Cleaning Tips: How To Disinfect Household Appliances

Now that the corona virus pandemic is sweeping across the globe, you certainly won’t need any more diseases making its way into your household. You’ll need to do more than your usual routine cleaning to keep your loved ones safe from being infected.  

Kitchen appliances such as stove-tops, oven toasters, and refrigerators can harbour harmful microbes. This is also true for electric fans and air conditioners. Disinfecting your household appliances is the way to go! 

Cleaning these appliances will not only keep viruses at bay, but it will also keep your household appliances in tip-top condition. We all know that well-maintained household appliances function better in the long run.     

Gear up and read on. We’ve rounded up some helpful tips on how to disinfect household appliances. 

Stove

From cooking all the delicious food for your annual holiday feasts and simple everyday recipes, your kitchen appliances are the ones you rely on. Have you tried checking the leftover food chunks and grease buildup under those stovetops? It is not only unsightly, it is unhygienic too. 

Deep clean your stovetop by washing it down with lukewarm water and dishwashing detergent. Remember to use a non-abrasive sponge to avoid any damage to the stove’s coating. 

To get rid of tougher stains, you can opt to use baking soda and vinegar paste. Do this by simply combining one part of vinegar with two parts of baking soda, and a few drops of dish soap. Combine one part vinegar with two parts baking soda, add a few drops of dish soap. By applying this magical paste, you’ll be scrubbing away grease stains in no time. 

Dumb your grates into the sink and leave the mixture for 10 to 20 minutes. Afterward, scrub them down. As for the stove’s burners, wipe them down with a damp cloth and then gently scrub them with vinegar.

Oven Toaster

Grease build-up and the occasional food splatter are also unavoidable when using oven toasters. It will be a bad idea to let them sit there for too long as it will only be harder on your hands to remove them. In a few weeks, your oven toaster may even start to smell bad. 

Disinfect your oven toaster after every use. Make sure to unplug the appliance first. Afterward, combine half a cup of lukewarm water, two spoons of vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap into a bowl. Use this to wipe down the inside of the oven toaster’s walls and ceiling. While you’re at it, remember not to get any liquid on the heating coils.

If you encounter no luck with that trick, start removing the oven toaster’s rack and let the baking soda and vinegar paste sit inside for a while. Then, scrub down any tough oil grease and leftover debris. 

Refrigerator

The refrigerator stores all the fresh produce and food products you use for cooking your family’s favorite meals. If you don’t disinfect the refrigerator, bacteria can easily cause food decay or worse make their way into the meals you all ingest. Food-borne illnesses such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and all sorts of abdominal pains may harm your family. 

Ensure that you disinfect as part of your weekly routine. Combine one part of water with one part of white vinegar. Place the liquid mixture into a spray bottle. Spray on the racks and shelves. Don’t forget the door handle as it is a high-touch surface. 

While you’re at it, vacuum the refrigerator coils behind or beneath the refrigerator. You won’t only clean all parts of your fridge, you’ll also prolong the life of its motor. 

Electric Fan

You rely on your electric fan to cool down on hot and humid days. You’ll need to take care of it and disinfect its parts. Fans accumulate dirt and dust from the environment that must be cleaned off. 

Sure, you can dust it occasionally. But to clean it thoroughly, you’ll need to remove the fan’s parts. 

Carefully remove the fan’s cage and use a dry cloth to dust off the blades and grills. Afterward, use a damp cloth to wipe it down even more. Don’t forget to clean the base and stand too.

Air Conditioner

Cleaning your air conditioner is vital. It is responsible for the cooled air production in your household. The same air produced is what your family inhales in and out of their lungs. Disinfecting your air conditioner will also increase its efficiency and get rid of foul odors due to mold buildup.  

Prevent harmful microbes from entering your household. Clean your air conditioner’s filter by washing it down with a scrub and disinfectant soap. Get rid of any dirt and debris that is responsible for blocking airflows. 

For deeper cleaning, it would be best to let a professional handle it. The parts of the air conditioner are very fragile. One damaged part can lead to damaging the whole unit.  

Key Takeaway

With everything that’s been going on with pandemic, it’s understandable as to why everyone is overwhelmed. Disinfecting your household appliances is an effective way of keeping everyone in your household safe and healthy. 

Gear up for cleaning and follow the tips above to properly clean your household appliances today.