Wednesday, March 31, 2010

How to clean your small appliances

How to clean small appliances:

Toaster Oven

Remove racks; wash them in warm, soapy water. Scrub the interior with a nylon scrubber and a mild abrasive. Wipe outside with a damp cloth

Garbage Disposal
Run ice cubes and lemon or orange peels through it to clean the blades and give your sink a fresh smell

Coffeemaker
Wash carafe and wipe down outside of the machine.

To remove mineral deposits: Pour equal parts white vinegar and water into the tank. With the carafe in, run the machine for half a cycle, then turn off. After an hour or so, turn it back on and finish the cycle. Run two or three cycles with fresh water before brewing coffee.

Deep Freezer
Turn off power and allow to defrost. Wipe down interior with a solution of 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart hot water. Rinse and wipe dry.

Oven
Wash racks by hand. Mix 1/4 cup salt, 3/4 cup baking soda, and 1/4 cup water into a paste. Brush on, avoiding metal coils and let sit overnight; remove mixture using a putty knife. Wipe with clean with a sponge.

Microwave Oven
Wipe stains with warm, soapy water; rinse. For baked on messes, heat a glass of water in the microwave on high for two to three minutes or until boiling; let stand with door closed for five minutes for steam to loosen the food and then wipe interior.

Stove
Electric burners: Wipe food off burners when they are cold. If food remains, open windows, turn burners to high, and let the food smoke off. Scrub the burner pans with an equal mixture of baking soda, salt and soap and scrub with a metal scrub brush.

Gas burners: Always wash porcelain-coated stove-top pans and grates by hand.

How to clean:
Cutting board
After every use clean both sides with a damp cloth and antibacterial soap. Rinse with hot water and allow it to dry in an upright position. Every few weeks, use a heavy sprinkle of coarse salt on the board and rub it with a sliced lemon. Rinse well with hot water.

If you have a butcher block cutting board, you'll need to oil it about once a month. Heat a small amount of mineral oil in a pan and apply it to the wood with the grain. Allow the wood to soak up the oil and continue applying until the wood stops absorbing the oil. Wipe off any excess and allow the board to dry overnight.

Silver
Place sterling or plated silver in an aluminum pan (it has to be aluminum for the chemical reaction to work) and sprinkle 1/2 to 1 cup baking soda over the silverware. Pour enough boiling water to cover the utensils. When the tarnish disappears, remove the silverware and buff with a soft cotton cloth.

Spice Grinder
After every few uses process soft, fresh white bread through the grinder to soak up and oil and spices left behind.

Cast Iron
Scrub it with coarse salt and a soft sponge. Never use soap on cast iron.

1 comment:

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