Whether you’re hoping to recover your security deposit or you’re moving house and leaving appliances for the new owners, you’ll need to clean your appliances before moving day. Although this task isn’t too difficult, we’ve put together a list of cleaning tips to help leave your kitchen sparkling clean.
Oven
If your oven has a self-cleaning function, be sure to follow the directions from the manufacturer. Your oven may have a steam cleaning option or a high-temperature cycle. Once you’ve run the cycle on your oven, be sure to let it cool before wiping away any leftover debris.
On the other hand, if your oven does not have a self-cleaning function, you can turn to commercial oven cleaning or try these simple steps:
Mix water with baking soda to make a paste
Apply this paste to the surfaces of your oven - not the heating element
Leave paste for 12 hours
Wipe out the mixture
Use full-strength vinegar in a spray bottle
Be sure to spray any leftover residue with the vinegar
Wipe the oven clean with a cloth and add more vinegar if needed.
Oven racks
Cleaning oven racks often requires a lot of elbow grease and several steel wool pads. However, to make this job a little easier, try soaking your racks in the bath with a dishwasher tablet to help remove the grease and grime.
Fill your bath with hot water - enough to cover the racks
Add ½ cup of dishwasher detergent and mix in thoroughly
Put the racks in the mixture and leave for at least 4 hours
Wipe away the grease and grime, scrubbing any difficult areas with a scrubbing pad.
Rinse and dry the racks then pop them back in the oven
Stove/Hob
The cleaning you choose to clean your stove/hob will depend on the type you have. You can usually easily clean the top of an electric hob with an all-purpose cleaner or dish soap. If you happen to have a gas hob, you’ll need to soak your grates in a grate cleaning solution. Use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe the top clean. Be aware that the gas connectors on a gas stove can be fragile, so you may want to contact your supplier to ensure it is safe to clean behind or under your hob.
Fridge
You’ll already be aware that cleaning the fridge isn’t too much of a complex task. Many people use all-purpose cleaners, but others prefer to avoid chemicals near their food. Soap and water is a safe and easy solution to use to help keep your fridge nice and clean.
Remove all shelves, drawers, and bins before cleaning - wash these in the sink with soapy water
Mix a solution of half water and half vinegar and spray around the inside of the fridge
Wipe dry with a clean cloth
Be sure to wipe all crevices in the door seal
Replace shelves and bins once dry
These cleaning tips are also useful for when you move into a new home with appliances left by the owners, just to ensure everything is nice and clean before use. Cleaning your appliances doesn’t have to be such a time-consuming process anymore now that you have the right cleaning techniques to help get the job done.
For more useful tips on moving home, visit our blog.