The Care and Maintenance of Your Appliance

One of my customers came into the store two weeks ago asking for my assistance on an unfortunate situation.  They had accidentally left a plastic lid on their electric smoothtop range.  The plastic melted, and adhered to the cooking surface.  I was asked what they should do, to which I had to reply, "I have no idea."  Frankly, I was stumped.  

At this point we referred to Google (what did we do before Google and YouTube?), and were able to find a possible solution.  I never heard back from this customer, so I'm guessing the solution below worked.   

What was that solution, you ask?  Well, this is the solution we found, courtesy of  "Maids.com"

 https://www.maids.com/blog/how-to-get-melted-plastic-off-your-oven-and-stovetop/

"Mix baking soda with a small amount of water to form a thick paste. Apply the paste directly to the melted plastic and let it sit for a few minutes. The baking soda paste will help loosen the plastic residue. Use a damp cloth or sponge to gently scrub the area until the plastic is fully removed."

So this got me thinking: what cleaning and care questions are we asked most often?  Below, I've listed a number of these questions and answers, with a focus on features that are relatively new to today's appliances.

"My refrigerator has the new, fingerprint-resistant stainless steel front.  What's the best way to clean the door?"

Per GE, the best way is:

1. Use a solution of mild soap and warm water with a clean, soft cloth or microfiber cloth.
2. Wipe dry with a clean, soft cloth or microfiber towel to avoid streaking or water spotting.

Incidentally, GE also has a solution for removing scratches from stainless doors:

Apply the toothpaste to the toothbrush and work the solution back and forth over the scratch following the grain. Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away the toothpaste and see if the scratch is gone. Repeat the process until satisfied and apply a light coat of stainless-steel polish or olive oil.

(If someone should decide to give this a try, I'd love to know your result!)

"My new dishwasher has a trap on the bottom.  What's the best way to clean this? How often do I have to clean this?"

The answer to the first part is easy:  

Twist the Ultra-Fine Filter assembly counterclockwise and lift to remove for cleaning. Rinse filter with warm soapy water and use a sponge to carefully remove any stubborn particles. 

As to the question "how often?", once every two months is reccommended.  If the dishes start to feel gritty after washing, you may want to check and clean the filter sooner.  Personally, we clean ours at least once a month.

"There's a 'steam clean' button on my new range.  What is that?  How does it work?  How does that differ from self clean?"

The answer to the "what, and how":

What is a steam clean oven? Some ovens feature a steam clean option that uses water to loosen soils to make wiping away easier. This option, which can last anywhere from 1 to 1.5 hours, uses heat and water to soften grime and food residue from the interior of the oven.

The link below from "This Old House" elaborates further:

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/cleaning/22665048/steam-clean-oven

As to the difference between self and steam clean:  This explanation is from Kitchenaid (the full link is below):

Steam-cleaning ovens work to soften messes and debris inside your oven. Water added to the bottom of the oven creates steam that loosens soils so you can easily wipe them away. Self-cleaning ovens work by heating up to a very high temperature and burning off food residue. You can then wipe away the resulting ash once the oven cools.

https://www.kitchenaid.com/pinch-of-help/major-appliances/self-vs-steam-cleaning-oven.html

Finally, one more question:  

"I've been told I should clean my dryer vent and lint filter.  How should I go about that?"

Here's the simple answer, courtesy of BobVila.com:

1. Unplug the dryer.
2. Detach the dryer vent hose from the wall.
3. Remove and clean the hose and vent cover.
4. Reattach the hose and clean the exterior vent.

Sounds simple, and pretty obvious, doesn't it?    For more elaborate instructions, I'm including this link:

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-a-dryer-vent/

One final thought regarding your dryer screen:  Do you use dryer sheets?  If so, they can leave a film which over time can restrict air flow.  Washing your filter monthly with mild soap is an excellent preventive measure!

If you have questions about any other care and maintenance issues, check the "Use and Care" book that most manufacturers supply with a new purchase.  If that doesn't work (or you threw away your manual), then feel free to take advantage of the many resources the World Wide Web supplies, or just shoot me an email.