Simple Kitchen Appliance Care Tips to Save You Money

Your kitchen appliances work hard to help your daily life.

They keep food fresh, help you cook, and clean up afterwards. 

When they break down, you’re often left with repair bills and emergency call-out fees.

However, a little proactive maintenance goes a long way.

Washing machine care

Washing machines subject heavy internal drums to high-speed cycles most days.

Wear and tear eventually occurs and debris build up can clog the drain pump or filter. 

A professional call-out to clear a preventable block typically starts at £80 to £120. And a failed bearing from unbalanced loads can render the unit beyond economic repair.

Cleaning your washing machine involves cleaning several different parts of it.

Clean the detergent drawer 

Soap residue and mould easily accumulate in crevices. Pull the drawer out, soak it in warm soapy water for ten minutes, and scrub with an old toothbrush.

Wipe the rubber door seal 

Seals are highly susceptible to trapping lint, water, and dirt. Wipe the folds with warm water and vinegar to prevent musty odours.

Clear the drain filter 

This filter catches coins, buttons, fluff and other small debris. Unscrew it at the bottom front of your machine monthly, drain the trapped water, and rinse away debris.

Run a maintenance wash

Pour two cups of white vinegar into the drawer and add half a cup of bicarbonate of soda to the drum.

Run a hot empty wash cycle (60°C or higher) to dissolve internal soap scum and kill bacteria.

Consider washing machine cover if your machine has gone past its warrenty period.

Ventilate the machine

Leave the door and drawer open after every wash. This allows the drum to dry and stops mould growth.

Cooker hood and extractor fan care

Failing to clean your oven hood and its metal filters makes the extractor motor work harder. This wastes energy. And it can cause grease to drip onto hobs, presenting a literal fire hazard.

Your extractor hood draws in moisture, steam, and grease to keep your kitchen air clean. But when filters clog, the fan motor suffers. Follow these steps to maintain air filtration:

Clean metal grease filters monthly

Metal filters trap grease and are reusable. Soak them in hot water with washing-up liquid and bicarbonate of soda for 15 minutes, then scrub with a soft sponge.

Never wash carbon filters 

Charcoal filters in recirculating hoods trap odours but cannot be cleaned. Replace them every three to six months (depending on your cooking habits).

Wipe the stainless steel exterior

Wipe exterior surfaces with warm soapy water or a dedicated steel cleaner. Always wipe in the direction of the metal grain to prevent streaks.

Run the fan after cooking

Leave the fan running for a few minutes after you finish cooking to clear any remaining airborne grease.

Fridge and freezer care

Allowing thick dust to blanket your fridge’s condenser coils forces the compressor to run constantly. This elevates your monthly electricity bill. 

And it eventually breaks the compressor, which is a major part costing £200 to £400 to replace.

Your fridge and freezer are the only appliances that run continuously, making them major energy consumers. Meticulous care keeps them running efficiently:

Keep temperatures correct

Set your fridge to 4°C (or between 3°C and 5°C) to prevent bacteria growth without freezing food. Keep freezers at -18°C.

Check the door seals

Place a sheet of paper in the door and close it. If the paper slips out easily, your seal is leaking cold air and must be replaced.

Clean the condenser coils

Dust the coils at the back or bottom of the unit twice a year. Clean coils allow heat to escape easily, reducing motor wear.

Avoid overcrowding shelves 

Air must circulate freely to maintain uniform cold temperatures.

Defrost freezers regularly

Perform a manual defrost when ice build-up exceeds half a centimetre thick.

Dishwasher care

Food debris, grease, and limescale can quickly block dishwasher components. This reduces cleaning performance and increases energy consumption:

Clean the filter weekly

Remove the bottom filter and rinse it under warm water to wash away trapped food particles and prevent smells.

Run a monthly descaling cycle 

Pour a cup of white vinegar or a commercial descaler into an empty machine. Run a hot cycle to remove grease and build-up.

Unblock spray arms 

Inspect the tiny spray holes. If clogged with seeds or debris, clear them carefully using a toothpick.

Avoid overloading racks

Overcrowding stops water from reaching every dish, forcing you to run repeat cycles.

Oven and hob care

A greasy oven requires more energy to heat up and distributes heat unevenly.

Wipe spills immediately

Wipe up hobs and oven spills once surfaces are cool to prevent burnt-on carbon.

Inspect the oven door seal 

Check the rubber seal surrounding the door. A degraded seal allows heat to escape, forcing your oven to consume more energy.

Check gas hob flames

Ensure burner flames are a crisp blue colour. A yellow or orange flame indicates clogged burners or poor combustion.

Microwaves

Microwaves are easy to neglect. But simple habits keep them operational for years

Steam clean your microwave

Place a bowl of water with lemon slices inside. Microwave on high for five minutes to let the steam loosen splatters, then wipe clean.

Kettles

Descale kettles monthly 

Hard water limescale acts as an insulator, slowing boiling times and wasting power. Soak with equal parts water and vinegar, boil, and rinse.

Use filtered water

Boiling filtered water in kettles and coffee makers significantly reduces limescale build-up.

Toasters

Empty toaster crumbs regularly

Accumulated crumbs burn, creating smoke and representing a fire hazard.

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