You’ve invested a lot into your appliance. Now you can get the most out of them by following these simple maintenance tips. 
The RefrigeratorIf your refrigerator door is not able to seal completely cool air will leak out and make it difficult to maintain a consistent temperature inside. Your refrigerator then has to work twice as hard to keep your foods at their ideal temperature, causing it to wear out sooner than it should. Make sure the rubber seals around your refrigerator’s door are still in good condition and not dried out, and be sure to wipe them down with a warm wet rag once a month. Sometimes a freezer that doesn’t seal properly will allow moisture to seep in, producing a buildup of frost which can damage your frozen goods. If you have a lot of frost in your freezer, you can either chip it away or defrost it completely to reduce moisture. While you’re checking your freezer, make sure the ice in your ice bucket isn’t fused together, as this can damage your ice bin and dispenser. Lastly, be sure to not let dust and grime build-up on the series of coils behind your refrigerator as this can trap hot air instead of releasing it. Use a vacuum to suck up any dust, marbles, and whatever strays are back there. 
The Oven The best course of action for your oven is prevention. Reduce food spillage and splatters by covering your dishes and laying something underneath to catch any drippings. Don’t lay foil on the bottom of your oven as this can cause damage to your oven’s lining but instead catch drippings with a foil-covered pan on the bottom rack. After every use, check for and clean any spills that do happen (once it cools down!). You can also use a boiling pot of water to create steam and easily remove baked-on foods. 
The Dishwasher The most common issue with dishwashers occurs from clogging so be sure to always discard food from your dishes into a garbage disposal or a food compost to avoid anything getting caught in the filter or drain. Many new dishwashers don’t require you rinse your dishes beforehand so check back to your manual for best practices. Check the drain at the bottom of your dishwasher and remove any foods, stray dishes, and broken glass (watch out!) that might be clogging it. You can clean the inside of your dishwasher by running and empty load with white vinegar instead of detergent. If your dishwasher model has a removable hard food filter, remove it and rinse it off in the sink before replacing it. Also, similar to your refrigerator, check the seals to make sure they’re still functioning properly. Wipe them down as necessary. 
Cooktop There are different types of cooktops which each require their own type of care. For electric cooktops, every month remove the burners and drip pans and soak them in warm soapy water. Be sure to avoid using abrasive cleaners which can cause surface scratches. Use mild soap and a microfiber cloth to wipe down your cooktop surface. Dry everything with a soft cloth before replacing. For gas cooktops, you can use an old toothbrush to clean the burners and remove food debris and other buildup that can hinder the gas flow. For flat surfaces, such as glass and ceramic tops, use specific glass or ceramic cooktop cleaner and a soft cloth to remove debris and buildup. It’s usually best to do this after every use. 
Click here to learn how to get the most out of your other major appliances.
The RefrigeratorIf your refrigerator door is not able to seal completely cool air will leak out and make it difficult to maintain a consistent temperature inside. Your refrigerator then has to work twice as hard to keep your foods at their ideal temperature, causing it to wear out sooner than it should. Make sure the rubber seals around your refrigerator’s door are still in good condition and not dried out, and be sure to wipe them down with a warm wet rag once a month. Sometimes a freezer that doesn’t seal properly will allow moisture to seep in, producing a buildup of frost which can damage your frozen goods. If you have a lot of frost in your freezer, you can either chip it away or defrost it completely to reduce moisture. While you’re checking your freezer, make sure the ice in your ice bucket isn’t fused together, as this can damage your ice bin and dispenser. Lastly, be sure to not let dust and grime build-up on the series of coils behind your refrigerator as this can trap hot air instead of releasing it. Use a vacuum to suck up any dust, marbles, and whatever strays are back there. 
The Oven The best course of action for your oven is prevention. Reduce food spillage and splatters by covering your dishes and laying something underneath to catch any drippings. Don’t lay foil on the bottom of your oven as this can cause damage to your oven’s lining but instead catch drippings with a foil-covered pan on the bottom rack. After every use, check for and clean any spills that do happen (once it cools down!). You can also use a boiling pot of water to create steam and easily remove baked-on foods. 
The Dishwasher The most common issue with dishwashers occurs from clogging so be sure to always discard food from your dishes into a garbage disposal or a food compost to avoid anything getting caught in the filter or drain. Many new dishwashers don’t require you rinse your dishes beforehand so check back to your manual for best practices. Check the drain at the bottom of your dishwasher and remove any foods, stray dishes, and broken glass (watch out!) that might be clogging it. You can clean the inside of your dishwasher by running and empty load with white vinegar instead of detergent. If your dishwasher model has a removable hard food filter, remove it and rinse it off in the sink before replacing it. Also, similar to your refrigerator, check the seals to make sure they’re still functioning properly. Wipe them down as necessary. Cooktop There are different types of cooktops which each require their own type of care. For electric cooktops, every month remove the burners and drip pans and soak them in warm soapy water. Be sure to avoid using abrasive cleaners which can cause surface scratches. Use mild soap and a microfiber cloth to wipe down your cooktop surface. Dry everything with a soft cloth before replacing. For gas cooktops, you can use an old toothbrush to clean the burners and remove food debris and other buildup that can hinder the gas flow. For flat surfaces, such as glass and ceramic tops, use specific glass or ceramic cooktop cleaner and a soft cloth to remove debris and buildup. It’s usually best to do this after every use. Click here to learn how to get the most out of your other major appliances.
