5 kitchen appliance maintenance hacks

The kitchen in many households is celebrated as a gathering place, where families come together to eat, talk, and connect. That being said, the high-traffic nature of many kitchens means wear and tear are more common than in other areas of the home. Many appliances and surfaces in your kitchen require different approaches to cleaning and general maintenance, and choosing the wrong method can actually cause more harm than good in some cases.

Knowing how to properly clean and maintain your kitchen appliances is essential for increased functionality and visual appeal. If you feel your kitchen appliances and surfaces could use a facelift, check out these kitchen appliance maintenance hacks.

Noisy faucets

A noisy faucet can be a sign of pressure issues within a certain water line. In many cases, the issue is centralized near the faucet itself. Once you know which water line (hot or cold) is causing the noise, look under the sink and make sure the water shutoff valve is turned all the way open, as a partially closed valve can make noise. If this doesn’t fix the issue, you will likely need to replace the valve entirely. This may be a job best suited for a plumber or handyman.

In the event that the faucet still makes noise after these interventions, the issue may be closer to the water main. Installing a pressure reducing valve at the main can help mediate water pressure and related noises.

Drafty oven range vent

The vent above your oven range provides a crucial function, venting smoke, fumes, and steam to the outside. If you feel cold air coming through this vent, you will want to inspect the dampers.  There is typically a damper right above the range inside, as well as towards the exterior vent point. Inspect both dampers, making sure they are closing fully. If they are malfunctioning, they may need to be replaced.

Leaky refrigerator

A refrigerator can leak water for a number of reasons. Fridges naturally collect a small pool of water underneath. A fridge maintains a slight tilt that keeps this water from overflowing, while also helping the doors close on their own. Check to ensure that the fridge has a slight backward tilt, and adjust the front legs as necessary (this can be done without removing the legs).

If the dripping continues, inspect the drain pan itself for cracks or holes. If any are spotted, your local home store will likely have a generic replacement that will function properly. If you still see leaking, it may be a clogged defrost drain. Inspect the back of your freezer for signs of excessive frost. Clearing this frost and impediments around the interior drain should solve the problem.

Cleaning stainless steel appliances

Stainless steel appliances have a brushed finish that gives them a distinct sheen. To preserve this look while cleaning, it is essential to use non-abrasive brushes and soaps. A number of smudges and marks can be cleaned with only a microfiber cloth and warm water. There are cleaning agents designed specifically for stainless steel appliances. No matter your approach, always be sure to try on a small nondescript area to ensure the finish is not disrupted.

Cleaning a microwave

Tired of scrubbing stuck-on gunk and grime inside your microwave? There are a number of ways to actually use the microwave to more or less clean itself. For example, gently mix some dish soap in a bowl of water and microwave until it begins to steam. The steam should loosen baked-on grease and allow you to simply wipe off spots that were previously impenetrable. Similar results can be achieved with mixtures of water and two tablespoons of vinegar (microwave for five minutes), or water and two tablespoons of baking soda (microwave for two minutes).

We hope you enjoyed some of our favorite kitchen appliance maintenance hacks. If you’re experiencing an issue and need an expert refrigerator repair, oven repair, dishwasher repair, washer or dryer repair, or microwave repair, call Diamond Appliance. We proudly serve individuals and families in St. Louis, St. Charles, Independence, Kansas City, and surrounding cities with expert appliance repair. Call us today!