Check out these great tips and tricks that we learned from our Camden Maintenance Team on how to clean and maintain your oven range, stove top, microwave, garbage disposal, refrigerator and freezer! These tips and tricks are perfect for saving time and money during your Spring Cleaning!

Refrigerator/Freezer

• Ideal temperature settings range from 35°F to 45°F degrees for your refrigerator and 17°F to 23°F for your freezer

•  Reduce odors by putting an open box of baking soda in your refrigerator

• See ice forming in the back of your refrigerator? It may be due to the freezer door being left open or ajar

• Make sure not to over pack your freezer. The freezer needs room to “breathe” allowing air flow throughout the entire freezer

Dishwasher

• Clean your dishwasher with a dishwasher cleaning agent. Dishwasher cleaners remove grease and other buildup caused by hard water, detergent and food residues. Check out products like Glisten® Dishwasher Magic®

• You can also clean your dishwasher by running an empty cycle with 1 cup distilled vinegar

• The drain filter in the bottom of your dishwasher can be removed and cleaned with soap and water. We recommend doing this every 30 days to remove food and other debris trapped inside

• Drying agents like Finish® Jet Dry® and Cascade®Rinse Aid are perfect for sparkling dishes

• Prewash dishes before running them through your dishwasher to avoid clogging the dishwashers drain. Do not completely clean dishes though, it is important that the dishwasher and soap have something to clean

Garbage Disposal

• Make sure to always run cold water while using the garbage disposal

• The following items should never be put into the garbage disposal;

  • Vegetable peels, rice, noodles, banana peels, bottles caps, glass, rocks, coins, meat and grease

• Does your garbage disposal need a cleaning? Put a cup of ice cubes in the garbage disposal with running water and stop once all the ice is gone

• Garbage disposal not working? It may just need to be reset

Microwave

• Clean the inside of your microwave with soap and water

• Never put metal or aluminum foil in the microwave. The metal could catch fire

Stove Top/ Oven Range

• Drip pans can be cleaned using soap, water and a scouring pad

• Remember to never leave a stove top burner on without a pot or pan

• Never leave the stove top/oven range on unattended while turned on

• Grease fires can be put out with baking soda (grab your open box from the refrigerator)

• Do not put aluminum foil in the bottom of the oven, this could potentially catch fire

• The self-cleaning option is the best method for cleaning the inside of the oven. Make sure you are home during the cleaning and never leave your oven on unattended. If the kitchen becomes smoky than open your windows to air out

Really ready to get into cleaning? Check out Rachel Anderson’s Simple Steps to Help You Declutter and Colette LaPorte’s 3 Simple Steps to Spring Clean Your Closet!