the interior of the oven. Make sure you remove all visible food particles.
Step 2

Clean the oven window with a commercial glass cleaner and a paper towel.
Step 3

Remove the range coils and wash them in the kitchen sink. Use warm water and a stiff, coarse sponge. If there is a lot of cooked-on matter, soak the coils for up to 2 hours in hot water before scrubbing.
Step 4

Use a commercial kitchen-surface cleanser and a clean cloth to wipe down the exterior surfaces of the oven. Make sure you also clean the knobs and the door handle.
Step 5

Empty any crumbs or other food particles from the pans beneath the range coils. Wipe down the pans with a damp paper towel, and then replace them.
Step 6

Replace the range coils.