The refrigerator is the most expensive appliance to run and one of the priciest to replace, and most kitchen appliance failures trace back to a filter or a coil nobody cleaned. A few quick cleanings keep the fridge efficient, the dishwasher cleaning, and the range hood from becoming a grease fire risk. Here's the short list.
Quick kitchen checklist
- Vacuum the refrigerator condenser coils twice a year.
- Test the fridge and freezer door seals.
- Clean the dishwasher filter monthly.
- Clean the garbage disposal.
- Clean or replace the range hood filter.
- Descale the coffee maker or kettle.
Clean the refrigerator coils
Dust on the condenser coils traps heat, so the fridge runs hotter and longer than it should, around the clock. That's wasted electricity and a compressor working overtime. Pull the fridge out or pop off the front kick plate, unplug it, and vacuum the coils twice a year, more often if you have shedding pets.
Test the door seals
A loose door gasket lets cold air leak out and makes the fridge run constantly. Close the door on a dollar bill and pull; if it slides out with no resistance, the seal is worn and the fridge is wasting energy. Clean the gaskets with warm soapy water so grime doesn't break the seal, and replace a gasket that no longer grips.
Clean the dishwasher filter
Most dishwashers have a removable filter in the bottom that catches food, and when it clogs you get gritty dishes and a smell. Twist it out, rinse it under the tap, and scrub the mesh with a soft brush once a month. While you're there, clear the spray-arm holes.
Clean the garbage disposal
A disposal that smells is full of trapped food. Grind a few ice cubes to scrape the chamber, then a cut lemon or some citrus peel for the smell, and run cold water the whole time. Never put your hand down the disposal, and keep grease, bones, and fibrous scraps out of it.
Clean the range hood filter
The metal mesh filter over the stove soaks up grease, and a saturated one stops venting and becomes fuel for a fire. Pop it out and soak it in hot water with degreaser, or run it through the dishwasher, every month or two, more often if you cook with a lot of oil. A charcoal filter in a recirculating hood gets replaced, not washed.
Descale the coffee maker
Hard water leaves mineral scale inside a coffee maker or kettle that slows it down and affects the taste. Run a cycle of equal parts white vinegar and water, then two cycles of clean water to rinse, every month or two depending on your water.
When to call a pro
Call an appliance tech for a fridge that won't hold temperature after you've cleaned the coils and checked the seal, a dishwasher that won't drain or leaks, or an oven that won't hold its set temperature. Anything involving a gas range or the gas line is a pro job, not a DIY one.
Good maintenance rhythm
Keep the kitchen running with a simple rhythm.
- Monthly: clean the dishwasher filter and the range hood filter.
- Monthly: freshen the garbage disposal.
- Every couple of months: descale the coffee maker or kettle.
- Twice a year: vacuum the refrigerator coils.
- Twice a year: test the fridge and freezer door seals.
- Ongoing: keep grease and fibrous scraps out of the disposal.