Fast Ways to Clean Kitchen Appliances

When you've got a family to feed, kitchen appliances get used and abused. Here are quick, easy ways to keep 'em clean! The Dishwasher Pour a cup of white vinegar and a teaspoon of baking soda into the detergent compartment and run the dishwasher on a regular cycle (without dishes in it, obs!). The Fridge Clear the contents out of the fridge and wipe it down with lemon juice. Not only do lemons smell nice, they're naturally antibacterial. And don't forget to keep an open box of baking soda in the back of the fridge to deodorize! The Oven If your oven has a self-cleaning feature, use it! You might want to crack a window while you run it because it can be pretty stinky. If you don't have a self-cleaner, make a paste out of baking soda and water and scrub those nasty, burnt black areas. Let it sit for 30 minutes to work its magic and then scrape it off with a rubber or silicone pastry spatula. Then wipe the rest of the oven with the water/baking soda solution and you're good to go! (Of course, make sure the oven is off and cool before cleaning!) The Stove To get the crusty, burnt stuff off of your stove without hours of scrubbing, boil a pot of water and then sprinkle a layer of the hot water over the stove. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to loosen the gunk before you scrub with steel wool or a scrubby sponge. It'll come right off and save you a ton of elbow grease! The Blender Instead of reaching inside your blender to wipe the blades clean, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid and some warm water to your blender and mix on low. Rinse with fresh water and you've got a clean blender ... with all your fingers still intact. The Microwave Fill a bowl with a mix of half water/half vinegar and nuke it for a minute to heat it up. Then carefully—so you don't burn yourself—take a sponge and use the solution to clean the micro. Wipe dry with a paper towel. The Garbage Disposal Wipe down the rubber trap with a paste of baking soda and water. Rinse. Then de-stink it by tossing a cut-up lemon in there. Run it and voilà—no more smell!