Welcome to Homemaking Tips Tuesdays where contributing writers share helpful homemaking tips so you can feel more successful caring for your home and family.
{This week, post by: Jessie}
Ah, Spring, how I’ve been waiting for you to arrive! Spring is a time to open the windows, air out the house, and give everything a good once over.
In addition to your floors and windows, which may receive some regular cleaning love, spring is also a good time to clean your appliances. Here are some chemical free ways to clean the silent work horses of the house.
How to Spring Clean Appliances
Spring Clean the Microwave
Your microwave should actually be cleaned about once a month and there are two really easy ways to go at it.
The first is to fill a microwave safe cup or bowl with about one cup water. (Add a drop of Lemon or Thieves essential oils for extra cleaning power.) Place the cup in the microwave and turn the microwave on for about three minutes.
You want the water to become really hot in order to loosen all the caked-on food.
Make sure you use caution when removing the hot cup or bowl from the microwave. Then, starting from the top down, simply wipe the microwave clean.
Spring Clean the Coffee Maker
This should also be cleaned once a month as minerals can build up in its inner workings slowing down the brew time and affecting the flavor of your cup of joe.
Distilled white vinegar will do the trick for this one:
Fill the machine’s reservoir with equal parts vinegar and water and place a paper filter in the machine’s basket. Brew the solution half way then turn off the machine and let it sit for 30 minutes. (Set the timer on your microwave and clean something else why you wait).
After 30 minutes, turn the coffee maker back on and finish brewing. Pour out the liquid and replace the filter. Then run your coffee maker with clean water two more times.
Maintaining Your Dishwasher
It’s confession time: I waited a really long time to clean our dishwasher. When I finally did, it was with one of those store bought products that did nothing more than make my dishwasher smell like chemicals.
The next time I used this technique instead:
Pour distilled white vinegar into a dishwasher safe cup. (A Pyrex bowl works great for this too.)
Set it upright on an empty top rack. Run the dishwasher one full cycle.
Next, deodorize the machine by sprinkling a cup of baking soda on the bottom of the tub. Run the dishwasher for half of a cycle with hot water. Halfway through the cycle, open the door and let it air dry.
Try to do this monthly to prevent a build-up of germs. Get even more tips for maintaining your Whirlpool dishwasher to maintain the efficiency of the machine.
Garbage Disposal
I don’t even want to begin to think about what’s living in my garbage disposal! Cleaning it once a month is preferred; more frequently if there is a strong odor present.
To clean your garbage disposal, you can drop half a cut-up lemon, (or about 5 drops of Lemon essential oil and 3 drops of Thieves essential oil blend), a couple tablespoons of salt, and a few ice cubes. Turn on your garbage disposal for a few seconds.
Refrigerator
I like to use these tips for keeping the refrigerator clean and organized. Meal prep is so much easier, and more enjoyable, when the fridge is clean!
Washing Machine
Moving out of the kitchen, the washing machine is another appliance you should clean on a regular basis. Washing machines can be a breeding ground for salmonella and other germs.
Once a month run it empty with hot water and a cup of distilled white vinegar to sanitize the basin.
You should also spray a clean cloth with Thieves Household Cleaner and wipe down the inside walls of your washing machine. (It can’t hurt to wipe down the inside of your dryer as well!).
A great way to slow down the breeding of germs is to leave the door to your washing machine open-between loads-so that it can fully dry.
By spring cleaning your appliances, you may prevent germs from taking over your home. Cleaning your appliances regularly can also help extend the machine’s performance. That saves you money over the long-term!
With everything fresh and clean for spring you will be ready to enjoy some time out of the house!
What is left on your spring cleaning list?
Jessica is a stay at home mom of two lovely little girls. She is also a military spouse and an entrepreneur. Jessica enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors with her family, cooking, and reading.
